Success for first Dandeleith stock sale

Warmly protected against the rain and wind by hay bale seating, a large group of buyers contemplate this bull which also made $8000.

While the weather outside was extremely wet the atmosphere inside Dandeleith's new bull arena was warm and dry, the open-sided shed being sealed by a wall of hay bales, stepped for visitor comfort with a great view of the ring.

This was Dandeleith's first on-farm bull sale, the stud having preferred to participate in the Cashbac Bull Sale at the Dannevirke Sale Yards for many years.

This year 28 rising two-year-old bulls went under the PGG Wrightson auctioneer's hammer and the average price of $7242 was well up on last year's sale, much to farmer Willy Philip's satisfaction.

Farmer Willy Philip has a watchful eye on this bull, sold by PGG Wrightson auctioneers for $8000, just above the sale average.

"I have to pay for the new arena somehow," he joked after the sale.

Top price was $11,500 with none of the first 11 dropping below $8000, a sign of consistent quality. Bulls were sold to bidders from Ruatoria in the north to the Wairarapa with Waipawa and Porongahau featuring "locally".

Thirty years of careful breeding using bulls sourced from the top studs has paid off for Willy, only one bull being passed in but later sold.

Top price for the sale of $11,500 went to this bull, showing his pedigree.