Southern bull sales so far: Clearances down but clients paying for quality

Pictures by Petra Oates and Monique Patterson

As the eastern state's autumn bull sales have kicked off in recent weeks, clearance rates have taken a hit.

Extremely dry seasonal conditions across Victoria, South Australia, and into southern NSW have subdued competition at many bull sales with producers cutting down on numbers and purchasing fewer sires.

Despite the challenges of the dry, some studs have managed to buck the trend proving the sentiment 'good bulls always sell well'.

One of the highest priced bulls of the autumn sales so far fetched $40,000 and was sold by Injemira Beef Genetics, Book Book, NSW, at their sale earlier this week.

Injermira sold a total of 66 bulls from the 78 the stud offered for an average of $10,909.

Large, notable studs such as Pathfinder Angus and Glatz Black Angus also fared well, with both studs operating in Victoria and South Australia and achieving equally impressive results across two states.

Glatz Black Angus sale at Avenue Range, SA, saw 47 of 48 bulls average $11,106and top $18,000, which was the highest stud average in the SA Angus week, and surpassed their SA sale result from the previous year where 73 of 76 bulls averaged $10,507 and topped at $35,000.

The Victorian Glatz Black Angus sale at Branxholme achieved equally impressive results with 21 Angus bulls sold to full clearance for an average of $9429 and top of $28,000.

The Pathfinder sale at Gazette sold 104 of 106 bulls for an average of $9702 and a top of $22,000, which just surpassed their top price of $20,000 for their Lucindale, SA, sale which sold 124 of 131 bulls for an average of $9791.

Comparing sales across the border, Nutrien studstock South Australia manager Richard Miller said results have been "pretty on par" between Victoria and SA.

"Our South Australian livestock producers have been decimated through one of the worst seasons we've seen in history, especially in our high rainfall areas," Mr Miller said.

"The clearance [rates] have really taken a hit.

"At some sales, we've really had very little interest in second tier bulls."

Clearance rates across sales have suffered with many studs struggling to achieve above 70 per cent.

Nutrien southern region stud stock manager Peter Godbolt said clients were increasingly reserved with their buying.

"Generally the top two thirds of the catalogues are sought after and the clearance drops off rapidly after that," he said.

Morganvale Herefords, Willallooka, SA, cleared 33pc with 12 of 36 bulls sold to average $8972 and top at $17,000.

Ennerdale bull sale, Dundonnell, cleared 48pc with 16 of the 33 bulls sold to average $6094 and top at $12,000.

Yerwal Estate Angus, Lucindale, SA, cleared 55pc of their bulls with 29 of 53 bulls sold to average $8000 and top at $14,000.

Allendale and Days Whiteface bull sale, SA, cleared 70pc with 54 of 77 bulls sold to average $8992 and top at $28,000.

Mr Godbolt said farmers were buying less bulls this year but they still wanted quality.

"The general feeling in the sales is that people are still willing to buy and pay for quality bulls," Mr Godbolt said.

"Clients don't need the volume this year.

"The clearances are down because the cow numbers aren't there."

However, there have been outliers.

Keringa Angus, Tintinara, SA, achieved a rare full clearance with 48 bulls sold to average $9281 and top $15,000 twice.

Boonaroo Angus, Corndale, achieved a very near full clearance of 115 bulls sold from 116 offered to average $11,034 and top at $20,000.

Allendale Angus, Bordertown, SA, also saw better clearance rates with 33 of 39 bulls sold to average $8939 and top at $22,000.

Bull Oak Well Angus, Pinnaroo, SA, sold 52 of 55 bulls for an average of $9538 and top of $16,000, twice.

In other notable results, the final sale for Yarram Park Hereford, Willaura, saw 42 of 58 bulls sold to average $8694 and top at $28,000.

Also at Willaura, Mount William Charolais sold 19 of 32 bulls at their autumn sale for an average of $6632 and a top of $16,000.

Sugarloaf Creek Herefords, Towong, sold 21 of 34 bulls offered for an average of $10,333 and top of $16,000 four times.

Nampara Pastoral Company, Lucindale, SA, sold 82 of 102 bulls to average $9536 and top $35,000, a result well-back on their 2024 sale which saw 92 of 93 bulls average $12,293 and top $66,000.

Yavenvale Herefords, Adelong, NSW sold 94 of 132 bulls for an average of $8702 and top of $32,000.

Woonallee Simmental, Furner, SA, cleared 93 of 100 bulls offered for a an average of $11,043 and top of $30,000.