The Locke family, Holbrook, sold all of the 38 bulls to average $7671 and 12 of 12 females to a top of $4600 and an average of $2708 via the Helmsman buying system. 

The top bull - Wirruna Jensen J218 - is bound for Tasmania, and was purchased in partnership by Katrina and Bruce Archer and their children Andrew and Josie, Chester Poll Herefords, Westwood, and Richard Archer and his daughter Victoria, Quamby Plains Poll Herefords, Hagley, Tasmania. 

The two studs - who also run commercial herds - intend to share the bull. 

A son of Okawa Marshall 9718, he had +3.9 eye muscle area, recorded positive rib and rump scores, and had +1.2 percent intramuscular fat.

"His figures were outstanding and he had low birth weight, very good index values and he is nice and quiet," Katrina said. 

Sandy Tait, Gunnong Pastoral Company, Coolac, secured seven bulls to a top of $8000 and averaged $6679, and the McRedmond family, Tumut, purchased three to a top of $7500 and averaged $6667. 

The rest of the bull offering sold to a spread of buyers with four bidders securing two bulls each and 20 purchasing one bull each; five of the bulls though, made over $10,000. 

The 12 females offered went to six different buyers, with Queensland buyer Hancock Pastoral securing three pregnancy-tested-in-calf females including the top priced Wirruna Circe J97 for $4600. 

PTIC to Wirruna Jansen J143 and due to calve in March, she was in the top five per cent for 400 day weight (+62) and maintained a low birth weight of +1.6 which was in the top 10pc. 

"I appreciate that the cattle market is a lot better and our clients have their tail up; it was great to see return clients but also new buyers who really added momentum to the sale," said principal Ian Locke. 

"I feel very humbled by the support they have all shown." 

The two embryo packages offered were passed in. 

The sale was conducted by Atkins Marketing Livestock, Albury.