More relaxed sale with larger gallery than under Covid last year.

Limehills Polled Herefords in Roxburgh, Central Otago hosted one of the first events of this year’s two year old bull sales season on 1 June.

After presenting the sale last year towards the end of the Level Two Covid period, Limehills owner Gray Pannett says this year’s was a more relaxed affair with a larger gallery and a better atmosphere.

“We were more than happy with the result, with a higher clearance rate than we have ever had. While we aim to achieve the best prices possible, we also want to keep the bulls affordable for our customers, most of whom are regulars.

“Our top priced bull achieved $41,000, which is a record for us. We have a particular sire going well at present, and he was one of the offspring,” he says.

This year was the 42nd Limehills sale, and PGG Wrightson has been there all the way, albeit in the past under the Reid Farmers and then Pyne Gould Guinness brands.

“We have a long-standing working relationship and we play the long game, which also goes for our customers, including some of the big stations who take up good volumes year on year. Back when we started we were selling 20 odd bulls each year and are now at triple that level. With bidr® our reach is longer, which may in time enable our sale to grow larger still,” says Gray.

Under auctioneer John McKone, supported by commercial rep Dave Lilley and genetics rep Callum McDonald, Limehills sold 60 of 62 bulls offered at an average of $9950 per head. Aside from local Otago and Southland buyers, others came from Canterbury and the North Island, while 87 watchers and 23 registered buyers followed the sale on bidr®.