*24 of 42 bulls sold to $13,000, av $5917
THE STRONG momentum within the cattle market, combined with sound seasonal prospects, has led to record breaking prices at this year's Melville Park Herefords bull sale, held on-farm on Monday afternoon.
The Lyons family, Vasey, between Balmoral and Hamilton, put together a strong line up of 42 bulls, with a top price of $13,000, selling to south-east South Australian beef producer Stephen Cuhl, Kolora Partners.
"This is the best price for an individual bull we've had at our sale and it is the 38th sale, so it is a great result," stud principal David Lyons said.
Mr Cuhl, who farms at Tarpeena, SA, said he was optimistic about prospects for the beef industry and that the Melville bulls had been successful in the operation.
In the ring 24 bulls were sold at an overall average of $5917.
There was a slight preference for the polled bulls in the offering, with 16 selling at $6125, compared to the eight horned bulls which made $5500.
While local buyers dominated the sale there were some notable visitors.
Lotus Herefords, based at Glen Innes, NSW, bought a bull, highlighting the turnaround in conditions and renewed optimism in that region after a severe drought.
Locally, bulls went to Dunrobin, Hamilton, Coleraine and Nareen.
Volume buyers included Dismal Swamp, Mt Gambier, SA, and Coorabil Pastoral, Coleraine, both with four bulls and The Beerik Partnership with three.
The top-priced bull, a Poll Hereford, was by Bowen Kyooma out of a Bowen Frontier cow.
It was exceptional in its 200 and 400-day growth estimated breeding values (EBVs), rating in the top 10 per cent for both.
The bull was also elite in terms of eye muscle area (EMA) and intramuscular fat, again in the top 10pc, while it was in the top 20pc for 600-day growth.
It was at the younger end of the bull offering, calved on 27 May 2019.
The second top-priced bull, which went to local partnership Coolami Pastoral, Melville Forest, for $11,500, also scored strongly in EBVs with a top 10pc result for 200-day milk and top 20pc results in 200-day growth, EMA, rig fat and rump fat.
It was also a later drop, born on May 4, and was by Bowen Magistrate out of Melville Almond Joy.
Mr Lyons said he was proud of the way the bulls had presented.
Elders and Nutrien conducted the sale, with Nutrien's Andrew Sloan and Elders' Ross Milne taking turns.