Loyal buyers push Karoonda Hereford stud average up by $1821 year-on-year

A Victorian Hereford stud has recorded a five-figure average after selling 87 per cent of its bulls on offer in the state's high country.

Drizzly conditions greeted buyers at Karoonda Hereford stud, Gelantipy, where 54 of 62 Hereford bulls sold to a top price of $24,000 to average $10,760, a jump of $1821 year-on-year.

Many of the bulls sold at auction were knocked down to graziers at Omeo, Benambra, Buchan and Ensay and places further afield including Bairnsdale, Mossiface, Glengarry, Jack River and Leongatha South.

A handful of bulls were also knocked down to clients in South Australia and NSW.

The Sykes family are one of only a handful of Hereford graziers to record an average of more than $10,000 in 2026.

Karoonda stud co-principal Lauren Hill, who runs the stud with her parents Paul and Judi Sykes and husband Lynton Hill, said the success was a credit to the 15 family members and friends who helped on the day.

"Our friends and family show up and never ask for anything," Ms Hill said.

"They help us wash and prepare the bulls, they help get the pens set up and others help with food prep for the lunch we put on before the sale and that's what makes it a nice experience to visit."

Karoonda stud co-principal Paul Sykes estimated "close to 100pc" of the buyers were return clients and had bought at least one bull in the past.

"A lot of these people are friends of ours and we have been trading them bulls for years, and for that we are very grateful," Mr Sykes said.

The top-priced bull, Karoonda Denmark B866, was sold for $24,000 to Neil and Bernice Mitchell, Burrowye, via AuctionsPlus.

"I saw the bull as a calf on his mother with Lynton in the paddock," Mrs Mitchell said.

"He just looked a little better than all of the other calves.

"We don't worry about the figures, we buy on the look of the bull and the Karoonda bulls are very similar to what my late father John Simpson used to breed at Nariel."

She said she liked the bull's milk, eye muscle area (EMA) and birth weight (BWT) figures, but was drawn to him by the way he walked, his temperament and his softness of his coat.

The Mitchells have bought four bulls from Karoonda in the last five years.

Mrs Mitchell said the bull would be joined to a herd of Hereford cows in early-spring.

"We run an autumn and spring-calving and target the bullock market ... most of our steers go direct to abattoirs," she said.

The 740-kilogram bull had estimated breeding values including +17 for milk, +5.9 square centimetres for EMA, and +6.6kg for BWT.

Karoonda Denmark B866 was sired by Glenwarrah Marshall S771 and out of Karoonda Minerva R087.

"We purchased Marshall a couple of years ago, we went up and saw him and were pretty happy when we bought him because we knew he would bring a lot to our program," Ms Hill said.

"We're really happy with how he is going and this is the first lot of calves in our program by him."

Among the volume buyers was long-term supporter and Phelan & Henderson & Co director David Phelan, Yarram, who bought five bulls on behalf of four clients in South Gippsland.

Mr Phelan said his purchases included bulls for Ian McAlpine, Yarram, Phil and Lee Whiteside, Yanakie, George and Lorraine Simmons, Woodside, and two bulls for Brian Walpole, Woodside.

A day earlier, Mr Phelan bought 11 bulls at the Mawarra Genetics sale at Longford.

Brad Cox, Riviera Farms, Bairnsdale and Perry Bridge, bought three bulls, including Lot 16, Karoonda Dublin V754, for $11,000, Lot 17, Karoonda Devil V792, for $12,000, and Lot 62, Karoonda Dusty V876, for $6000.

Ten other bull-buying clients bought two bulls at the on-property sale.

A handful of bulls were also knocked down several studs, including Lot 45, Karoonda Dargo V944, which was purchased by the Trovatello family of Glendan Park, Kyneton, for $16,000.

Nunniong Hereford principal Phillip 'Bluey' Commins, Ensay, was another stud purchaser, buying Lot 37, Karoonda Daze V947, for $12,000.

Meanwhile, Bra-Ma Hereford stud, Cape Douglas, SA, bought Lot 12, Karoonda Dusk V018, for $10,000.

"We try to breed consistent cattle for commercial conditions and if we happen to have a bull that a stud is interested in, then that is a bonus," Ms Hill said.

"Our main focus is to breed cattle that are commercial relevant."

Interstate buyers included Munga Downs, Carpenter Rocks, SA, who bought Lot 35, Karoonda Dempsey V035, for $18,000, and GR & HB Bush, Cootamundra, NSW, who bought two bulls for $6000.

Nutrien auctioneer Tim Woodham said the jump in the average price was a result of return buyers and a line-up of quality Hereford bulls.

"They are high country cattle and cattle that perform across a vast area of Australia and that's why people from so many areas support the program because they know these bulls perform," Mr Woodham said.

"There have been a few studs close to a $10,000 average, but Karoonda is in the top tier of the averages for the Herefords in 2026 and that's backed up by a good clearance rate."

Some of the top-end purchases included Lot 9, Karoonda Daytona V721, bought by Sandy Family Trust, Brookville, for $18,000, and Lot 11, Karoonda Drouin V908, which was bought by an undisclosed client via Elders Bairnsdale for $20,000.

Lot 60, Karoonda Dexter V012, was bought by S & D Calvert, Mossiface, for $18,000, while Lot 52, Karoonda Dan V041, was bought by RE & CL Foster, Omeo, for $18,000.