Top bull a complete package

Just good hay and without grain for feed is why Many Peaks identity Brian Lester keeps buying Keston Vale Angus bulls.

And last week at Kojonup's Glen Oaklands saleyards, he returned to do just that - paying $7250 for the sale's top-priced bull (800kg) and another at $4750.

"I buy here because the bulls are not fed up. There's no grain, just good hay," said Brian, who joins 600 breeders on his lot feeder property.

He has been a couple of decades with Keston Vale and said the $7250 bull was pretty complete with a good head, sirey outlook and a beautiful coat.

The losing bidder on this bull was Mike Shipley, of Elmscourt Holdings, but who was successful at $3750 on the next bull offered by Landmark's John Wirth.

It was a good sale for Keston Vale principals Diana, Michael and Ross Fryer-Smith - of the 26 bulls offered, 19 sold under the hammer, plus another four immediately after the sale.

Another pleasing aspect of the sale was the average - up $675 on last year's average of $3417 - while the top price was $2000 better than 2011's top.

"I'm happy with the sale and there were some new buyers as well as old ones," Ross said.

The $6250 second top-priced bull was bought by Paul and Michelle Williams, of White Lakes stud, Narrikup - their first buy from Keston Vale. "He's an easy-doing bull - grass-fed, a soft bull," Paul said of their 826kg purchase.

Both top and second top-priced bulls were sired by C171, a bull bought from Kim Gandy's Diamond Tree stud.

Another good price was $5250, paid by RA & MA Wright, of Kojonup, and the sale's volume buyers were Smith & Son of Cranbrook. They bought bulls at $4250, $4000 and $3000.

Geoff Jones, of GD & SC Jones of Kojonup, bought a bull at $5000 and Danny Hansberry, of Watermans Bay, bought the first bull offered at $4500.

Keston Vale sale: under the hammer results * <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left">BREED </td> <td>OFFERED </td> <td>SOLD </td> <td>TOP PRICE </td> <td>AVERAGE </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Angus </td> <td>26 </td> <td>19 </td> <td>$7250 </td> <td>$4092 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>