Warrawindi Limousin av $5013

After three years as a seller in the multi-vendor Great Southern Limousin sale at Hamilton, Vic, the Galpin family, Penola, made a triumphant return to holding their fourth on-property sale last Thursday.

They sold 18 of their 22 apricot and black bulls at a $5013 average - up more than $800 on their 2014 effort at Hamilton.

The bulls were all poll with some terrific North American and British genetics represented, and growth and carcase performance figures largely in the top 5 per cent of the Limousin breed.

Two ET sons of Wulfs Xtractor X233X topped the sale at $7750, both going to Garrison Cattle Feeders. Warrawindi Johnny and Warrawindi Jagermeister were in the top 1pc for all growth EBVs and had great carcase shape.

Both these apricot coloured bulls went to repeat buyer Redbank manager Darren Jenke for Garrison's Lucindale property.

"They are always very good-muscled bulls with a bit of softness, great for producing our vealer calves," Mr Jenke said.

"Their temperament is as good as you get."

Four of the seven Xtractor sons sold at a $7063 average.

Another feature of the catalogue was the first three bulls to be sold in Australia by one of the Britain's leading growth and muscling sires Wilodge Cerberus. The powerful sons sold to a $7500 high averaging $6000.

Malcolm and Heather Lambert, Penola, bought the top-priced Cerberus son as well as a Stevens Moonwalker son at $4000.

Ninety per cent of the bulls sold within a 50-kilometre radius of Warrawindi.

JG&W Bignell, Glencoe, and John Carmichael , Lake Mundi, were among the multiple buyers with two bulls each.

Stud principal David Galpin said it was a good solid sale but an average of about $5000 was what they needed to remain profitable, especially with the significant costs of flushing donor cows and importing semen.

"We have a lot of clients who are happy with what they are getting here,'' he said. ''They are happy to spend $6000 to $8000 on a good commercial bull because they know they will get it back when they sell their calves."

Warrawindi's own commercial nine-month-old vealers averaged 382 kilograms and $800kg last November.

Mr Galpin said the decision to sell on-property definitely paid off - it was more economical for themselves and more convenient for the buyers.

Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson Penola was the selling agent and Ashley Braun auctioneer.

"The way the cattle market is going is helping the vealer blokes but the Galpins have done a hell of a job presenting the bulls too," Mr Braun said.

"They are getting more and more clients, which is a credit to what they are breeding and the genetics they are spending good money on."

Warrawindi's next project will be to display and offer cattle at Beef 2015 at Rockhampton, Qld, in May - the stud's first trip to the huge beef event, held every three years.