Tennant Creek Droughties to $8000

DOUBLING sale numbers failed to dampen demand at the Northern Territory Droughtmaster Bull Sale, Tennant Creek.

Six Queensland prefixes created yet another total clearance, with 118 bulls averaging $3260 topping at $8000 in a market where 18 buyers were successful purchasers.

Buying support was drawn from Katherine, Alice Springs, Longreach and all points in between and saw the average fall by $207 a head over last year's result, when 61 bulls topped at $5750.

Market topper at $8000 was the 18-month-old Medway 5/328 (P) offered by the Bogantungan district operation, Medway Stud, owned by the Donaldson family. Sired by Glenlands First Class, the milk tooth Medway entry scaled in at 598kg and was purchased by Jim Murphy, Idracowra Station, Alice Springs, who ended with six head averaging $4666. Medway averaged $3739 for its 22 head.

The Atkinson family, Katandra Stud, Hughenden, sold 10 averaging $3125. Donald and Wendy Brown, Latrobe Stud, Longreach, secured a $3250 result for their 12, while Bouldecombe-based Glenlands Stud, owned by the Childs family, received a $3932 average for 22 head.

The Lower family, Yackatoon Stud, Peaks Crossing, sold 28 head to average $2750, while a line of 24 bulls from Charlie and Jackie Hawkins, Herbertvale Stud, Camooweal, sold for a $2823 average.

The Saint family, Kurundi Station, Tennant Creek, took home 18 head, which averaged $2805 to a top of $3750. Matching those numbers purchased was the Ford family, Hughenden Station, whose draft set a $3208 average. The Ford purchases are destined for their NT holding, Tennant Creek Station and topped at $4000.

Sean Lee, Murray Downs, Tennant Creek, paid to $3750 for his 12, which set an average $3375. Another to invest was Shane Braitling, Numery Station, Alice Springs, who signed off on nine for a $3750 average and a top of $4000.

Tanami Downs Station, Alice Springs, selected seven for a top of $3750 to set a $3285 average while Charles Darwin University, Katherine, secured six to average $3292 and top at $4000. Buchanan Station, Katherine, acting through Ray White Rural, accounted for 11 bulls for an average outlay of $2522 and a top of $3000.

Bryan Gill NT DPI, Kim & Shane Braitling - Numrey (c&r)		Brett Kraft, Daniel Tapp Big River Stn Roper River, John Fraser
Brenda,Peter & Ben Saint - Kurundi		Jim Murphy - Idracowra(l) & Hastings