The Gommers family paid $5600 for Bandeeka's main stud sire, Ebony Lodge Freehold

The growing popularity of the Gelbvieh breed in the Australian cattle industry was on show after a highly successful dispersal of the A black Gelbvieh cow topped the sale at $6100, while an eight month old heifer calf sold to $4500 to top the stud calf offering.

Established in 1991 by Tony and Loreen Kitchen and Mike and Lorraine Eastman, the Bandeeka stud was one of Australia's oldest Gelbvieh studs and its investment in quality genetics over the years attracted a number of studs from across Australia to participate in the sale, and what the studs didn't buy, commercial breeders snapped up.

The black Gelbvieh family at Bandeeka attracted large pre-sale interest and prices did not disappoint with local stud breeders battling the east to secure the animals.

The highest price cow, Double Bar Sheraton, was a September 1997-drop cow that had a very successful show record and had bred many show winners herself.

One of Australia's biggest Gelbvieh studs, Ebony Lodge, Melbourne, Victoria, was the successful buyer after battling it out with local breeders the Pugh family, Summit Gelbvieh stud, Narrikup, to take home the beautiful cow. Sheraton was sired by Double Bar Quart Pot and out of Double Bar Parmelia. She was PTIC to Ebony Lodge Freehold.

Ebony Lodge were solid supporters throughout the sale taking home nine lots at a $3744 average. The stud's purchases also included Sheraton's heifer calf which sold for $4200, making for an expensive cow and calf unit. It also bought Double Bar Parmelia, a March 1994 drop cow for $4000 and its heifer calf for $4500 and Double Bar Samantha, a March 1997 drop cow that sold for $5400 and its heifer calf for $3300.

Alan Kelly, Braeside Gelbvieh stud, Manjimup, who bid on behalf of Ebony Lodge over the phone said the stud was keen to get hold of the black genetics.

"Good quality black Gelbviehs are hard to come by across Australia and Ebony Lodge are very keen to produce more black stud animals, which the market in the east is demanding," he said.

The Summit Gelbvieh stud was also...