A STUD bull sold for $72,000 in a dramatic climax to Angus Bull Week at the Wairoa Turiroa Angus Stud sale last night.
South Island stud Oregon Angus paid the incredible price.
The crowded rostrum hushed as bidding raced passed $50,000, finally stopping at $72,000.
People paused to grasp the reality of the price and a burst of applause followed the sale.
Bidders continued to buy at outstanding prices with two more bulls selling for more than $30,000.
Nine bulls went to stud service. Several went to the South Island as buyers looked for the Braveheart of Stern, Turihaua Break and Turihaua Crumble bloodlines.
Stud owners Rick and Olivia Powdrell and Andrew and Tracey Powdrell were overwhelmed by the support, with 45 bulls selling on the night.
Rick Powdrell was unable to contain his delight.
“I must shout this man a beer. He’s just paid $72,000 for a bull,” he said. “What more could we want? We are absolutely delighted this type of bull with pure NZ bloodlines has done so well.”
There was a bull for every budget. Prices ranged from $4500 to $72,000,with a sale average of $10,684.
“We wanted to make sure that there was the opportunity for our commercial clients to buy a reasonably priced bull,” he said.
Andrew Powdrell said it was great that other cattle men shared the stud’s confidence in its breeding programme.
“We are passionate about the breed and try to produce good honest and meaty cattle. We hope to slowly increase the number of bulls so we can offer 50 bulls for sale in the next few years. It’s also really pleasing to see clients receiving premiums in the market place for the weaners, yearlings and prime cattle.”
Turiroa will retain 100 straws of semen from the high-priced bull — Turiroa 663 — to use within the stud operation in the coming season.
PGG Wrightson auctioneer Bruce Orr said the sire had a moderate birth weight and very good growth figures.
“It has tremendous fleshing and hindquarters.”
The bull’s sire was leased as a yearling from Turihaua Stud and the dam was a young cow that had her first natural calf and provided embryos for other cows in the stud.
Two other sons were in the sale and one son kept by the stud had already been used as a yearling bull last November.
Buyers and prices: Tapiri Stud $14,000; Toromiro Station $9500; Oregon Angus $72,000; Kaiwara Stud $31,000; Ohuia Station $7000, $11,000; Taimate Stud $18,000; Atahua Angus/ Merchiston Studs $30,000; PGG Wrightson as agents $8000, $10,000; Claremont Trust $7500, $5500; Moeangiangi Station $7500, $6500, $9500, $6500, $7200, $5700, $7500, $6200, $6700; Tarangower Stud $21,000, $9500; Nicks Head Station $9000, $7500; Mount Mabel Stud $23,000; Kaharau P/ship $13,000: Gallagher Farms $11,500; Shannon Station $8000, $7500; Perere Station $8000; Tawhare Farm $7000; Waitangi Terrace Station $9000, $7000: Monte Farms $6000; Mangaheia Station $8000; Opoho Station $5000; Kaitoto Station $4500; R Utting $8500; Mangatoto Station $4700; EJ Gordon as agents $4700; Mangaroa Station $4700; Toromiro Station $5700; M and A Flood $6200; Clapham Holdings $4500.