Red-hot competition at the annual Casterton Working Dog Auction on Sunday helped to offset the bitterly cold conditions, with the average sale price jumping 16% on last year, at $8,850 per dog - with the “top dog” hitting $27,000. Interfaced with AuctionsPlus for the second year, this year's sale utilized pre-bidding, along with a live interface on sale day - allowing online buyers the opportunity to place bids in the lead up to, and on sale day.
With a total of 26,270 catalogue views and 6,978 users connecting to the auction on sale day, competition was fierce for the 50 working dogs ranging in age from 15 weeks, to five-years-old. With users connecting from every state in Australia, 176 active bidders placed a total of 2,009 online bids on 48 lots. 19 lots sold online, with some lots remaining in Victoria whilst most lots headed interstate to NSW, SA and Tasmania.
Given the very competitive sale, the overall sale averaged $8,850 per dog - up $1,194 on last year. From the sale, pups averaged $3,400, while dogs reached an average of $9,228. The top price of the day, at $27,000, went to Lot 16 “Hazeldell Kimmy” – a two-year-eight-month-old black and tan kelpie bitch offered by Kahlee O’Leary. Described as a genuine all-rounder, with a confident back and bark, “Hazeldell Kimmy” previously worked in a contracting team on properties across NSW and Victoria before finding her new home.
Taking out the second top price for the sale and top online price, was Lot 36 “The Lee’s Beast” – a one-year-old black and tan kelpie dog offered by Sarah Lee, at $24,000. Suited as a all-round farm dog, who is nice and steady in the paddock and has good inside work – “Beast” is headed to his new home in NSW.
The last lot of the day took out the highest price for a pup, with Lot 53 “Beloka Monty” selling for $6,000 to an online buyer from NSW. Offered by Paul Macphail, the 15-week-old blue and tan kelpie pup was described as a “friendly and bold pup.”
To view the full sale results CLICK HERE.