WITHERSWOOD Docklands' bulls attracted strong bidding – and the highest prices – at the stud's 12th annual autumn sale at Taminick this week.
With prices ranging from $3000 to $12,000, stud principal John Woodruff said the average of $4714 was probably a record for the stud.
"We find our local area supports us very well," Mr Woodruff said.
"They see the Witherswood steers go through the sales and bring good money.
"They buy the type of bulls we breed – we breed bulls for producers for local markets."
Mr Woodruff said the stud aimed to turn off sires which had thickness and good, sound bone structure.
"We live on our cow families – if our cows are good, the bulls will follow," he said.
"People have liked what they have seen today and that will keep us breeding."
Bidders set the pace early, paying $12,000 for lot 5: Witherswood Docklands J0115.
Mr Woodruff said the top-priced animal was a "lovely, soft-skinned bull".
"He can be used over heifers or cows, has a nice weight and nice phenotype and is just a really, really top-quality bull." Mr Woodruff said.
"We have perhaps had higher prices but the sale was very even – there were bulls for all buyers so no-one was disappointed."
That sale was followed shortly afterwards with $11,000 for lot 8: Witherswood Docklands JO149.
Both were by sire Carabar Docklands D62.
Corryong graziers Richard and Jake Faithfull paid the top price.
They were among several repeat buyers as bulls went into an area around the stud.
Bulls went to 35 different buyers, with Carrington Property Company taking six sires, paying up to $6000 for Equator and Henry VIII stock.
Only two bulls went interstate, to NSW, the others mainly going into North East Victoria and the mountains.
Jake Faithfull said he paid top dollar based on Docklands' growth and the calving ability of the animal's daughters.
He and father Richard run 400 Angus cows at Corryong.
"I have bought a couple of their bulls before and the are probably the best-looking bulls in the paddock," Mr Faithfull said.
Witherswood Docklands JO115, a 17-month-old bull by Carrabar Docklands out of Witherswood Abigail, was rated as having eight traits and four indices in the top 15 per cent of estimated breeding values (EBVs).
The bull weighed 850 kilograms.
Its EBVs were +4.8 for birthweight (BW), +48 for 200-day weight, + 92 for 400-day weight and +125 for 600-day weight and 1.2 for intramuscular fat (IMF).
The second-highest price paid was for Witherswood Docklands JO149, bought for $11,000 by JW Payne, Mulwala, NSW, who also bought Witherswood Frankel J0078 for $7500.
The 776kg bull, lot 8, was also 19 months old and recorded a +5.6 BW, +51 for 200-day weight and + 1.2 IMF.
GTSM Auctioneer Michael Glasser said the average was quite solid, which showed the depth of the Witherswood program.
