MORE than 45 years of Poll Hereford stud breeding was on offer at Keith on Wednesday at the Kerlson Pines dispersal sale.
During the auction, which had 59 registered buyers as well as more through AuctionsPlus, 154 females sold from the 156 offered to a sale high of $27,000 and an average of $6006.
The equated to 119 of 120 cow and calf units, averaging $6281; 31 of 32 joined heifers sold to $15,000, averaging $5209, and four unjoined, October 2019-drop heifers sold to $4500, averaging $4000.
Cattle are heading throughout SA, into NSW, Vic, Qld and the NT.
The top price female was lot 80, a rising six-year-old Kerlson Pines Last Day L24, which had a July drop bull calf at-foot.
It had been senior and grand champion Poll Hereford female at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2017 and 2019.
The daughter of Allendale Anzac H181 and Kerlson Pines Last Day F115, the cow would have been part of Kerlson Pines' embryo transfer donor program if not for the dispersal.
Among its estimated breeding values were figures of +1.1 for rib fat, +2.3 for rump fat, +6.1 for eye muscle area, +15 for milk and +91 for 600 day growth.
Bidding started at $10,000, before jumping up quickly, with bids coming from within the sale arena and via AuctionsPlus.
The successful bid belonged to the buying partnership of Kianma Poll Herefords, Forbes, NSW, and Granite Hill Poll Herefords, Bungendore, NSW.
Kianma's Nikki Martin said they had originally wanted to buy this cow's dam but when that cow was not available during the sale, "we went the next best thing, her daughter".
Ms Martin said they had plans to include Last Day F115 in their own ET program.
The excitement of the high prices happened again shortly after, with lot 84 selling to $24,000.
Kerlson Pines Regal L74, another rising six-year-old with a heifer calf at-foot, was the daughter of Kerlson Pines Highway H12 and Kerlson Pines Regal G24, and was the senior and grand champion Poll Hereford female at the Adelaide Show in 2018.
Its figures included positive rib and rump scores and +6 for EMA and +55 for 400 day weight gain.
Buyers Brett and Trina Thompson, Gumaroo, Nuriootpa, said they had picked the cow out in the paddock before looking at its figures and realising its show ring success and pedigree.
The Thompsons have only been operating their stud for a bit over two years but say Kerlson Pines bloodlines had been a big part of their foundation.
Mr Thompson said they were also impressed with the "awesome" heifer at-foot.
Kerlson Pines manager Mark Wilson said he had anticipated a lot of interest in lot 80 and 84.
Regal L74 had twin daughters to Mawarra Ohio L416 at-foot during the 2018 Adelaide Royal, with these starting off the sale at lots one and two.
The first - Kerlson Pines Regal P002 - sold to $11,000 to the Klippel family of Sugarloaf Creek Herefords, Corryong, Vic, through AuctionsPlus, while the second - Kerlson Pines Regal P003 - made $9000 and was bought by Mount Meredith Herefords, Mount Gambier.
Mount Meredith bought seven cows in total, averaging $6857.
Kerlson Pines Miss Nancy M128, a 4.5-year-old daughter of Allendale Washington G82 and Kerlson Pines Miss Nancy H8, sold via AuctionsPlus to Robrick Lodge Thoroughbreds, Parkville, NSW, for $18,000.
A full-sister to lot 80, a three-year-old Kerlson Pines Last Day P016, which had a bull calf at-foot, sold to $15,500 to DD Hill, through Nutrien Ag, Dubbo, NSW.
The Hills also bought 2015-drop Kerlson Pines Annie L1, with its bull calf, at $12,000.
Kerlson Pines Regal N007, a 2017-drop cow with a heifer calf, was bought for $15,000 by YavenVale Herefords, Adelong, NSW, via AuctionsPlus. Yavenvale bought eight females in total, averaging $7437.
Kerlson Pines Queenie L8, a 2015-drop twin with a bull calf at-foot, sold to $14,000 to MP&ND Duthie, through Grant Daniel Long, Dalby, Qld.
The first of the joined heifers, lot 128, set the standard, with March 2019-drop Kerlson Pines Regal Q002 - another daughter of the $24,000 lot 84 and Allendale Gambler L143 - selling to $15,000.
The heifer, which had figures of +6.9 EMA and +91 600 day weight, was bought by Reevesdale Poll Herefords, Gum Flat, NSW.
Reevesdale picked up three females throughout the sale, including 2018-drop Kerlson Pines Last Day, another Last Day F115 daughter with Allendale Gambler L143, which had a bull calf at-foot, for $12,500.
The Reevesdales averaged $11,166.
The sales volume buyer was Tepco Props, through TDC Penola, which picked up 15 females to $5500, averaging $4933.
Boco Pastoral Co, Nimmitabel, NSW, bidding through AuctionsPlus, bought 12 females to $6000, averaging $4250.
Prichard Nominees, through Bryan Unthank Rural, Albury, NSW, and also bidding through AuctionsPlus, bought 10 females, averaging $4400.
Yavenvale Herefords, Adelong, NSW, bought eight females to
Perkins Pastoral, through Nutrien Ag, Alexandra, Vic, bought eight females to $5500, averaging $4312.
RELATED: Kerlson Pines blitzes broadribbons
Stud owner Stuart Adlington said the day was one of "mixed emotions".
"It's pleasing to see such a great crowd of old friends and clients but (the other side) is selling these beautiful cows," he said.
Sandra Wilson, who started the stud in 1976 with her parents Jack and Mavis Kerley and late husband Dean Wilson, said it all started with the purchase of sire Wirreanda Douglas at the Naracoorte show and sale.
"Dad loved Poll Hereford cattle and he would be very proud to see the line of cattle today," she said.
"We're very proud of what we've achieved in our years and I have full confidence (the cattle) will do well."
The Wilson family has retained some of their bloodlines with 13-year-old Trav Wilson buying two cows during the auction to bring his stud Travdean Poll Herefords up to six cows.
Throughout the years Kerlson Pines had a number of successes at the multi-vendor Naracoorte Poll Hereford Show & Sale, including in 2005, when they won the junior, senior and grand champion and had the top price for their bull.
They also claimed a grand champion at the Dubbo Poll Hereford National Show and Sale in 2008, in only their second year of attending.
There have also been a number of broadribbons at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and Royal Adelaide Show, including recent success such as winning the grand champion or reserve grand champion Poll Hereford female at Adelaide every year since 2015, including a clean sweep of all major breed broadribbons in 2018 and again in 2019.
Mr Wilson said they paid particular focus to their maternal lines, which made it pleasing to see them appreciated during the dispersal.
"It was fantastic to see the support we have for our breeding program," he said.
"It was a fitting result for the end of the herd.
"It's been a privilege to breed these cattle and I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do in the future."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Livestock and Elders, with Richard Miller and Ross Milne sharing the auctioneering duties.
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Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
