Bowman Angus bull sale brings good average and clearance

The top-priced bull was lot 29, Bowman Chisum Q68, was bought for $17000 by new buyers Lou, Rose and Jaz Maher from Stratford.

Ms Maher said the bull would bring new genetics and hybrid vigour to their operation.

She had been looking at bulls by the American sire S Chisum 255 in the leadup to the sale but had not previously seen them in the flesh.

Lot 29 was favoured for his phenotype, quiet nature, and genetic diversity.

The family ran a regenerative grazing system and also wanted a bull that was proven to do well off grass, she said.

She described him as "cookie cutter consistency" and noted the stud had done a very good job with the lineup of bulls.

Volume buyers at the sale included Don Bowman of Elders Korumburra, and Smith Graziers, Tambo Crossing, who both purchased four bulls.

Stud principal Glenn Bowman said it was a great result.

"It's improving year on year," he said.

"The main thing is to keep getting the cattle out there and show people how good they are, the quality of the genetics, and try and increase the carcase content and that's showing out in the calves that are coming through that people are breeding with.

He said this year's lineup of bulls had more carcase expression than the year before.

The top-priced bull was always expected to do well, he said.

The stud ran its first bull sale in spring but the autumn fixture would be kept going forward, he said.

"It also gives people access to the younger genetics and they can use the bulls earlier, so it just suits everyone," he said.

It had been a gradual process to get the stud to this point and it was rewarding to see the genetics gaining traction, he said.

"There's a lot of good repeat clientele coming through and then it's growing from there, the neighbours are looking over the fence and they're seeing my bulls out in the paddock and saying, 'oh, where did that come from?'," he said.

"It's just helping grow the footprint - word of mouth is excellent."

Elders stud stock manager and auctioneer Ross Milne said the average was higher than the first sale and the clearance rate was very strong.

"This is only his second sale so obviously made up of a lot of new clients, so really pleasing," he said.

The lineup of bulls was very good, he said.

"I think they catered for most programs - they're grass-fed," he said.

"I thought they presented very well in good workable order and obviously at lot of the bulls are represented by some of the best cow families in the country so certainly guys who bought here should be put in a pretty good position moving forward."