THE best season for bringing out the sale crop was matched by the highest prices achieved at the Wilencote polled Hereford bull sale on the property at Ngatapa on Tuesday. Three and four way battles to secure bulls pushed prices up to on average $6240 for 30 sires. This was $2874 above last year's figure and reflects the confidence in the beef market and the efforts by the stud to turn out cattle that had the opportunity to express their genetics. For Peter and Susie Humphreys the season enabled them to present the most consistent sale crop they have been able to put before buyers.

Wilencote Accelerator, a bull by Koanui Wisconsin that was bought at the 1998 national sale, sold for stud purposes to the neighbouring Woodlynd Hereford stud run by Pen and Roger Wanklyn for $11,000. Top price for a run bull of $8900 was paid by Arakihi Station, one of several stations who bought several lots.

The sale saw the last bull sell for $6100, a higher value than the first lot into the rostrum which weighed 860kg and had an impressive list of EBVs. As it neared the end bidding became desperate and the bulls got dearer.

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