Prices at southern autumn bull sales were described by agents as sound without being spectacular.
PGG Wrightson genetics manager Roger Keach said the season's high price of $14,500 paid for a Hereford bull sold by Laurie and Sharon Paterson, of Waikaka Herefords, to the Stokes family, of the Richon Stud, Lees Valley, Canterbury.
Mr Keach said the sales reflected the extremely dry conditions and decline in cow numbers in the Otago region, in particular.
Over the majority of Otago and Southland sales, 472 bulls were sold for an average of $3816. Breed averages were: Angus, 195 sold at an average of $3772; Hereford 168 at $4067, Charolais 40 at $3470; Simmental 36 at $3802; and other breeds 33 at $3242.
Three bulls made the next top money of $10,000 each. John and Tracy Cochrane, from the Delmont stud, at Clinton, sold an Angus to A. L. Wilson, from Owaka; Gray and Robyn Pannett, from the Limehills stud, at Millers Flat, sold a polled Hereford for $10,000 to Chris Jefferies, of the Grassmere stud, at Cheviot; and Neil and Rose Sanderson, of the Fossil Creek stud, at Ngapara, sold an Angus bull for $10,000.