End of an era as Sundermann family of Pinora Angus hold 56th and final sale

Pictures by Bryce Eishold

The Sundermann family of Gippsland stud Pinora Angus has marked the end of an era almost six decades after their inaugural bull sale took place.

The Dawson-based stud sold 29 bulls at auction to a top-price of $13,000 with an average of $7207, a $399 decline in the average year-on-year.

Agents sold a further five bulls within 20 minutes after the final knock, ensuring 34 of 48 bulls sold on Wednesday, March 19.

Pinora Angus stud co-principal John Sundermann, Dawson, said he was relieved the final sale was "done and dusted".

"It's a hard job running an Angus stud these days and I really believe it's a job for a young person who has a bit more drive and go to promote the herd," he said.

In August 2024, Stock & Land revealed the Sundermann family would disperse their herd, opting to hold a final bull sale in March 2025.

A female dispersal sale featuring about 120 pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows with eight and nine-month-old calves at foot will be held on April 1.

The stud is run by brothers John and Kelvin Sundermann, their wives Trish and Dianne and the brothers' mother, 96-year-old Shirley.

The stud was established by the brothers' late father and grandfather in 1947 after the purchase of a few commercial cattle.

The 730-hectare property Pinora is home to 100 commercial cows, a Poll Dorset stud comprising 300 ewes and a 180-head dairy with predominantly Holsteins, supplying Saputo.

Mr Sundermann said the secret to the stud's success over the years was providing good, old-fashioned customer service to their clients.

"It's hard to get a client base these days because there's a lot of Angus studs in Gippsland," he said.

"It's getting to be a fairly tight market, so you have to put a quality item up, you've got to make sure everything is right and you have to service your clients."

The top-priced bull of the sale, Lot 20 Pinora Umbra U41, was purchased by Gippsland grazier Robyn Kuch, trading as RE Kuch, Perry Bridge, for $13,000.

Mrs Kuch runs a herd of 120 Angus breeders and sells her cattle at 16 months of age, predominantly to grass fatteners, at the Bairnsdale market.

It was the first time Mrs Kuch had purchased a bull from the stud, revealing she only visited the Dawson stud for the first time two weeks ago to inspect several sons of New Ground N90.

She was supported at the sale by livestock agent Ian Baker, Nutrien Greenwood, Clydebank, a long-time agent and friend of the Sundermann family.

"I didn't come here to buy the top-priced bull, I came here to buy this bull or Lot 21," Mrs Kuch said.

"I have one bull that I bought from Absolute Angus that was sired by New Ground N90, so I wanted another one and this one was the pick of the bunch."

Pinora Umbra U41 was sired by Landfall New Ground N90 and out of Pinora Gail N52.

The Sundermanns described the sale topper as a "cracker" of a bull out of a "thumping cow", noting its eye muscle area and docility as some of the bull's best traits.

Lot 20 was in the top 12 per cent of the breed for EMA at 12+, top 4pc for mature cow weight, top 4pc for mature body condition and top 12pc for retail beef yield.

Among the volume buyers was Courtney Ferguson and Dan Mraz, CT Ferguson, Seaspray, who bought four lots at auction and a further two bulls post-sale.

CT Ferguson purchases included Lot 2, Pinora Upton U16, for $9000, Lot 17, Pinora Ulric U10 for $7000, Lot 22, Pinoa Unicorn U54, for $8000 and Lot 46, Pinora Umberto U121, for $6000.

Brian and Sandra Higgins, Glenmaggie, bought three bulls, including Lot 21, Pinora Uncle U47, for $9000, Lot 26, Pinora Unusual U76, for $8000 and Lot 38, Pinora Universal U74, for $7000.

Mr Higgins purchased an additional bull moments after the auction concluded.

Ed and Michelle White, Fulham, bought three bulls, including Lot 32, Pinora Uncanny U46, for $6000, Lot 36, Pinora Unison U64, for $7000 and Lot 40, Pinora Uphold U83, for $6000.

"We've loved buying bulls from Pinora over the years," Mr White said.

"We've bought at least one, if not two or three bulls, from the stud for the last 20 years... it will be sad to see them go."

Dick and Betty Chester, Chesterfield Pty Ltd, Glenmaggie, was another notable buyer, purchasing Lot 43, Pinora Upper U88, for $6000.

Mr Chester, 90, said he and his late father had purchased at least one bull from the stud each sale over the last 56 years.

Nutrien stud stock southern region manager Peter Godbolt said the sale closed a chapter on a reputable Victorian Angus stud.

"There were a lot of return clients at Pinora that have been buying here for years," Mr Godbolt said.

"It's testament to what the Sundermanns do and how they support their clients, despite the sale being a bit tough and reflective of seasonal conditions."