Return clients turned out in droves for the annual Murdeduke Angus bull sale held on property at Winchelsea last Thursday.
With 72 industry relevant bulls on offer as described by principal Lachie Wilson as he opened the sale buyers brought with confidence.
In summary 61 bulls sold for a $6200 average with a top price of $10,500 reached.
Lachy Dullard and mother Jackie of Larobe Angus, Eurack, selected the top price bull Murdeduke Hussar N173 as their pick of the draft to join their commercial cow calf operation with a focus on producing heavy weaners.
"The best bull offered today, Hussar N173 had a short gestation length, moderate birthweight and the growth we are after" Mr Dullard said.
Hussar N173 ranked in the top five per cent of Angus breedplan for gestation length, 400-day weight, 600-day weight, scrotal size and carcase weight and in the top 10 pc for retail beef yield.
Respected local cattle producer Mark Jacob, South Dreeite, purchased the second top price bull Murdeduke Complement N48 for $10,000.
A bull that Murdeduke stud manager Simon Falkiner said arguably has the best estimated breeding value profile ranking in the top 1 pc for all growth traits, carcase weight and heavy grass index, in the top 5 pc for milk and Angus breeding index and top 10 pc for calving ease daughters, domestic index and heavy grain index.
Recent winners of the NSW Beef Spectacular Teys Certified Black Angus champion pen and return buyers James and Georgie Knight added two bulls to their sire battery including Murdeduke Upward N92 for $9000.
Upward N92 ranked in the top 5 pc of the breed for milk and top 10 pc for 400-day weight, carcase weight and retail beef yield.
While David Brazier, Euchareena, NSW, purchased Murdeduke Docklands N120 who ranked in the top 5 pc for gestation length, days to calving, carcase weight, Angus breeding and heavy grass indices, and top 10 pc for 600-day weight and heavy grain index for $9000 also.
Leading the volume buyers Mingawalla Ag, Beeac, who have been purchasing Murdeduke bulls for 10 years and market progeny as feedlot steers and export heifers, buying in quality lines of young cows as replacements.
With a focus on moderate birth weight and growth and an increasing emphasis on carcase traits Lach Barclay and livestock manager Will Dexter put together a draft of eight bulls for an average of $6800 paying to a top of $8000 for Murdeduke Hussar N17.
Also amongst the buyers Maranoa Downs Naracoorte paid to a top of $7000 for an Aryvale Bartel E7 son putting together a draft of five bulls.
The auction sale was conducted by Charles Stewart & Co and Landmark with Andrew Sloan conducting proceedings.