*23 or 33 bulls sold to $8500, av $5200.
New Zealand-sourced genetics suited to Gippsland conditions attracted strong interest at Leawood Angus' 76th annual on-farm bull sale at Flynn on Friday.
The stud sold 23 of 33 bulls to $8500 and reported a total clearance after the auction, selling bulls to 26 clients mainly from Gippsland.
Leawood Angus stud principal Luke Stuckey, whose grandparents Roy and Joan Stuckey held the first sale in 1944, said he was pleased with the sale amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our average was down about $400 on last year but it was about where we thought it would be," Mr Stuckey said.
"The bulls had a good season and we had 22 mil of rain the day before the sale which was a blessing because we had a good run in February, March was a non-event and we needed some catch-up rain."
Seven of the stud's bulls offered were by New Zealand stud Stern Angus sire Stern 15815, including the top-priced bull which was bought by Matt Trewin, Jarrahmond Park, near Orbost.
Nutrien Ag Solutions East Gippsland Livestock agent Scott Mundy, Orbost, who bought the bull with Mr Trewin, said Lot 7 Leawood Stern P404 was backed up by strong Estimated Breeding Values.
"His genetic pool is what we were looking at and what Matt is trying to breed," Mr Mundy said.
"He's an average birthweight bull and his 200 and 400-day birthweights were good supported by his rib and rump fats which were excellent so he's was a well-portioned bull."
It will be joined to about 40 Angus cows on June 1.
"Depending on where the job will be we'll sell them as good store steers, feedlot-entry steers or grow them into bullocks," Mr Mundy said.
"We also loved the New Zealand genetics and they're the package we're trying to breed from; they're good at milking and suited to our environment."
The August 2018-drop bull record a birthweight of 35 kilograms and weighed 720 on February 28, 2020.
He had a scrotal circumference of 41cm, an 11mm rump, a 9mm rib and an IMF (intramuscular fat) of 5.8 per cent.
His EMA (eye muscle area) was 120cm2.
Jarrahmond Park purchased a second bull, Lot 9 Leawood Stern P355 , for $7000.
NZ genetics trusted
The stud also offered bulls from Rangatira Mack and Kaharau Class 790 bloodlines as well as a few Leawood sires.
"We use fairly dominate New Zealand genetics which fits into the environment fairly well," Mr Stuckey said.
"We're a grass-fed operation mainly in Gippsland and we try and make money off grass rather than alternate feed sources which is exactly what New Zealand does."
Phelen & Henderson & Co director David Phelan, Yarram, bought four bulls for clients.
Three of them went to Ken Dixon and Graham Barlow, Yarram, and one to Kevin Opray, Hedley.
Several buyers bought two bulls including return client Ben Dunbar, Traralgon.
Long-term Leawood agent Kevin Morgan, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Traralgon, said the sale attracted strong interest from prospective buyers.
"There was a significant presence of new people looking to buy bulls and the the a green team [Nutrien Ag Solutions] really shone through because there was representation from every branch in Gippsland," Mr Morgan said.
"We had more bulls this year but we didn't have a huge crowd and I think the virus frightened a few people off from coming."
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