WESTERN Vic buyers turned out in force for the first Poll Hereford bull sale of the SA selling season, taking two-thirds of the Kerlson Pines and Oakdowns studs' combined sale catalogue.
This strong support ensured a substantial $530 lift in the sale average at the Waterfront complex, Naracoorte, on Friday.
Thirty-six of the 50 bulls offered by Andrew and Vanessa Schwarz, Oakdowns stud, Bordertown, and Mark and Anita, and Andrew Wilson, Kerlson Pines, Keith, found homes at a $4680 average.
Each stud offered 25 bulls with Oakdowns selling 21 at a $4738 average including the $9000 sale topper Kerlson Pines sold 15 to $7000 twice and $4600 average.
The sale lacked a volume pastoral order or two to sustain a higher clearance rate but there were plenty of positives for the passionate whiteface breeders, with the higher average and six more bulls sold than at the previous year's sale.
The youngest bull in the sale - October 2013-drop Oakdowns Jumbo J206 - was among those to remain in SA, going to Nick Laucke, Laucke-Merrina stud, Bordertown, at the $9000 top.
The sale topper was a son of Yarrandabbie Egan - which Oakdowns purchased at the Wodonga National Hereford Sale, Vic, in 2011 - and had tremendous performance, weighing 770 kilograms at just 16.5 months. He had a solid spread of Breedplan figures including 400 and 600-day weights of +44 and +63, and an eye muscle area rating of +3.1.
Two other Egan sons with great length and thickness sold to studs in a real coup for Oakdowns.
Nathan Clarke, Wongawilli stud, Keilira, bought one at $7500, and BLW Steer & Sons, Warrensville stud, Bordertown, secured one at $5500.
Kerlson Pines' draft reached $7000 twice. The first of these, Kerlson Pines Explosion J76, was bought by long-time client Lorna Goodridge, Peterborough, and was a maternal brother to KP Explosion H22, the 2014 Sydney Royal senior champion bull which the stud retained.
The other, Kerlson Pines Jetstar J88, was bought by Spence Dix & Co's Rodney Dix for DG&PE Avery, Broken Hill - one of two bulls they bought.
Competition was spirited on the top end of the catalogue but the 35 registered bidders were selective, looking for the right combination of visual appeal and objective measurements.
There was some great-value buying with 16 bulls making $4000 or less.
Avon Park Oakley, Dartmoor, Vic, was the sale's volume buyer with three bulls averaging $3333.
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
