A record numbers of farmers ‘attended’ the largest service bull sale in New Zealand – many from the comfort of their own homes.

Record audience at Huntly bull sale

This year’s sale marked 14 years since friends Dave MacKenzie and Greg Straker combined forces to provide farmers with access to quality grade beef and dairy bulls.

Dave MacKenzie recalls that the sale quickly became renown for bulls which were well grown and provided the breed diversity dairy farmers were after.

“Until this year the NZ Farmers Livestock auction has meant that bidders needed to be ringside – but this year farmers were able to register to bid online via our hybrid auction platform which enables ring-side and online bidding.”

NZ Farmers Livestock General Manager Bill Sweeney said the sale was very successful “with return buyers and around 100 registered buyers. Around 440 2yr bulls in outstanding condition and with excellent temperament, went under the hammer.

“The top Herefords realized up to $2800 with an average of $2400 while the average for Angus and Jersey was $2300 and $1950 respectively – up slightly on the prices achieved last year. Buyers were from as far away as Otago and Whangarei,” Bill Sweeney said.

Dave MacKenzie and Greg Straker provide farmers with free grazing until 2 November on their farms at Huntly West and Te Pahu and are now both involved trucking bulls off to their new owners.

Image above: Dave MacKenzie, BullsEye vendor

Image below: Greg Straker, BullsEye vendor with his grand daughter Lyla