Western Victorian stud's average up on last year despite tough season

A western Victorian Hereford stud has recorded the same top price at its sale as last year, despite the tight seasonal conditions in the region.

Wilkah Hereford stud, Vasey, sold 12 of 20 bulls to a top price of $10,000 and average of $6450, up around $400 on last year.

Wilkah stud co-principal Andrew Lyons said it was a positive sale in light of the water and feed situation in the region.

The top-priced bull, Lot 6, Wilkah Yeilder U037, sold to John Toleman, Gringegalgona.

The 909-kilogram bull was by Karoonda Yielder R272 and out of Wilkah Linnet N051.

Mr Lyons said the bull stood out for his colour, depth of body and muscle pattern.

"It's the first time we've used Karoonda Yielder, and he bred so well," he said.

There were six bulls from Karoonda Yielder offered in the sale.

"He's also had a really good line of females," he said.

The April 2023-drop bull had a birth weight of 6.2 kilograms, 200-day weight of 34kg, 400-day weight of 49kg, 600-day weight of 68kg, an eye muscle area of 2.8 square centimetres, a rib fat depth of 1.2 millimetres and rump fat depth of 1.8mm.

His retail beef yield was 0.3 per cent and intramuscular fat was 0.4pc.

Mr Toleman, whose property is between Coleraine and Balmoral, said he'd viewed the bull twice before the sale.

"I had been through the herd with Andrew a couple of times for Stock and Land Beef Week, then a private meeting and then the sale," he said.

"He was the one we picked out.

"I've been on Melville Park and Wilkah for 30 years."

He said he liked the bull's features.

"They are nice, quiet cattle and easy to deal with," he said.

"They are well doers."

Mr Toleman said he was calving down about 45 cows, selling weaners at the annual Hamilton sale.

Mr Lyons said most buyers were repeat clients who bought more than one bull.

They included Sunningdale, Digby, and Rosebank Pastoral, Casterton, who both bought two bulls.

"The bulls have gone to long-term clients and two new buyers," he said.

Bulls went to the Hamilton area and over to Gippsland's high country.

Nutrien livestock agent Nick Farley, Bendigo, said the Lyons family was happy enough with the sale, given the conditions.

"The season is dictating that the cow numbers are not there, and feed and water have been an issue," he said.

He said the bulls presented well, with "plenty of meat on the carcase, and they had good bones".

Several bulls went to Mount Gambier, SA.