Gisborne’s Rangatira Angus Stud and Turiroa Angus Stud, Wairoa, combined to pay $95,000 for the rising two-year-old offered by Kaharau Angus Stud.
Turiroa co-owner and manager Andrew Powdrell said the animal ticked a lot of boxes.
“It’s hard to find that in the one animal, a strong head and jaw and in the hind-quarters, great feet, good temperament and good on paper as well.”
The auction for Lot 2 at Rimunui Station on June 25 was already very competitive when Powdrell and Rangatira’s Charlie Dowding entered the fray.
“We hung back and came in near the end,” Powdrell said.
“We were lucky to get him. We were a bit surprised how high it went but that’s what happens at auction when you’ve got a few buyers. Who’s to say what they’re worth.”
With the record price and a second bull selling for $50,000 the overall average for the 51 bulls sold out of 51 offered was also a record, at $14,970.
The auction was a great result for Kaharau stud master Penny Hoogerbrug.
“Watching Lot 2 was nerve-wracking but a terrific thrill for us, very exciting. He was just a beautifully balanced bull. We were overwhelmed and humbled by the support of our clients.”
Carrfields auctioneer Neville Clark had set the tone for Lot 2, introducing him as having the quality and power to suggest he could be the bull of the year. He received a $20,000 opening bid followed by rapid $5000 rises.
Powdrell said having the bull sired by the very successful Braveheart of Stern and from the well-established Kaharau breeding line was a major attraction.
Hoogerbrug took over running the Kaharau Stud in 2012 when her father Colin Williams retired. He’d bred the Kaharau line for 60 years but just missed the record sale, dying in May.
“He laid the foundations for us and we added the new genetics,’’ she said.
“It’s hard not having him here. He would have been really delighted.
“We were quietly confident of a good sale but never dreamed it would be so successful.”
On the dam’s side, Lot 2 traced back to a foundation Kaharau sire, Zodiac 1.
The very favourable summer helped the bulls come through to sale in excellent condition and the success of the auction was a team effort led by stud manager Nick Cave.
It followed a silver medal in the Steak of Origin contest for best of breed Angus, achieved by a Kaharau-bred heifer from 266 entries.
Kaharau Stud has kept a very good Braveheart of Stern rising two-year son, a deep, soft meaty bull like his father.
Hoogerbrug is also keeping a son of Whenuapapa Crumble, sire of the $50,000 bull.
“He’s very good too and we’re getting good interest from New Zealand and Australia for his semen,” Hoogerbrug said.
The Rangatira and Turiroa studs, about an hour apart by road, will have turn-about with their new sire and will sell semen as well, Powdrell said.
