*17 of 35 sold to $9500, av $4470
CONTINUING dry conditions in Victoria’s east deterred buyers at this year’s Nunniong, Ensay, bull sale, according to stud principal Bluey Commins.
The stud offered 35 bulls, and sold 17, to a top price of $9500, and an average price of $4470.
Mr Commins said he was disappointed at the sale outcome but understood many farmers had sold their female cattle.
“They were better bulls this year and there was more condition on them, but there wasn’t the demand for them,” Mr Commins said.
“I have had to feed them for longer. Normally they get silage, but I had to feed them grain, to keep them going.”
The top price was paid for Nunniong Ivory M082, a May 2016-drop, who was sired by Battalion Ivory, from Bowmont blood.
Ivory was out of Nunniong Lady Mary J90, and recorded estimated breeding values (EBVs) of 34 kilograms 200-day weight, 61kg 400-day weight, and 87kg 600-day weight.
The bull had an eye muscle area (EMA) of +2.9 square centimetres, a rib of -0.1, a rump measurement of +0.0 and an intramuscular fat figure of -0.3 per cent.
It had a scrotal circumference of 37 centimetres and weighed 788kg.
He was purchased by Joe and Trudy Connley, who run a Poll Hereford herd of 300 breeding females, north of Benambra.
Mr Connley said the bull would be used over four year old cows, with the aim of producing steers for the meatworks.
“He’s just a good, big-framed bull with loose skin – he’s got a lot of frame, under him,” Mr Connley said.
“You can always put some weight, and meat, onto them if you have a big frame to start with.
“I’ve bought at Nunniong before, the bulls stand up well, up our way.
“It’s a bit higher altitude and they handle the cold – they don’t get mollycoddled.”
Landmark’s Kevin Norris said he anticipated the sale could have been better.
“It doesn’t rain feed,” Mr Norris said.
“We could get two inches tonight and it won’t make a difference for some time, it doesn’t rain any more cows.”
The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders.