The figures from the ring showed a total clearance of 27 per cent, with none of the 12 bulls sold.

But numbers don’t tell the whole story, in the opinion of West Australian stud breeder Gary Buller, who sold the top-priced cow and calf and top-priced bull for the previous four years.

“The presentation of the cattle was the best I’ve seen, there was overall quality right through the yarding; there was no tail in the quality,” Mr Buller said.

“The prices certainly did not reflect that quality; there were six outstanding bulls at the sale and the cattle there could have competed with any other breed.”

So, why the poor results in the ring?

“Perhaps there is a lack of confidence, brought about by the season, the uncertain market prices and the waiting time to kill cattle,” he said.

“Normally we would have strong support from South Australia, northern NSW and Queensland but they have had shocking seasons and the buyers just weren’t there because of that.

“Maybe if the sale was a fortnight earlier it might have been different.”

Mr Buller brought six cow-calf lots and one bull to the sale and got the second, third, fourth and fifth top lot prices for the ring, holding onto two of his cows and calves and the bull, after they failed to reach their reserve.

But both sold after the auction, with the bull, Lot 56, selling to Prairie Falls Murray Greys at Flinders in Victoria for $5000; the top priced-bull at the sale.

The Flinders stud also bought the top-priced cow and calf, Jomal Glen Umfa F10, for $4750, from Jomal Glen Murray Greys at Murrumburrah, NSW.

The top-price heifer was sold for $1600 by Yamba Murray Greys at Narrandera to Barinya Murray Greys at Bullioh.

A total of 24 cattle sold, including two bulls at $5000 and $3000, 16 cows and calves to an average of $2812 and six heifers, to an average of $1220. The final gross achieved was $61,900.