In all 62 of the 63 bulls offered sold to a $19,000 top price to average $7806, with 32 black composite bulls leading the way at $8344 and the top price of $19,000, 11 of 12 Red Angus bulls sold to $14,000, averaging $7864 and all 19 red composite bulls averaged $6868 after topping at $12,000.

It was a great way to open the new sale barn at Hicks, as Covid transformed the new shed into a socially distanced auction house with bulls parading on several screens.

Border restrictions held many buyers back from attending, but not buying as they loaded up through the Auctionsplus platform to secure 22 of the 62 lots on offer and bidding on atleast 90 percent of the catalogue, against a solid crowd in the sale shed.

The top bull was snapped up online McMillan Holdings, Mossvale, for $19,000. He was a meat machine by the Rennylea G420 sire, who went back to the ever present Te mania Berkley B1 sire.

Stud principal Tom Hicks said his All Purpose Index and Terminal Index profit numbers, ranked him well above the top 1% in the world at 182.8 and 97.8 respectively.

He was coupled with low birth weight figures and outstanding carcase data.

Justin Way, Rodwells, Benalla, Vic, paid up to $13,000 for three bulls to average $11,000 for return clients Maxjem Pty Ltd, Tatong, Vic, who run approximately 2000 cows that breed steers destined for the domestic trade market.

Mr Way said the bulls were set to breed replacement females for the herd and the steer portion will be aimed at the domestic trade with a heavy focus on the grass fed trade markets, producing steers from 600 to 650 kilograms.

The top Red Angus bull sold to David Ware Pastoral, Warrong, Vic, who paid $14,000 for Hicks Profit Builder P76, an unregistered bull, who was top five per cent for calving ease and had great carcase data, with good fat, muscling and marbling.

Glynn Williams, Murrambateman, runs a Red Angus base cow herd and wanted to add some vigour and outcross into his calves by paying $8000 for a new red composite sire.

Locals also got in on the action with Gelndaruel Pastoral Company, Holbrook, snapping two black bulls up for a $6750 average, while SD and FM Anderson, "Kanimbla", Holbrook, secured a single bull at $9000 and the Murdoch Family "Glen Fallon", Holbrook paid $11,000 for their new sire.

Spinifex Pastoral Company, Swan Hill, Vic, agtain set a floor in the market securing six bulls for a $7083 average, while Ottawa Pastoral Company, Bectric, loaded three at $6167, Oatleigh Pastoral Company, Millthorpe bought two at $8000 and $6000, while Takajo Pastoral Company, Wagga Wagga rounded out the sale with two at $8750.

The sale was conducted by Elders with Joe Wilks as the auctioneer..