Nunniong Hereford stud records low clearance after 'tough year'

The Ensay stud sold just 13 of 30 bulls on offer, passing 16 bulls in at auction following the withdrawal of another bull prior to the sale.

"It was tough enough and we expected it but we would've liked a better clearance but sometimes you can't always have that," Mr Commins said.

"A lot of the bulls went off their tucker in January after we got this green flush ... there was all this green grass with no guts in it."

A majority of the bulls bought will remain locally after they were purchased by local clients, including the top-priced sire purchased by long-term clients Phil and Kerri Geehman, Ensay.

The Geeham's have previously bought the stud's top-priced bulls in 2019 and 2013, respectively.

"We really liked his size and the muscle right through him," Mr Geeham said.

"We liked him when we came here during Beef Week and since then he's gained more weight so we plan to use him as a herd improver across our first cross Shorthorn cows."

Lot 6 Nunniong Snow Gum, a May 2018 drop bull, had estimated breeding values (EBVs) of a 7.5-kilogram birth weigh, a 200-day weight of 42kg, a 400-day weight of 68kg and a 600-day weight of 94kg.

He recorded a 0.5 millimetre rib, a 0.6mm rump and an eye muscle area (EMA) of 3.8 square centimetres.

"We would've bought a bull at Bluey's very first sale 20-odd years ago and we've returned ever since, not that we've bought one every year, but they have been very high performing bulls," Mr Geeham said.

Following the sale, four remaining Hereford bulls were sold to clients with the remaining herd expected to be sold by June.

Nutrien Ag Solutions auctioneer Peter Godbolt said the sale was reflective of the challenging conditions in East Gippsland.

"The sale was in and out and people really selected the bulls they liked and went hard on those," Mr Godbolt said.

"We had a lot of return buyers but people have been through a few tough years with the drought and the fires so the clients have had a lot to deal with and that was a major factor."

Tambo Crossing stud Tambo Angus held its bull sale following the Nunniong auction, recording a 100 per cent clearance rate on its 10 bulls offered.

Stud principal Kevin Dean said he was pleased with the result considering the difficult season his sires had experienced with nearby bushfires.

Eight of the bulls were purchased by Glenshiel Pastoral, Butchers Ridge, to a top of $7500, twice while Alan and Noeleen Smith, Innisfail, Omeo, bought one bull for $4000.

Carisbrook stud Caskieben Shorthorns also partcipated in the sale, selling three of four bulls on offer after the withdrawal of a fifth bull prior to sale.

Stud principal Geoff Williamson, Carisbrook, said he had hoped for a "stronger" result after selling the three bulls for $4000 each.

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