Ardno Performance Livestock's on-property sale at OB Flat was a first up success with some high profile genetics of both the Angus and Hereford breeds attracting plenty of bids.
A big crowd turned out to inspect Christine, Kent and Harry Comley's cattle as part of the stud's debut in Vic Beef Week last Saturday.
Many remained at the property to bid in the helmsman auction interfaced with AuctionsPlus that afternoon.
In the end 14 of 15 Angus bulls sold for a $8464 average and 11 of 23 Hereford bulls averaged $6909.
The $22,000 sale topper was among a few imported embryos from the United States which Ardno purchased from the Ravenswood stud in the Adelaide Hills.
They were a genetic combination of Stevenson Rockmount and one of the Angus breed's most influential females, Vermont Dream E283.
The lot 30 bull, Ardno Texan T22, which had plenty of eye appeal and carcase shape was bought by Vince Versace, Mount Gambier. It ranked in the top 3pc of the breed for eye muscle area with a +13.6 figure.
In the Poll Hereford offering it was progeny of $160,000 bull Injemira Robert Redford Q287 which turned plenty of heads.
Ardno bought the bull in 2021 in partnership with ABS Genetics and Vielum Pastoral Company, Mudgee, NSW.
One of these sons lot 3, Ardno TImberland T218 was the highest priced Hereford at $13,000.
It was bought by Legh Winser, Benara Pastoral, Mount Gambier.
The sale's volume buyer was KJ Upton, Wando Vale, Casterton, Vic, who secured three Poll Hereford bulls to a $9000 high.
The commercial females also sold extremely well with 20 PTIC Hereford heifers which were in calf to Robert Redford due to calve within weeks making $2625.
The same number of PTIC Angus heifers which had been AId to Millah Murrah Soldier reached $2325.
Ian Macdonnell, Glenarm Nominees, bought the 20 weaner heifers which were daughters of Robert Redford for $1270, He was also successful on two Hereford bulls.
Harry Comley said after selling bulls in the paddock for four or five years they wanted to give everyone an equal opportunity to get their pick bulls. He was pleased with the sale result.
"If you go back two or three months there was a lot more uncertainty about what was going to happen, so to see good averages and good top end buying gives us a lot of confidence going forward
"The ultimate goal is to have an auction but we will stick with the helmsman sale again next year which gives buyers more time to select and operate on all the bulls."
Harry said they were committed to breeding bulls that were commercially focused as they also run a 1500 cow commercial herd of both Hereford and Angus females.
"We are not the typical stud that feeds their bulls full of grain and has nearly 1000kg bulls, what we want is people to be able to buy our bulls and have them ready for work he next day," he said.
TDC Livestock & Property's Hayden Lambert said it was an "outstanding line up of bulls with mainly repeat buyers from Casterton, Mount Gambier, Millicent and Naracoorte areas.
"They have been using a lot of high profile bulls such as (Injemira) Robert Redford Q287 and Millah Murrah Paratrooper and are seeing the results of this considerable investment in their stud herd. It has also put a real lift in their commercial operation too," he said.
TDC and O'Connor & Graney were joint selling agents.
