High country families lead Mawarra Genetics sale with over 100 bulls offered

Pictures by Bryce Eishold

Two high country grazing families have purchased the top-priced Angus and Hereford bulls at Mawarra Genetics' on-property bull sale.

The Sykes family, Longford, sold 88 Angus and Hereford bulls of 108 on offer to record a sale average of $9079 on Monday.

The sale included 50 of 55 Hereford bulls sold to a top price of $21,000 and an average of $9600, and 38 of 53 Angus bulls sold to a top price of $17,000 to average $8394.

Mawarra Genetics stud co-principal Logan Sykes said his family was happy with the clearance after widespread rainfall fell across key cattle areas in south-eastern Australia in the lead-up to the sale.

"We had quite a few people visit from the western district who haven't been here due to the drought in the last few years, but they were back operating this year which was good to see," Mr Sykes said.

"The improved seasonal conditions have really helped us sell more bulls year-on-year."

In 2025, the stud sold 40 of 66 Hereford bulls to $22,000, and 31 of 37 Angus bulls to $14,000.

The top-priced 2026 Hereford bull, Lot 11, Mawarra No Doubt V080, was knocked down to Peter and Christine Faithfull, Omeo, for $21,000.

The Faithfulls run a breeding herd of 350 horned Hereford cows, and were forced to sell 170 mixed-sex calves six weeks earlier than usual this year due to the dry seasonal conditions.

The 900-kilogram March 2024-drop bull was sired by Mawarra Influential Q162 and out of Warra Doreen 463.

The bull was spruiked by the Sykes family as an influential future sire who had the potential to increase the weight-for-age and carcase traits of any herd.

The bull was in the top 15 per cent or higher in his breed for growth, eye muscle area (EMA) and intramuscular fat (IMF).

Its estimated breeding values included a 200-day growth of +43kg, a 400-day growth of +73kg, a 600-day growth of +110 and a birth weight of +6.6kg.

The bull had an EMA of +6.7 square centimetres and an IMF of +1.8pc.

The top-priced Angus bull, Lot 115, Mawarra Venison V280, was bought by return buyers and the purchasers of last year's top-priced black bull, Ken and Kym Skews, Ensay, for $17,000.

The 914kg March 2024-drop bull was sired by Milwillah Powerpoint R318 and out of Mwarra Kaharau R098.

The bull was described by Mawarra Genetics as a stylish son of a popular sire.

The Skews, who run a herd of 550 Angus, black baldy and Hereford breeders, bought an additional bull, Lot 107, Mawarra VCR V171, for $10,000.

Mrs Skews said she was attracted to the bull because of its good figures, phenotype and quiet nature.

"He was positive for calving ease, he had moderate birth weight, a good carcase and he looked the part as well as being backed up by good data," she said.

"We really want bulls that can go over heifers or cows and he will be able to do this."

The top-priced Angus bull had figures including +7.6 for calving ease, +7.9 for gestational length, a 3.2kg birth weight, a 200-day weight of +52kg, a 400-day weight of +104kg and a 600-day weight of +132kg.

The bull had an IMF of +2.4pc and an EMA of +8.0sqcm.

The Skews run a spring-calving herd and typically sell their calves as weaners at the Bairnsdale store sales each spring.

Mawarra Genetics stud co-principal Brandon Sykes said the Skews had been long-term clients of the stud.

"They bought Angus bulls in our first sale and previously bought Herefords off us," Mr Sykes said.

Phelan & Henderson & Co director David Phelan, Yarram, was the largest volume buyer, purchasing 11 Angus and Hereford bulls, grossing $93,5000, for six clients.

Mr Phelan bought eight Angus bulls, including four for Pat and Damian Moore, Yarram, to a top price of $14,000, and two black bulls for Kevin Opray, Hedley, to a top price of $14,000.

The Hereford bulls were bought on behalf of Don and Kay Blecher, Woodside, John Colbert, Tarraville, and Mr Phelan himself.

"Today was the 53rd sale, and I have only missed one in 53 years and that's because I was in hospital and the doctors thought I had disease, but as it turns out, I have lived on," Mr Phelan said.

Managers Chris and Rosie Stewart, Glenshiel Pastoral, Butchers Ridge, bought four black bulls to a top price of $12,000 for Lot 113, Mawarra Viva.

Zilm Pastoral, Llowalong, bought three Angus bulls for $10,000, $15,000 and $10,000, while WK & MA Ferguson, Seaspray, bought four Angus bulls to a top price of $10,000 twice.

The buying gallery included graziers from Stratford, Dumbalk, Wonthaggi, Athlone, Toora, Clifton Creek, Sale, Dutson, Fulham, Bairnsdale, Yallourn North and Bendoc.

The sale also attracted buyers from outside Gippsland, including from localities like Bullioh and Tallangatta South in the north-east, and Mumbannar in the far south-west of the state.

Interstate buyers included Supple Whiteface, Llangothlin, NSW, which bought Lot 8, Mawarra Never Never V045, for $18,000, one of the equal second top-priced Herefords of the sale.

LR & RB Wheeler, Wallacedale, bought the other $18,000 Hereford bull, Lot 6, Mawarra North Star V082.

Another interstate buyer was Nimmo Pastoral Co, Cooma, NSW, which bought Lot 18, Mawarra Nazareth V078, for $10,000, while Jackson Contracting, Rocky Plain, NSW, bought Lot 14, Mawarra Noah V037, for $9000.

Female cattle knocked down to buyers across Australia

A day earlier, the Mawarra Ladies Day Female Sale attracted interstate buyers from eastern and northern Australia, with female cattle heading to buyers as far away as far north Queensland.

The stud sold 79 of 108 females to average $5338.

The top-priced Hereford female sold for $13,000 to Kelly & Teeny Runzer, Tenaru Poll Herefords, Bogabilla NSW.

The top-priced Angus female was knocked down to Reyloc Herefords, Morwell, for $9500.

The Angus offering was topped by the pick of the heifers, Lot 100A, which sold for $17,000 to Moorunga Angus, Dromana.

Among the volume buyers was MA Hedger, Rocky Plain, NSW, and Sanmore Agri, Stradbroke, who bought eight each, while Shaun and Marnie Robinson, Maple Stone, Buchan South, bought seven females.

Supple Whiteface, Guyra, NSW, and CR & YM Connley, Omeo, bought four female cattle.