Southern beef breeders enjoyed considerable success at the Beef and Lamb New Zealand beef expo at Feilding.
Neil and Rose Sanderson, from Fossil Creek Angus, in North Otago, sold an Angus bull for $18,000 and another for $7000.
In the Hereford section, the Monymusk stud from Te Anau sold bulls for $12,000 and $9500, while Gray and Robyn Pannett (Millers Flat) achieved $11,000 and Laurie and Sharon Paterson (Greenvale) sold a bull for $6500.
A Simmental bull calf from Glenside Simmentals, Lawrence, fetched $7000.
The top price was $28,000 for an Angus bull sold by Ranui W Angus, of Wanganui, and purchased by Ranui Holdings.
The PGG Wrightson champion of champions was awarded to a Charolais bull owned by Noel and Liz Gwillim, of Feilding, which later sold for $8000 to Brent and Bruce Fisher, of Silverstream Charolais.
The reserve champion of champions was an Angus bull offered by Kaharau Angus, Gisborne, which sold for $10,000.
PGG Wrightson Otago stud stock specialist Roger Keach said the overall quality of bulls offered was very good.
The Queen of Hearts all breeds heifer calf sale - a new initiative - offered an excellent line of calves, Mr Keach said.
Hamish and Angela Williams presented the pick of the entire Turihaua Angus 2010 female calf drop, which sold for $11,000, with proceeds going to the Canterbury earthquake appeal.
An Angus heifer, offered by Bruce and Barbara Alexander, from the Goldwyn stud at Hunter, also made $11,000.
A South Devon/Friesian cross sirloin steak from Phil Hoskin in Pahiatua won the Steak of Origin competition.
Julia and Stewart Eden, from Riversdale, were fourth in the crossbred and other category with a Dexter/Friesian cross.
A Hereford Prime sirloin processed by Bowmont Wholesales Meats, Invercargill, was judged the grand champion brand.
• The Otago-Southland bull sale season began this week with the Duncan family's Penvose Angus sale at Wedderburn.
Twenty-six bulls were offered and 22 sold, for an average of $3900. The top price was $7000 for a bull sold to the Aitcheson family, Ettrick.