JAMESTOWN buyer Frank Tohl, AB&MC Tohl & Son, paid the top price of $9000 at the Kerlson Pines/Oak Downs sale at Keith this week.
It was Mr Tohl's second time purchasing at the sale and he was especially impressed by the temperament of the bulls.
Making $9000 was Kerlson Pines Nightclub N011 - a 21 month old bull that weighed 804 kilograms.
A heifer's first calf, Nightclub was sired by Mount Difficult Kearney K18 and out of Kerlson Pines Regal L32.
It ranked in the top five per cent of the breed for rib and rump fat and in the top 10pc for calving ease and carcase weight.
In the sale breakdown, Kerlson Pines sold 17 out of 28 bulls offered, for a $9000 top and $5382 average.
Oak Downs sold 20 out of 29 bulls offered for a $8500 top and $5400 average.
Overall, 37 out of 57 bulls sold for an average of $5391.
There were also a further four bulls sold after the sale.
Making the top price for Oak Downs was Nambrok N15 - 22.5 month old bull that weighed 944kg.
It was sired by Day Fabulous K173 and out of Oak Downs Novelty L26.
Nambrok had been used by Oak Downs on stud heifers as a yearling last year.
A heifer's first calf, Nambrok was in the top 5pc of the breed for gestation length, scrotal size and eye muscle area and in the top 10pc for 400 and 600 day weights, carcase weight and retail beef yield.
Nambrok was bought by Landmark Mount Gambier agent Jeff Olafsen on behalf of GH,A&BR Kuhl, Mount Gambier.
Volume buyers on the day were PS&KE Vanderpeer, Kingston, taking two Kerlson Pines bulls to $4500, averaging $4250, as well as three Oak Downs bulls, all at $4000.
Invaloch Pastoral, Strathdownie, Vic, bought four Kerlson Pines bulls to $8000, averaging $5500.
Vic buyers included Coolami Partnership, Coleraine, Vic, who bought two Oak Downs bulls to $8000, averaging $6500, and Norbry Family Trust, Edenhope, Vic, two Oak Downs bulls to $5000, averaging $4500.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark, with Ross Milne and Gordon Wood auctioneering.
Mr Wood said the bulls offered had "plenty of grunt and performance".
"One of the stand out aspects to (both stud's) bulls is their growth for age, while also maintaining softness and doing-ability," he said.
"The sale results were a reflective of the season. Buyers have had no pressure to go into their second or third options, they've been able to secure their first pick, and that's been reflected in the clearance."
Oak Downs' Andrew Schwarz said he expected clearance to be down this year.
"It's definitely a buyer's market," he said.
Kerlson Pines' Mark Wilson was pleased the average was not too far back on last year.
"We just need some rain in the pastoral areas," he said.
"Until then, we'll just keep pushing forward and keep on producing a quality product."