The stands were packed to the rafters for Mandayen Limousin stud’s 10th anniversary bull and female sale last Wednesday at Keith with long time clients and new interest making it the biggest crowd yet.

Justin and Tyler Neyland, Tammit Pty Ltd, Mildura, Vic and their agent Elders Mildura’s Kelvin Fitzgerald outlaid the $15,000 top price at Mandayen’s 10th anniversary bull and female sale. They are pictured with Elders auctioneer Ross Milne, Mandayen stud principal Damian Gommers, Spence Dix & Co director and auctioneer Jono Spence and Landmark stud stock manager and auctioneer Gordon Wood.

The Gommers family’s standing as one of the nation’s leading Limousin breeders was evident attracting 87 registered bidders from five states SA, Vic, NSW, Tas and Qld who were keen to raise their hands on the outstanding line up of bulls and females.

The catalogue featured both proven and new genetics, and the lots were backed by breed leading performance EBV’s and terrific docility.

There was a small lift in overall sale average with 62 of 70 apricot and black purebreds and Lim-Flex bulls averaging $5104.

Eight of 11 Lim-Flex bulls offered sold to a $5500 high and $4063 ave.

As is often the case the commercial breeders outgunned seedstock interest on the top bull lots.

Mandayen Energizer J2362- a son of Mandayen Energizer E1338 who has bred so well for the stud- sent pulses racing around the sale complex before being knocked down at the $15,000 top price.

Bidding kicked off for the 22-month-old, eye-appealing apricot polled bull at $8000 and soon rose to the sale pinnacle before being knocked down to the Neyland family , Tammit Pty Ltd operating through their Elders Mildura agent Kelvin Fitzgerald. The 782 kilogram bull had the performance figures to back his phenotype being in the highest 10 per cent of the breed for 10 production traits including top 5pc for 200 and 600 day growth, milk and eye muscle area.

“We liked his muscling and softness- he is a good all round bull,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Tammit outlaid a $9667 average for three bulls which will be used over Angus and black baldy females for vealer production.

It was the second year in a row the home bred Energizer E1338 sire has produced the sale topper. This year nine sons averaged $5833.

The seven full flush brothers by Mandayen Fortune F1606 and out of the proven donor Ramornie Jill Z25 provided another highlight averaging $6215.

One of these Mandayen Fortune J2415 kicked off the sale and sold for the $11,000 second top price. He sold to another commercial Mildura buyer RM Collett & Son who put together three bulls for a $5667 average.

The highest priced black Limousin at $8500 also had an impeccable pedigree being a son of US sire RUNL Stetson 850S and out of a female which was a fully imported embryo. The May 2013 drop sold to Andrew and Melissa Van Der Drift ,Macorna Limousins, Vic – one of their two buys.

Two Upper South East commercial breeders provided volume support buying four bulls each.

Deepwater Pastoral Holdings, Tintinara averaged $5750 for their tally, and Connor Pastoral Company, Keith bought their quartet for $4375 average.

Despite the buoyant prices early there were plenty of opportunities for those with lesser budgets to secure top quality bulls with growth and carcase. Twenty three bulls-nearly 40 per cent of the catalogue- made between $3000 to $4000.

Stud principal Damian Gommers described it as a solid sale and thanked the many buyers who had supported their program for up to 16 years.

“A lot of clients due to the season we knew didn’t need as many bulls as they have sold cows so it was good to sell as many as we did.”

At the beginning of the sale Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Jono Spence commended Mandayen for their consistent performance over the past decade remaining at the forefront of the Limousin breed.

“When you think about any small business or even sporting team to perform year in and year out need a lot of things- they need the stats, a program in place and embrace technology and new methods. They also need commitment, passion and a great work ethic all of which the Gommers family have shown to me.”

Landmark, Elders and Spence Dix & Co were joint selling agents with Gordon Wood, Ross Milne and Jono Spence the auctioneers.