*22 of 29 bulls sold to $20,000, av $7272
Sugarloaf Creek Herefords stud principals Andrew and Serena Klippel, Towong, sold 22 bulls under the hammer to a top of $20,000 at their inaugural open auction on Monday.
Mr Klippel said the results saw the catalogue average $7272.
This was the first time the stud had offered bulls by open auction on the property, previously selling mainly via private treaty during the Stock & Land Beef Week open day.
Bulls were also sold at the Wodonga National Show and Sale.
Mr Klippel said the the open auction was a fairer system for all prospective buyers and also reduced the pressure on the vendors.
He said the buying pool had been impacted by dry conditions with some regular buyers not active.
Buyers attended from across North-East and Western Victoria as well as Cooma, Cootamundra and Culcairn in NSW.
Buyer of the top-priced lot, Sugarloaf Naughty by Nature N159, was regular buyers Robert and Jill Reid and son Scott, Chudleigh, Howlong, NSW.
The bull was by Karoonda Reggie and had Estimated Breeding Values of +42 kilograms for 200-day weight, +70kg for 400-day weight and +101kg for 600-day weight and an eye muscle area of +4.3 square centimetres.
Robert Reid said the Sugarloaf cattle had always done well for his operation, which joined around 600 females.
Mr Reid said the aim was to produce feeder steers around 450-500kg.
The Reids also paid $11,000 for Sugarloaf Night Rider N104, who had figures of +34kg 200 days, +54kg 400 days, +80kg 600 days, and +4 sqcm for EMA.
A third bull also went the same way at $7000 for Sugarloaf Nate N157.
Both lots were by Karoonda Reggie.
The second top price of $18,000 was paid by Peter Sykes, Mawarra Herefords, Longford, a first time buyer at Sugarloaf.
The lot was Sugarloaf Nowra N124 by Battalion Black Hawk K7.
The 2017-drop bull had figures for 200, 400 and 600 day weights of +38kg, +66kg, +101kg and +5.1 sqcm for EMA.
Another volume buyer was Des Feuerherdt, Springfield, Culcairn, NSW, buying Sugarloaf Neighbour N102 for $9000.
The bull was also sired by Karoonda Reggie.
The same buyer paid $6500 for Sugarloaf Mums Money N102 by Ironbark F057 Advance; they bought a third bull at $4500.
Other studs to make purchases at the sale included Lotus Herefords, Glen Innes, NSW, which paid $10,000 for Sugarloaf New Wealth N112.
Highlands Herefords of Richie and Geoff Larson, Cootamundra, NSW, paid $8000 for Sugarloaf Noteworthy N181; the bull was sired by Battalion Black Hawk K7.
A polled bull, Sugarloaf Nighcap N137, was bought by the Bona Vista stud, Walla Walla, NSW; the bull was sired by Sugarloaf Loyal N124 (P).
Mr Klippel said he would still send two bulls to Wodonga sale.
Because of the season, a number of bulls sold would remain on the property until the buyers needed them.
