REPEAT clients asserted their dominance during the bidding at the annual Karoo Angus bull sale at Meadow Flat near Bathurst on Thursday.
The flurry of bids was consistent right across the 76 bulls offered at auction by the Reen and Scott families and resulted in all lots being sold for an average of $14,868 and top of $34,000.
Karoo Angus co-principal Annie Scott said the bulls were the best run they had offered and the better season leading into the sale had certainly assisted in their presentation.
The strength of the cattle market and much better seasonal conditions, coupled with the quality Karoo bloodlines, meant the average was the highest achieved by the stud so far.
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"I'm so grateful for all the support our family has received for this year's sale from both return buyers and a few new faces," Mrs Scott said.
"When we all went into lockdown a week before the sale, I was uncertain how it would all go, but we've been appreciative that so many cattle producers have worked with us, followed the COVID-19 guidelines and managed to be at the sale.
"The buyer support on AuctionsPlus, with 13 of the bulls being bought via the system, was also pleasing."
Forty-nine bulls attracted bids via AuctionsPlus during the auction, indicating the confidence in the Karoo bloodlines and bidding remotely.
Karoo-blood young cattle are a common sight at the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange near Carcoar, selling among the top pens, and the vendors of those cattle returned once again to top-up their commercial herd genetics.
However, stud cattle breeders were also chasing the Karoo bloodline and one Southern Highlands operation managed to place the winning bid for the top-priced bull, Karoo N321 Junior R93.
The 16-month-old son of Karoo J266 Junior N321 was knocked down to the Probert family of Spring Hill Angus, Woodlands, for $34,000.
Mrs Scott said the bull was from one of the strongest cow families in the herd, Karoo Doris H272, and his Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) for carcase weight was in the top six per cent at +82kg.
On the scales, he weighed in at 686kg with a scrotal circumference of 39cm.
The second top-priced bull was Karoo Exclusive R68, bought by Alto Rural manager Phillip Redding, Dunedoo.
The 17-month-old oozed softness and length, while also having top EBV figures for carcase weight (+75kg) and eye muscle area (+9 square centimetres).
He was sired by Mulgrave 316 Exclusive from Karoo Stephi L45, weighed 726kg and had a scrotal circumference of 41cm.
Conrad and Kate Strahorn, "Stirling", Belgravia, between Orange and Molong, bidding via AuctionsPlus, were repeat buyers and took home four bulls for a top of $17,000 and average of $15,500.
Pastquale Lucchitti, Tuglow Station, Gingkin, bought four bulls for an average of $13,250 and top of $16,000, while Tim Mendham, Barry, also took home four bulls for an average of $11,000 and top of $15,000.
The sale was conducted by Ray White Emms Mooney, Blayney, with Liam Murphy taking up the auctioneer duties.
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