Sara Park Angus buys Merridale's top-priced bull

It was the first time this stud had ever purchased from Merridale, and the bull was bought sight unseen, with the buyer relying on figures and visual appraisals from friends who could attend.

The-top priced bull was Lot 6, Merridale Rowell R134, who was bought for $50,000 by Herb Duddy, Sara Park Angus, Glen Innes, NSW.

Mr Duddy said despite not seeing the bull in person himself, he was a "powerful bull".

"He's got good eye muscle area (+10.8) and fat cover," he said.

"And it's rare to get a bigger fat cover on the rump than rib."

He also commended the bull's dam - Merridale Vicky D55 - who had a solid impact on the sale, with the six bulls by her in the catalogue averaging $25,333.

He said he was "determined" to place the final bid on Lot 6, a bull he believed would bring "something different" to his herd.

It was the highest amount Mr Duddy had ever spent on a bull, and he said he was looking forward to getting the bull home to join to specially-selected females later in the year, to breed bulls for his own bull sale, which was held annually in July.

Lot 6's estimated breeding values included +6.3 birth weight, +46 200-day weight, +80 400-day weight, +102 600-day weight, and an intramuscular fat of +1.9.

The bull was one of 36 bulls that sold of 41 offered to average $13,528.

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Merridale stud principal Peter Collins was not surprised the bulls by Merridale Vicky did so well in the sale, saying she was one of the best females he had ever bred.

And Mr Collins said females were the base of the herd.

"If you've got good females, good bulls will come as a result," he said.

He was very pleased with the result of the sale, saying there was strong support from repeat buyers.

He was particularly pleased that the top-priced bull was "going to a good home" in a NSW stud.

Other bulls to exceed the $20,000 price tag were Lot 1, Merridale Plugger P109, who was bought by a Nutrien Leongatha client for $26,000, Lot 2, Merridale Rock Solid R105, who sold for $24,000 to a Nutrien Euroa client, Lot 3, Merridale Richie Rich R104, who sold for $20,000 to a Costello Rural client, Lot 5, Merridale Riccardo R9, who sold for $24,000 to a McKean McGregor client, Lot 11, Merridale Roland R29, who sold for $24,000 to a Nutrien Euroa client, Lot 13, Merridale Riggs R131, who sold for the second top price of the sale of $27,000 to a Nutrien Goulburn, NSW, client, and Lot 14, Merridale Revolution R132, who sold for $24,000 to RH Blake & Co.

In the female offering, the first female to be offered, Lot 44, Merridale Vicky R112, sold for the highest price in the category, making $24,000 to a Charles Stewart Co client.

She was one of 13 females to sell in a total clearance that averaged $8000.

Nutrien stud stock agent and auctioneer Peter Godbolt said Merridale had a very strong result, which matched the strong results being recorded by other studs this season.

"The top end sold really well," Mr Godbolt said.

"There were plenty of return clients from that Euroa and Corryong area, plus some down in that Colac area, and lots that came from local areas too."

He said commercial breeders were willing to pay that extra amount for bulls this year given the money they're getting for calves at the moment.

"It enables them to dip into their budget a bit more," he said.