Nunniong principal 'gutted', Tambo Angus sells entire drop of bulls
A high country Hereford breeder fears a large portion of his bulls could be "sent to the meatworks" within weeks after recording a low clearance rate at his on-farm bull sale at Ensay.
Philip 'Bluey' Commins, Nunniong Hereford stud, Ensay, sold 14 bulls at auction to a top price of $12,000 on Wednesday, March 12, recording a sale average of $6357
Twenty-one bulls were passed in during the annual sale, equating to a 44 per cent clearance rate.
Mr Commins said he was "gutted" by the result.
"I thought the bulls would sell like hotcakes, but many of the bulls I considered to be the top of my line are still sitting in the yard," he said.
"There were 20-something people registered online but not one bull was bought by a client on AuctionsPlus."
Several bulls were sold post-sale, however, tough seasonal conditions and an upcoming prodigy of new bulls means it will be a matter of weeks before the bulls offered in the 2025 sale will be moved on.
"Some of these bulls will be sold via private treaty and after a week or so, what's left over will be sent to the meatworks because I have another big mob of young bulls to take their place," he said.
"I'm absolutely gutted by the whole situation."
The top-priced bull was bought by return clients, Phil and Kerry Geehman, Ensay, who paid $12,000 for Lot 10.
The top-priced bull, Nunniong Quandong PCE U133, was a horned May 2023-drop bull sired by Sugarloaf Quandong Q126 and out of Nunniong Juliet Q008.
Mr Geehman, a return top-priced Nunniong buyer, said he was attracted to the stud's cattle because of their frame, doing-ability and muscle.
"We take these bulls and put them over our Hereford/Shorthorn-cross cows and it just seems to work ... we get plenty of weight for their age," he said.
"The people who buy our calves each year buy them to grow the cattle out so you need a bull that will give you that frame and muscle."
The Geehmans, who join their bulls to about 250 breeding females each year, sell their calves at Bairnsdale each January, as opposed to the Ensay calf sale in March.
"Our cattle go to two or three repeat buyers and that's why we send them to Bairnsdale," Mr Geehman said.
"This year, the Brownlow family from The Camp at Bairnsdale bought the four pens of our steers and have bought our cattle for the last three or four years."
Buchan grazier Tim Woodgate bought the second top-priced bull of the sale, Lot 15, Nunniong Quandong PCE U177, for $15000.
The horned May 2023-drop bull was the half-brother of the top-priced bull, sired by Sugarloaf Quandong Q126 and out of Nunniong Silk Q101.
Among the volume buyers was three generations of the Reilly family of Bengworden - Stan, Merv and Colin - and Merv's wife Lisa, who bought two Hereford bulls at the Nunniong sale.
The Reillys later bought two bulls during the Tambo Angus sale, which followed the Nunniong auction.
Other Nunniong volume buyers included Erica Coulthard and Ron Connley, Bingo, Bingomunjie, who bought two bulls including Lot 17, Nunniong Hollow Point PCE U065, for $8000 and Lot 32, Nunniong Hollow Point PCE U086, for $5000.
Elders Gippsland livestock manager Morgan Davies described the Nunniong sale result as disappointing.
"Having said that, all the notable breeders from the area go there to buy a good bull each year," Mr Davies said.
"That shows the top end of Bluey's bulls are elite."
Tambo Angus sells entire consignment of bulls at auction
East Gippsland stud Tambo Angus recorded a perfect clearance following the Nunniong sale.
Kevin and Mandy Dean and their daughter Laura Foy sold their entire draft of 14 Angus bulls, with one volume buyer walking away with 10 of the bulls on offer.
Buyer Hayden Stewart represented his father Chris Stewart who was holidaying and unable to attend the sale.
The Stewarts manage Glenshiel Pastoral, Butchers Ridge, which is spread across 1600 hectares near Gelantipy and comprises a breeding herd of 750 breeding females.
"They grow, they produce very good calves and we've never had any issues with them," Hayden said.
"Our calves are sold mainly at Bairnsdale, but we are also diversifying and selling them over the hooks now which has been quite good.
"Kevin and Mandy and the family have always been very supportive of us and we love the bulls they produce and have done so for over 10 years."
Mr Dean said he added a handful of extra bulls into the sale this year to deal with demand.
"Our cattle have satisfied buyers in the past who have come back again to buy our cattle," he said.
"I'm more than pleased with a total clearance, you have to be, and if you get the bulls out there, the clients will come back."
Three Tambo Angus bulls - all bought by Glenshiel Pastoral - sold to a top price of $7500 and an average of $5750.
