A FRENCH pure bull ranked highly for seven performance traits topped the Le Meilleur Limousin stud sale today.
The inaugural on-property sale was held at Albury by stud principals Stuart and Gigi Schneider.
From the 30 bulls offered, 19 were sold for a gross of $58,400 and average of $3073.
Repeat client James Williams, of Mulwala, paid the top price of $5750 for Le Meilleur Dapper Donald.
An apricot son of Ionesco, the two-year-old bull weighed 890kg and ranked in the top 20 per cent on Breedplan for seven performance traits.
Mr Williams also paid $2500 for a two-year-old son of Romn Justice.
He liked Dapper Donald's structure, muscle definition and docility.
"It was a pretty tough sale and reflected what happened at the Limousin national with the average down,'' Mr Williams said.
"But it is the first sale and can only get better once calves starting coming into the market place.''
Co-principal Gigi Schneider said the stud had relocated from Quirindi five years ago and was building clientele in the Riverina.
Mrs Schneider said repeat clients had shown strong support and the stud had gained several new ones.
Buyers attended from Mt Gambier, Merriwa, Adelong, Corryong, Mt Beauty, Tocumwal, Mulwala, Walla Walla and Burrumbuttock.
Major buyers included Tony Iaria, Mt Beauty, with seven females to $1500, Stuart Paton, Corryong, with four females, and Glen Ayr Pty Ltd, Tocumwal, taking home two bulls and three females.
