Despite difficult seasonal conditions and mixed price results in prime and store cattle sales, the 2018 autumn bull selling season has been a solid result for breeders.
Of the 33 sales conducted and reported on so far in Stock & Land, there have been more than 2211 bulls offered – around 133 more than the previous year, a six per cent rise.
The clearance rate for autumn 2018 was 91pc, a small decline from the 2017 figure of 94pc.
Breeds represented included Angus, Hereford, Poll Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, Limousin and Murray Grey.
The sales were conducted the length and breadth of Victoria as well as SA and NSW with a total of 2019 bulls sold this year compared with 1953 in 2017 – a three per cent rise.
Good sale results from the 2017 calendar prompted a number of breeders to increase their offerings this season.
Of the 33 sales reported, 14 increased the number of bulls offered at auction this autumn, six reduced their offering, while 13 remained the same as the previous year.
The clearance rates increased for seven studs in 2018 over the 2017 figure, while 17 fell, and nine remained the same as the previous year.
Most stud breeders said the clearance rates were satisfactory.
Breeders also accepted that while average prices dipped in some cases, it gave a chance to a wider range of buyers to purchase good quality bulls to meet their breeding goals.
The top price of the 2017 autumn season of $160,000, for a sire from Woonallee Simmental stud, Millicent, South Australia, remains unsurpassed so far this season.
However the stud retained its crown so far this season among those sales reported in Stock & Land, selling a bull for $52,500.
At Howlong, NSW, the Injemira Hereford stud achieved the second top price of $50,000.
Of the reported studs comparing to the previous year, 17 increased their average price, while 16 had a fall in their average compared with 2017.
Woonallee Simmentals topped this category with the highest average price of all breeds at $9287 across 101 bulls sold.
Banquet Angus topped its breed with an average of $9220 (a slight increase on 2017), selling 82 bulls.
Injemira topped the Herefords with an average of $9182 across 93 bulls sold.
In the Charolais breed, the Mt William stud set all records for its on-property sale, with a top of $26,000, and a sale average of $8202 over 37 bulls.
There was one Murray Grey sale reported, the Lindsay stud, where 26 bulls sold to $16,000, averaging $7307.
