Violet Hill's top bull to repeat buyer, with long time supporters dominating
Long-time supporters of Violet Hills Charolais stud dominated the sale on Thursday (May 1) with bulls destined for Casino, Bega, and local areas.
Of the 29 bulls on offer, 19 sold under the fall of the hammer, with a top price of $16,000, averaging $7700.
Violet Hills Ultimate U130E, a 20-month-old bull purchased by Kate and Darren Mackaway, Tumble Downs, Walcha, claimed the top price for the day.
The 756 kilogram Violet Hills Peronne (sire) son had rib and rump scans of four and four millimetres with an eye muscle area (EMA) of 113 square centimetres when weighed and scanned in April.
The Mackaways are repeat buyers and said they continued coming back for over 10 years because of the cattle's temperament.
"These will take us to 30 bulls purchased from here, it's the quality of the cattle and temperament that keeps bringing us back," Mr Mackaway said.
Mr Mackaway said they were trying to get the "horn out" of their own commercial cattle but it was the recommendation from the stud principal of Violet Hills Ultimate U130E that pushed them to make the purchase.
"They said it was the quietest bull they've got," Mrs Mackaway said.
Alongside the top-priced bull, the Mackaways also purchased 712kg Violet Hills Ulan U111E for $10,000 and 682kg Violet Hills Uriah U198E for $6500.
Violet Hills Urbane U256E closely followed as second top price at $14,000, bought by local buyer, R Hoolihan, Rydal.
Violet Hills stud principal Daryl Jenkins said the good bulls sold well, but there wasn't the depth of purchasing that they had hoped for.
"We are very fortunate to have some loyal clients who have come back, plus some new clients, which is very encouraging," he said.
"We have only a very small group of buyers, people who have the ability and the country to grass fatten, that's where our clients are coming from.
Volume buyers also stepped into the market strongly with return client George and Fuhrmann, Casino, who purchased five bulls online at $6000.
"We started selling to Casino a couple of years ago, and obviously, they're happy with our bulls, and that market has been expanding," Mr Jenkins said.
The sale was conducted by Elders with Scott Cooper as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the interface.
