Buyers share the love for Valentino at Ardno's helmsman bull sale
Some of the Hereford and Angus breed's most notable genetics were on offer at very affordable rates at Ardno Performance Livestock's third annual on-property bull sale at OB Flat near Mount Gambier.
At the helmsman sale interfaced with AuctionsPlus, the Comley and Cleves families sold eight of 13 Herefords for a $6563 average, while 11 of 24 Angus found homes for a $6182 average.
This year's $8500 sale topper was a stand out Hereford, lot 9 Ardno Valentino V313, which had a Breedplan figure for eye muscle area in the top 1pc of the breed.
The rising two year old, homzygous polled bull was ET bred from $160,000 Injemira Robert Redford Q287- the highest priced whiteface bull ever sold in Australia.
V313 was out of one of Ardno's top donor cows- Ravensdale Capri N267, which was bought at the Ravensdale dispersal for $24,000.
"He has always been a good calf with good data and the pedigree shone through," Ardno stud principal Harry Comley said.
The successful buyer was Merrett Livestock's Owen Merrett, Millicent who bought the 748kg bull on behalf of Arthur Facey, Millicent.
In the past they have bought bulls from the Bennett family's Bendulla stud but with the stud no longer breeding bulls Mr Merrett said they needed to find another bull supplier.
"They were well bred and from what I am hearing they grow into good bulls," he said.
"We were happy with the breeding of them and got some different bloodlines that we haven't come across from NSW."
Mr Merrett bought four bulls for the Facey family. in the sale, including lot 14 for $7000.
The highest priced Angus bull was lot 18, Ardno Volcano V04, which also had an outstanding pedigree.
The March 2024 drop was pure Millah Murrah genetics and a full brother to Trigger T308 which sold for $180,000. Trigger is also been widely used as a semen sire with ABS Global.
It was one of three bulls which Ardno rated highly and had set a higher reserve price on.
As the timer wound down Lyndhurst Pastoral, Glencoe, secured Volcano V04 for $8000.
Buyers from the South East and into western Vic enjoyed exceptional value with 15 bulls sold at the $6000 base price.
Harry Comley said it was pleasing to get their bulls out into established Ardno clients and a few new commercial breeders.
He said their focus had been breeding bulls for their 1500 commercial Hereford and Angus females they also run with the progeny sold largely over the hooks.
This has kept their focus on commercial traits.
"Our aim is to breed early maturing, quiet cattle that will serve our clients well for years to come," he said.
"We also want to breed catle that can easily reach a kill weight off grass as a milk tootth animal."
Elders Vic stud stock's Ross Milne, who facilitated the helmsman sale said the sale represented very good value.buying.
"They are still building a clientele, it is certainly competitive in this area," he said.
He said it was an even offering and bidders could buy with confidence with the stud ensuring all the bulls were only grass fed.and ready to work in buyers' herds.
Elders Mount Gambier and O['Connor & Graney conducted the sale.
