'Relieved it's over': Pinora holds final dispersal sale on Gippsland farm

Pinora Angus stud held its final dispersal sale on Tuesday, attracting a large crowd to the Heyfield property for the dispersal of stud cows and calves.

A total of 95 females, which included pregnancy-tested-in-calf and empty Angus stud cows with eight and nine-month-old calves at foot, sold of the 114 offered to average $4406.

An additional 17 females sold directly after the sale which bolstered the clearance rate for Pinora stud co-principals John and Kelvin Sundermann.

"It was a good enough sale but we probably passed a few more in than we would have liked," John said.

The top-priced female, Lot 47, sold for $11,000 to Strzelecki commercial breeder Kevin Battersby.

The sale-topper was a nine-year-old cow which Mr Sundermann said was sought after for her exceptional bull calf at foot.

"She had one of the best calves we've had for a long time so that's what sold her," he said.

"She was a lovely old cow but her bull calf was exceptional."

Most of the females sold back to local clients in Gippsland but several found their way into NSW, and one father and son buying duo from Tasmania picked up 15 females together.

Michael and Sarah Mather, New River Angus stud, Ringarooma, Tas, bought 10 females for an average of $5200 and a top price of $7500.

"We were looking for cows that had a really good calf at foot," Ms Mather said.

"We weren't particularly chasing EBVs (estimated breeding values) or pedigrees, we were buying on type.

"We want to love the look of our cows."

The Mathers are passionate Angus breeders who established their New River Angus stud in 2022, buying up around 40 Angus females from the Prime Angus, Waitpinga, SA, dispersal in 2023 to build their foundation cow herd.

Mr Mather's father, Laurence Mather, Tomahawk, Tas, bought five females for his commercial Angus herd, also based in Tasmania's north-east.

Dick and Betty Chester, Glenmaggie, were in attendance for symbolic reasons at the last Pinora sale, having purchased many bulls from the Sundermann family over the years for their large commercial herd.

The Chesters have bought at least one bull from the Gippsland stud each year over the last 56 years.

"The Chesters bought from us at our first sale and they were there for our last sale," Mr Sundermann said.

"They were there to show their support for us."

Mr Sundermann said he was feeling relieved the final dispersal sale was wrapped up.

Pinora's last bull sale two weeks ago sold 29 bulls of 48 offered to average $7207 and top at $13,000 for Lot 20, Pinora Umbra U41, bought by Perry Bridge grazier Robyn Kuch.

"Having the two sales in two weeks was a lot of organisation so we're relieved it's over," Mr Sundermann said.

"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."

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

Mr Sundermann said the family had retained just over 40 young heifers for commercial purposes.

"We thought now is as good a time as ever to ease off.

"We're not getting any younger, and we needed to ease off a bit of the pressure of running a stud."