32 of 49 bulls sold to $11,000, av $4812
MORE than two years of dry conditions, which have led into the worst drought Newcomen Hereford stud principal Barry Newcomen can remember, played a big part in the outcome of this year's on-property bull sale at Ensay.
"We chose to maintain all of our fertile breeders, and feed them all of the way through this ordeal," Mr Newcomen said.
"This came at a considerable expense, as well as time and effort."
But the bulls offered reflected the efforts put into the stud herd.
Glasser Total Sales Management auctioneer Lincoln McKinlay sold Lot 4, Newcomen Nambucca N015 (H), to Maree Patton, a repeat buyer from Corryong, for $11,000.
Ms Patten has purchased the top-priced bull, two years in a row.
A son of Yarram Unique J164 (H), the bull was born in February, 2017, out of Newcomen Cherry Ripe J28 (H).
While he was not the heaviest bull, weighing in at 880 kilograms, he was close to the top weight.
He had a birth weight of +6.6 kilograms, a 200-day weight of 38kg, 400-day weight of 71kg and 600-day weight of 104kg.
Mr McKinlay reiterated what Mr Newcomen said in his opening speech, saying that the drought did have an impact on competition.
He said the sale was a "tougher gig than 2018", which was as expected.
Fewer buyers were written in the book, but new clients were among the crowd, which does give hope for future sales.
"While today's results was not unexpected, it was disappointing to have to lower our expectations, when setting our base price," Mr Newcomen said.
"We have spared no effort, or expense, to purchase industry-leading sires, always keeping in mind their estimated breeding values.
"This year's offering is our best ever, and hopefully next year's, and the following year's will be even better."
He said to help achieve this objective, Newcomen had purchased three new sires, the first being a homozygous poll bull, Mawarra Prime Time by noted New Zealand sire Koanui Techono 3062, for $26,000.
"Next we paid $20,000 for the top Glen Innes Sale bull, Battalion Undertaker, and the third bull was a Centennial Herefords bull, another poll bull, by Dunoon Jet J162," he said.