Santa bulls have the X factor

The inaugural Elders Invitation X Factor Bull Sale was highlighted by the $7000 top-price Santa Gertrudis bull offered by the Hall family, of Tanglewood stud, Piawaning.

Tanglewood principal David Hall said it was an excellent result for their stud, setting an all-time record price and the best ever clearance for his Santa Gertrudis bulls.

The 860kg sale topper was a 30-month-old poll-scurred bull that was homebred with Wendalla blood on both of the dam sides.

Buyers Martin and Deborah Avery, of Badgingarra, said the bull would be used to produce commercial herd bulls.

"We run Mount Stuart station at Nanutarra and also have a farm in Badgingara," Mr Avery said.

The Averys had not purchased bulls from Narnagulu for several years and Mrs Avery said it was time to improve their herd.

"We run about 400 breeders for the station," she said.

Primaries agent Roger Leeds secured a $3400 Tanglewood Santa Gertrudis for account Chicoty, Moora, while eight other bulls from the Piawaning stud were bought by Graeme Rogers, of Pardoo station, Port Hedland.

The Santa Gertrudis bulls were well sought after with Tanglewood selling to the $2744 top-average price while Bill Sounness' Merryup Santas claimed the $2650 second-top average sale price.

Merryup sold the $4000 second-top price Santa bull to Peter Buckenara, of Bremer Bay.

Mr Buckenara said he ran a 400 pure Santa cow herd and turned off 470-500kg live weight steers from an 80-day feedlot program.

"We market into the domestic trade through Harvey Beef," he said.

The Avery family paid $3200 for a Merryup Santa bull while Mr Buckenara bought another Merryup bull for $2800.

Minara Pastoral, of Moora, bought seven Merryup Santas to a top of $3000 and a $2675 average.

Pardoo continued its volume buying and secured another 14 Merryup Santa bulls.

In the Droughtmaster catalogue, Mr Sounness cleared all 13 bulls to a top of $3000 and a $2423 average.

Mr Hall also offered Droughtmaster bulls under the Hallmark stud prefix, clearing all 19 to a top of $2400 and average of $2221.

It was the first time both studs offered Droughtmaster bulls after they acquired stock from Sunnyvale Droughtmaster stud's dispersal.

The sale topper was bought by Ross Collins and Rhonda Steele, of Glenburgh station, Mullewa.

Mr Ross said the 626kg Merryup bull would add depth to some of his 2000 strong and mostly Brahman breeding herd located 112km south-east of Gascoyne Junction.

Lang Coppin, of East Pilbara Cattle Company, was the volume buyer of Droughtmaster bulls, securing 15 at an average price of $2240.

Mr Coppin said he ran about 10,000 cattle on his Pilbara station.

"Droughtmasters breed well for both the Middle East and Indonesian markets," he said.

Also selling at the new sale was regular Brahman vendor John Wesley, of Charlesville stud, Southern Cross.

Glenburgh station bought two of the $2400 equal top-price Brahmans and two others for $2200 each.

Mr Collins, of Glenburgh, said Brahmans suited his country.

Also sharing in the top-price bulls were first-time buyer Hamish McTaggart, of Bidgemia station, Carnarvon, buying one bull for $2400 and another for $2200, while Meeberrie station, Mullewa, paid $2400 for a bull.

Mr McTaggart said the bulls were "good quiet types" that could add to his purebred Brahman operation at Bidgemia station, 200km east of Carnarvon.

He said there was plenty of green feed on the ground this season.

Offering Senepol bulls for the first time, Haydn Hargreaves, of Murion Cattle Co stud, sold three for $1500 each.

Jimba Jimba station, Carnarvon, bought two and JE Hayes one.

Elders stud stock manager Darren Chatley said he considered the inaugural X Factor bull sale a success.

"The clearance was very good; there was good buying support," he said.

Elders Invitation X Factor Bull Sale * <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left">BREED </td> <td>OFFERED </td> <td>SOLD </td> <td>TOP PRICE </td> <td>AVERAGE </td> </tr> <tr> <td>DROUGHTMASTER </td> <td/> <td/> <td/> <td/> </tr> <tr> <td>Hallmark </td> <td>19 </td> <td>19 </td> <td>$2400(2) </td> <td>$2221 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Merryup </td> <td>13 </td> <td>13 </td> <td>$3000 </td> <td>$2423 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>TOTAL </td> <td>32 </td> <td>32 </td> <td>$3000 </td> <td>$2303 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>BRAHMAN </td> <td/> <td/> <td/> <td/> </tr> <tr> <td>Charlesville </td> <td>20 </td> <td>14 </td> <td>$2400(4) </td> <td>$2271 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>SANTA GERTRUDIS </td> <td/> <td/> <td/> <td/> </tr> <tr> <td>Merryup </td> <td>28 </td> <td>28 </td> <td>$4000 </td> <td>$2650 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gundamain </td> <td>2 </td> <td>2 </td> <td>$2400(2) </td> <td>$2400 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Tenglewood </td> <td>17 </td> <td>16 </td> <td>$7000 </td> <td>$2744 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>TOTAL </td> <td>47 </td> <td>46 </td> <td>$7000 </td> <td>$2672 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>SENEPOL </td> <td/> <td/> <td/> <td/> </tr> <tr> <td>Murion Cattle Co </td> <td>10 </td> <td>3 </td> <td>$1500(3) </td> <td>$1500 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>TOTAL </td> <td>109 </td> <td>95 </td> <td>$7000 </td> <td>$2451 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>