Strong interstate support lifts average at Belmore

Belmore Shorthorns, Naracoorte, hosted the sale, with guest vendors Bayview Shorthorns, Yorketown, and Carlton, Hahndorf, also contributing to the line-up.

This year's sale, interfaced with AuctionsPlus, was a video auction, with no bulls run through the ring. The vendors made this decision as a result of being unsure of how many people would attend the sale in light of COVID-19 restrictions, but there was still a good crowd ringside.

Overall, 37 bulls were sold of 48 offered, topping at $14,000 and averaging $7054 - an improvement on last year's average of $6796.

Guest vendor Carlton sold one bull at $7000, bought by Ross Leckie, Mount Torrens. while Bayview sold six of eight bulls offered, including Bayview Camporeale P39, which made the sale's top price.

The sale-topper, Bayview Camporeale P39, sold to GM Butler & Sons, Naracoorte, who bought four bulls in total, averaging $10,500. The bull was a late inclusion into the catalogue, when the Bayview stud decided to offer its three bulls reserved for the Dubbo Shorthorn National Show and Sale at the Belmore sale.

Bayview Camporeale P39 was sired by Glengyron Legacy, the same sire who bred Bayview's $18,500 top price bull at the Naracoorte shorthorn multi-vendor sale in March.

The May 2018-drop, red bull had impressive figures, including a below average birthweight figure at +2.1 and an eye muscle area of +5.3. It was also the reserve junior champion Shorthorn bull from the 2019 Royal Adelaide Show, and was a heifers first calf.

Bayview stud also had the sale's second highest-price bull, lot 51, Bayview Unique P139, which was knocked down at $13,000 and sold through AuctionsPlus to Springwood Trading Trust, Padthaway.

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Bulls from sale hosts Andy and Sally Withers reached an $11,000 top price paid for lot 12, Belmore Quantum P360, which sold to PR Gould & Co, Greenways.

The spring 2018-drop roan bull was in the top 10 per cent for its 200-day weight on Breedplan and top 25pc for 400-day weight and mature cow weight.

Belmore also made impressive prices for lot 6, Belmore Dynamite P301, lot 9, Belmore Quantum P95, and lot 20, Belmore Quantum P254, with all three making $10,000. The latter went to Reg and Rebecca Woodiwiss, Royston Shorthorn Stud, Tas, and was the only stud sire purchase of the sale.

AuctionsPlus was a major contributor to the sale's success, with nine bulls knocked down that way, including eight to Colin and Jill Greenfield, Billa Kalina Station, via Roxby Downs, between $4000 and $5500.

Other multiple buyers included Olinda Grazing Co, Baralaba, Qld, bought three bulls, at $7500, $8000, and $9000, and Dalwoodman Pastoral Co, Keith, also with three bulls - two at $10,000 and one at $5000.

Belmore principal Andy Withers "extremely pleased" with the sale result, and said the video format had been received well.

"We had a lot of positive comments about and the sale by video, a lot of people said to stick with that," he said.

"People who have been buying our bulls for many years, they said it was wonderful, so it's something we would certainly do again."

No bulls were knocked down to Victorian buyers this year, but Mr Withers said this did not hinder the sale result, and other bidders "covered any people who might have been missing."

Elders and Nutrien conducted the sale, with Elders' Tony Wetherall on the rostrum. Mr Wetherall was impressed by the line-up right through the catalogue, from all three studs.

"There were good pickings whether you were a stud or a top end commercial breeder, the offering was very even, and very much the type of what people were looking for today," he said.

"I think buyers here like the well-balanced cattle, the bulls have got good growth, good cover, good shape, and have the figures that support that.

"It's hard to get the atmosphere as much when you don't have as big of a crowd here, and don't have the bulls running through the ring, but with AuctionsPlus and the people present, and the videos, I think it worked really well," he said.