1971
20 October 1971
CROWD SEE DEVONS GO UNDER THE HAMMER
(By Yvonne Bucknell)
Buyers from many parts of the Commonwealth were at Havilah, near Mudgee yesterday for the seventh annual Devon sale to be held on the property of the White family.
More than one hundred people sat in the small covered wooden stand or on straw bales stacked in tiers.
Others stood or leaned against rails.
The sale was unique in the annals of stud cattle sales in Australia because it was only the second time that figures were made available to potential bull buyers on the muscle quality and daily rate of gain for each bull.
Some 140 head of Devon cattle were put up for auction.
The offering included 40 stud and herd bulls aged two years and 70 commercial heifers aged between 18 months and 2 years.
The sale began soon after 1.30 p.m. and the crowd quietened and were all attentiveness.
In the auctioneer’s covered rostrum were four men, they were Mr. Denis White representing Havilah Pty. Ltd., Mr. Gaden for Dalgety Australia Ltd. (one of the selling agents), Mr. John L. McDonald of John L. McDonald (Stockmasters) Pty. Ltd., another of the selling agents, and the auctioneer, Mr. John Atwood.
SELLING RING
The cattle were ushered in through a series of chutes from a yard behind an adjacent shed to the selling ring where they were the focus of all eyes.
The changeovers from one beast to another went smoothly and efficiently as the sale progressed.
The bevy of men, often in khaki overalls with long sapling switches, moved the cattle from chute to chute and all one heard now and again was a “clang” as a gate was shut.
Each animal, whether he or she was the best in the offering or not considered to be the best, had “their” moment of truth as they stood in a sea of golden straw and gazed through the saleyard rails at the strange sight of some hundred people staring at them.
With the animal in the sale ring was a young man in the traditional white moleskins with a leather thonged cattle flay.
This was used to encourage the animal to move about the ring so that all may see it.
Sometimes the young man tried to encourage those near him to put in another bid, producing much mirth at intervals.
Buyers were encouraged by one of the selling agents, Mr. John McDonald, with remarks like “look at the muscle”, “one of the longest bulls in the draft, remember the longest ones weigh the most”, “this bull is full of balance”, “by jove a cheap bull”, “a terrific bull over the top,” “look at the way those pants are filled out” and so on.
Now and then some of these remarks caused a ripple of laughter from the crowd.
A 2 year stud bull, Lot 4, Havilah Brim 22nd was sold to Mr. Allingham of Hillgrave Pty. Ltd., Charters Towers for $1,500.
The same company also bought the next bull auctioned, Havilah Brim 19th for $900.
Mr. Wally Thorne of Umbiella, Glen Alice paid the second best price for a bull when he went to $1350 for lot 6, Havilah Passport 129th.
A West Australian buyer, Mr. Keith Snowball of Albany went to $1,000 for Havilah Overseer 108th.
Local bull buyers were C. E. Marskell and Company of Mudgee, and Mr. and Mrs. ? Sanderson.
Twenty-one stud bulls were sold for $14,675. Sixteen herd bulls sold for $6,600. Thirty stud heifers were sold for $10,325. Fort-eight de-horned commercial heifers were sold for $8,090. Eighteen poll Devon heifers sold for $3,220.
Total for the sale was $43,4001
.