The average was just slightly down on the $9336 average recorded at the stud’s South Australian sale the week before, and saw 19 of the first 26 lots sell for $10,000 or more. Overall 97 of the 103 bulls offered sold at the Victorian sale last Wednesday.

The stud, located at Gazette west of Penshurst, offered an even line-up of bulls to a large gallery of new and return buyers.

The $20,000 top price was reached twice thanks to the spirited bidding of two Angus studs eager to incorporate Pathfinder genetics into their stud herds.

The first $20,000 bid was for Lot 4, Pathfinder Ada M172, who was purchased by return client and buyer of the previous year’s equal top-priced bull Mark Beavis, Riverwood Angus, Goomalibee, who bought in conjunction with cousin Steve Beavis, Violet Town.

Mark Beavis said the bull was a standout because of the way he “carries himself”.

“He’s got nice, soft skin, good bone, structure and temperament,” Mr Beavis said.

Lot 4 recorded a birth weight of +4.4 kilograms, 200-day weight of +53kg, 400-day weight of +101kg, and 600-day weight of +143kg.

The duo said sharing the bull would be easy to coordinate, because Mark’s herd calved in spring, and Steve’s in autumn. Mark Beavis said he was beginning to get calves on the ground from last year’s $16,000 bull, which were looking to be “good, handy calves”.

The other equal top-priced bull was Lot 6, Pathfinder Equator M121, who was purchased by first-time buyers Jenny and Brett Graham, Broomfield Angus, Arthurton, South Australia.

Mr and Ms Graham said while figures such as carcase weight (+93kg), scrotal size (+3.5 centimetres), and gestation length (-7.9 days), were all impressive, Lot 6 was a visually outstanding bull.

“Visually, he’s a very well-balanced bull, he’s what we want to breed in our stud,” Mr Graham said.

They expect to join the bull to stud females in mid-August, and hope he will produce well-balanced vealers.

A volume buyer was Tuloona Pastoral manager Sean Harvey, Harrow, who bought six bulls to a top of $9000, average $6500.

“We’re looking for good growth traits, we want a lower birth weight for ease of calving, and then high growth rates, and Pathfinder has been a good fit for these objectives,” Mr Harvey said.

Pathfinder stud co-principal Nick Moyle said calving ease and growth were two of the stud’s biggest priorities.

“We aim for moderate birth weight, and maximum growth,” Mr Moyle said.

He said the response from buyers was “fantastic”.

“There were a huge amount of repeat buyers, and some new buyers too,” he said.

“The bulls were in good condition, they’ve carried a bit of extra weight because they’ve had two good seasons.”

Landmark stud stock manager Andrew Sloan said the sale result was reflective of the fact that “Pathfinder’s genetics are sought after”.