Lindsay's consistent sale defies big dry

"I think this sale was probably a little bit more consistent," Mr Grant said.

"Our average was back a little on last year's but I was worried this year that we might not get the bulls out there because of the way the female herd is in the country at the moment.

"We've been impacted by droughts selling Murray Greys because, traditionally, we send some up into NSW and some of the drier areas of South Australia and I was concerned that we might not do that this year.

"That probably didn't happen but our spread of potential purchasers was still really good.

"We've sold bulls from just this side of Adelaide to the other side of Colac."

The volume buyer was Sam and Susie Whitehead, Edenhope, who purchased four bulls for their commercial operation.

Mr Grant said most of his bulls would be used over pure-bred Murray Grey commercial cows in large herds.

The top-priced Lot 13 sired by Cadfor Myogenic went to repeat buyers, the Cavanagh Partnership, Tintinara, SA, for $14,000.

Second-top bull, Lot 7, was sold for $10,500 to GreenHills, Minhamite, and Lot 1 went to Phoines Pastoral, Casterton, for $9000.

Six of seven stud heifers sold, averaging $3220 with a top price of $7000.

A pen of four unjoined 18-month-old heifers averaged $1750, while 14 pregnancy-tested in-calf rising two-and-a-half-year-olds averaged $2550.

Mr Grant said he and Jacinta aimed for balanced cattle.

"Our focus is not to have our cattle really extreme in any area but really balanced," he said.

"For example, we want good calving ease but we want good top end growth as well.

"We try to buy future sires that have high-ranking balanced data but also their physical appearance and their phenotype is really important to us as well.

"We do all the traits for BreedPlan that are available in Murray Greys."

Mr Grant said buyers could make up their own minds about the merit of the breed but chose Murray Greys years ago because of their versatility.

"They're great converters of grass, they finish easily in a range of environments," he said.

"They're great all round cattle, their temperament's fantastic, they're a terrific maternal breed as well as having a reputation for a great carcase breed."

"I don't care what colour their skin is, you've got to make them as suitable as possible to what the market requires and just breed really good cattle."