Velvet Sire Auction 10th January 2026

Welcome to the 2026 Velvet Sire Sale

Well… what a season we’re having. Unfortunately, we’re seeing less-than-desirable prices this year and to make matters worse, we’ve had new grading guidelines thrown into the mix to make things even more complicated. I don’t think I need to go on about it, but my take is pretty simple: oversupply and the wrong type of velvet being fed into the market.

For too long, premium higher-value grades haven’t been rewarded properly and, as a result, weight has been paid ahead of grade. Naturally, farmers have chased the highest $ per stag and that’s how we’ve ended up where we are. A major correction is now underway, with large numbers of stags being culled around the country and hopefully it’s the untidy, poor-producing stags on those trucks. It will take a couple of seasons to clean out the ugly grades and pull tonnage back, but we’ll come out the other side in a much stronger position.

This brings me to my next point. You’ll notice that this year’s line-up is super clean, round, ‘premium’ style velvet. There have been heavier stags that would normally be in the sale that I’ve excluded this year to really make a statement: use sires that will produce the type of velvet our market requires.

I’m genuinely excited about the style of velvet in this catalogue. Behind these stags are some outstanding genetics and I’m confident they’ll not only deliver for you under the new grading landscape, but will keep pushing your herd performance forward season after season.

You’ll also notice there are no 360° videos of the velvet this year. To be honest, I didn’t think it was necessary, as there is nothing to hide on the back side of any of this velvet. I urge you to come along on the day, have a good look, and you be the judges. Also, there are no hinds on offer at this sale, as we hope to have our first mid-winter hind sale – so watch this space.

I look forward to seeing you on the 10th of January. Have a great Christmas and hopefully find some time to relax with a cold beer or two in hand.

Regards,
Mark Tapley