STRONG online bidding from four states was a big part of the success of Allendale and Days Whiteface Poll Hereford studs' annual bull sale on Monday, accounting for nearly one third of the lots sold.
It also led a much improved clearance with bids continuing until the end of the auction rather than last year when there was a high pass in rate of the final 20 lots.
Overall 77 of 85 bulls averaged $8480, which was eight more than 2023's sale although the average was back more than $1500.
The two studs' averages were within $150 dollars of each other with Alastair and Jayne Day's Allendale stud selling 34 of 37 bulls to a $17,000 high and $8558 average.
Lachy and Lou Day, Days Whiteface stud sold 43 of 48 bulls to $16,000 three times and averaged $8418.
The sale failed to reach any lofty heights only topping at $17,000 - half last year's sale high.
However when the sale topper,lot 12, Allendale TDF Justice T044 was knocked down it had Alastair and Jayne's young nephew Tom Fulcher - who owned the bull - grinning from ear to ear.
Tom grew up on Walhallow Station in the Northern Territory which his parents Felicity and Cameron managed for many years.
He has been living in the Bordertown area for the past five years as a mechanic with local John Deere dealer, Brandt.
In 2021 his mother offered to transfer some breeding females she had running at Allendale, ending up with nine cows with calves.
"I had two (bulls) in the sale last year, one made $8000 and one didn't sell but this is really exciting."
Tom said he was grateful to Alastair and Jayne for allowing him to have an interest and spend many of his weekends on the farm or at shows.
Third-generation Allendale buyers Craig and Robyn Gum, Kombali Farms, Pinnaroo, bought the sale topper which had an impressive pedigree being sired by $160,000 Australian record breaker Injemira Robert Redford Q287 and out of Allendale FCF Fancy L19.
Maternal half brothers to Justice had sold to a $16,000 high.
Mr Gum said the May 2022 drop which had been used over stud heifers had caught their eye for his "softness and build".
Justice's Breedplan figures matched this ranking in the top 10 per cent of the breed for rib and rump fat at +2.0 and +3.1, as well as birth weight at +1.0.
Two other AI bred Robert Redford sons with Allendale prefixes made $16,000.
The first of these lot 9, Allendale Pastoral T055 was knocked down to Senior Park, Bordertown, while lot 13, Allendale Prince T012, sold to Harlock Pastoral, Bool Lagoon.
Out of a heifer the April 2022 drop, which had a negative birth weight of -0.1 but outstanding eye muscle area at +7.4, had been used on stud heifers.
Six bulls made $15,000 or more including three from sale hosts Days Whiteface stud which shared their $16,000 top price honours.
The first of these lot 6, Days Milestone T047 sold to Mahwalloak East, Stockyard Hill, Vic through AuctionsPlus. It was one of their three buys.
Next to make $16,000 was lot 28, Days Limestone T094 which sold to JM Childs Farming Trust, Kalangadoo. The Robert Redford son had good calving ease figures.
The third Days bull at the top money, Godfather T178 will see stud duties selling to Tom and Amy Honner, Minlacowie stud, Brentwood.
It was one of three ET brothers in the sale which were bred from the stud's best cow, Days Fancy H31 and sired by Allendale Heidelberg M061.
The other two, Lot 1 and lot 16 made $14,000 and $9000 respectively.
Adding to the appeal Godfather T178 ranked in the top 10pc of the breed for all four indexes.
Ben and Nicole Hayes and family, Undoolya Holdings, via Alice Springs, NT, were the major online buyer securing nine bulls at $6000 to $7000.
Elders Broken Hill were among more than 120 users logged on buying three bulls at $6000 each.
Also heading to the western Division of NSW online were three bulls for LF&SM Mashford, Katalpa Station, Packsaddle.
They paid to $9000 and averaged $7667 for their buys.
It was not the biggest crowd ever seen at the sale but the 36 registered bidders on farm were all keen to buy.
GA Young & Sons, Kalangadoo, bought six bulls to $8000 twice and averaged $7000.
MJ Lloyd, Kingston SE, also left their mark on the sale with three bulls to a $10,000 high.
Alastair was pleased with the result describing it as a "really solid sale".
"I thought we may have hit some trouble but I think the bulls kept coming and people were happy to be keep bidding in the (lot) 70s and 80s," he said.
"It gives us a good base to keep going with, you need good results to keep reinvesting."
Lachy said they were very pleased with the support throughout the sale which reflected the evenness of the bulls.
Elders auctioneer Ross Milne -who shared the auctioneer duties with Gordon Wood - said the upside on last year was the stronger clearance but noted the sale still accommodated for everyone price wise.
"We had pretty good pastoral enquiry online and they were able to buy bulls at $6000 to $7000, most people who came today would say they got very good value," he said.
"They were a good run of bulls with good data."
Elders and Nutrien conducted the sale.
