Nunniong Herefords bulls sell for $11,000 twice

The Ensay stud in Victoria's east sold 22 of 32 Hereford bulls to a top price of $11,000 twice.

A mixture of return and new clients and strong demand by breeders keen to invest in trusted genetics helped the stud record an equal-top price following on from the 2020 sale, with the average slightly up by $253.

The two top-priced Hereford bulls were bought by return local commercial breeders, Tony and Joanne Prendergast, Tongio, and Peter and Sue Soutter, Benambra.

The Prendergasts secured Lot 1 Nunniong Massive Commercial to start the sale, adding to their draft of existing Nunniong bulls.

The April 2019-drop homozygous polled bull weighed 736 kilograms and was popular among buyers due to his good temperament, skin and solid frame.

Mrs Predergast said they had been looking for a suitable homozygous polled bull for a few years but had struggled to find one suited to their needs.

"We have three Nunniong bulls all of which we bought after the sales over a period of years because we couldn't get to them due to other commitments," Mrs Prendergast said.

"We've found them to be very handy bulls: they don't seem to break down or get sore feet and they keep going and going so they're very reliable.

"This bull will be put over our second and third calvers and when he gets a bit bigger we will use him over our bigger and older cows."

The second top-priced bull, purchased by the Soutters, was Lot 6 Nunniong Albatross Commercial, also an April 2019-drop polled bull which weighed in at 750kg.

Mr Commins said he was pleased with the presentation of the bulls after the year the herd had experienced.

"It's been a tough 12 months because the fires broke out in November 2019 so the bulls were really neglected right through until June," Mr Commins said.

"The bulls had to fend for themselves and normally when they are weaned, they are given silage or food to keep them going so they don't lose weight, well we didn't really get the chance for that this year."

The stud offered five polled bulls and 27 horned, with 10 bulls passed in at auction.

"A lot of the bulls are going to Omeo and Benambra to mostly repeat buyers and a few new ones," Mr Commins said.

Nutrien south east stud stock auctioneer Peter Goldbolt said the sale highlighted how people were investing strongly in genetics.

"The Hereford sale was very strong and a lot of repeat clients were buying the bulls, backing up what the progeny did throughout the weaner sales and digging deep into their pockets," Mr Godbolt said.

"We're seeing at all our sales that buyers are prepared to get into the better end of the bulls to try and improve their progeny.

"Especially because people know they will be retaining a lot of daughters going forward in the coming years."

Carisbrook-based stud Caskieben Shorthorns also participated in the sale, clearing its entire draft of four bulls to a top price of $11,500.

Gelantipy breeders Julie and Amy Rogers, Bayrook Pastoral, secured the 23-month-old top-priced sire.

Stud principal Geoff Williamson said he was blown away by the impressive result, almost tripling the best 2020 top-priced result of $4000.

Tambo Angus of Tambo Crossing also offered a draft of 12 bulls, eight of which sold to $6000 twice.

Stud principals Mandy and Kevin Dean thanked the buyers and underbidders, most of whom were from across East Gippsland.

Chris and Suzanne Somerville, Bruthen, bought the top-priced $6000 bull.

"It's our second bull from the stud and we like the Tambo bulls due to their quiet nature," Mr Somerville said.

The stud also sold another two bulls, which were passed in at auction, after the sale.