*Total clearance of 46 bulls to $19,000, av $12,000
*Total clearance of 49 cow and calf units to $4600, av $4334
*Total clearance of 42 heifers sold to $3000, av $2472
THE influence of New Zealand genetics headlined Leawood Angus' spring bull sale on Monday where Angus bulls sold to a top price of $19,000.
The Flynn stud in Gippsland sold its complete draft of 46 18-month-old bulls at the on-property sale, and its entire offering of heifers and cows and calves.
The firm result follows on from the stud's autumn bull sale where a total clearance of 41 bulls sold to $15,000.
Leawood Angus co-principal Luke Stuckey said the sale attracted a large crowd and more than 70 online bidders via AuctionsPlus.
"We've been breeding New Zealand genetics for 75 years, my grandfather started the trend, and people like our style of cattle," he said.
"They're not too big and they don't have a large mature cow weight; they're more of a dense animal and bred to make profit off grass.
"A lot of our cattle go to South Gippsland because they are all prominently grass-fed operations and our cattle thrive off that kind of program."
The sale topper, Lot 1 Lewaood Express R173, sold for $19,000 to first-time buyer Russell Jones, Foster, via SEJ Livestock.
The bull was sired by Leawood Express G508 and out of Leawood Vanilla L128.
It had a rump measurement of 14 millimetres, a rib of 12mm, an IMF of 6.4 per cent, an EMA of 106 centimetres squared and weighed in at 788 kilograms on sale day.
He said he liked the bull's growth and eye muscle figures and overall appearance.
"I'm in a beef group and Lewaood's name had been mentioned quite a bit by members," he said.
"I looked at their bulls on video and I thought that there were quite a few that would have suited me compared to some of the other sales where they might have only one or two."
The bull will be joined to a select group of second and third-calving cows in May 2022.
"I've got 150 cows that I breed and I'm going to select out some of the better ones," he said.
"I'll keep some of the progeny out of him and put them over my cows down the track."
Return South Gippsland clients, Kevin and Maree Opray, Hedley, bought three bulls to average $16,300 through Phelan & Henderson & Co.
The female draft mainly sold to return buyers across Gippsland and to repeat buyers, Hazelwood Farms, Warrnambool, who bought 17 females to $2400 and $2300, respectively.
The stud sold 49 cow and calf units to a top price of $4600 to average $4334.
Meanwhile, 42 heifers sold to $3000 to average $2472.
Other volume buyers included Manyara Springs, Willung, which bought three bulls to a top price of $15,000.
Elm Valley, Tarwin Lower, bought two bulls top of $15,000.
Meanwhile, return buyer Hookey Pastoral, Cowwarr, bought two bulls to a top of $16,000, as did Nethercote Trading, Flynn, with two bulls to $15,500.
Representing agent Kevin Morgan, Nutrien Leongatha, said the impressive result was an indication of confidence in the beef industry.
"It was an excellent sale with bulls going from one end of Gippsland to the other," Mr Morgan said.
"The bulls received great accolades from those who came to look ... and there were bidders who went away without a bull."