Hereford bull fetches $65k

Earnscleugh Station High Country Genetics co-owner Duncan Campbell (left) and PGG Wrightson national genetics manager Callum McDonald admire Hereford bull Earnscleugh Gunsmoke 244700 after he sold for $65,000 near Alexandra on Friday, setting a stud record in Central Otago.

Mr Campbell said he was "stoked" with the sale result.

The bull was bought by Chris and Jennifer Chesterman, of Koanui Polled Herefords stud in Hawke’s Bay.

Mr Campbell said he had used the "massively thick and powerful" bull over his adult cows.

"It took us a long time to make the decision to put him up for sale."

The previous record price at his sale was $48,000 for an Angus bull and $28,000 for a Hereford bull.

At another bull sale in Northern Southland a day earlier, sire bull Umbrella Range 20533 sold for the top price of $42,000.

The bull was billed in the Umbrella Range Angus sale catalogue as "the epitome of a hill country Angus sire".

"[A] brilliantly well-formed, soft-fleshing bull with a great back end and thickness from head to toe."