The team at Hazeldean had two reasons to celebrate last Friday with a very pleasing response to their fourth and final bull sale for the year, followed in the evening by a formal event to mark 160 years since the business’s seedstock was established in 1865 with the Merino stud operations.

Established in 1927, Hazeldean Angus is part of Hazeldean Pty Ltd and provides the beef industry with large numbers of high quality, high performing stud and commercial Angus bulls.

Around 500 bulls are sold each year by auction at selling centres along the east coast.

The spring bull sale resulted in 147/147 bulls sold at an average price of $12,870.

The top price bull was Lot 3 which went to Cooney Creek Beef, Jugiong, purchased for $34,000 by Delta Goulburn.

As stated in the catalogue notes the bull is very good quality, a special bull for stud breeders to consider, in the top one per cent for gestation length, seventh percentile band for calving ease direct and docility with handy carcase estimated breeding values and good growth.

“It’s good to sell bulls to all markets,” co-principal, Ed Bradley, said.

“The good bulls got chased and made their money, the buyers were able to shop to their budget, which is important in a business enterprise. It’s a healthy market.

“It was a huge spread this year with where the buyers came from, a lot of bulls went to Earl Grazing in central Queensland, a few went to Kingston in South Australia, to Gippsland in Victoria, and central NSW and New England, with great local support as well.”

Hazeldean finishes up for 2025 with its on-property Merino sale in October, its fifth Merino sale for the year.

The generational nature of the business is an important factor for Hazeldean’s principals, creating an appreciation for the patience required for breeding top quality livestock.

In this year’s spring bull sale catalogue the team says “it is an exciting time for the Australian beef industry, with record production and strong global demand driving renewed optimism.

“We are also excited by the Angus premium which we continue to see strengthen. When the drought-affected areas of Australia are filled in, we are of the opinion the market will strengthen very quickly”.