Kirkcaldy Abby displays classic footwork and has been educated on cattle, sheep and goats. Image Kate Austin
A top stud sire, elite brood bitches, and five young bitches in varying levels of training on sheep, cattle and goats are now available following the dispersal of one of the nation’s foremost Kelpie studs, Working Kelpies of Kirkcaldy.
Principals Peter and Kate Austin, of Blackbutt, Qld, sold 16 young dogs in a timed auction on AuctionsPlus on June 26-30 to a top of $12,000 twice and an average of $6500.
Equal top price lot, Kirkcaldy Dream, was a red and tan bitch (Kirkcaldy Doc x Kirkcaldy Jess) described as having exceptional natural working ability, a calm temperament, medium eye, good cover and classy footwork. Dream was snapped up by an undisclosed buyer from Gayndah, Qld, to work on cattle.
Kirkcaldy Meg (Kirkcaldy Butch x Kirkcaldy Gabby) sold to an undisclosed buyer from Wilcannia, NSW, for $12,000 to work sheep and goats. Meg showed great maturity on sheep and cattle with a big, wide searching cast and great holding ability.
Another lot, Kirkcaldy Steel, was sold after the sale internationally to the United Kingdom.
The dispersal drew great interest with 11,000 views on AuctionsPlus and 1200 registered bidders and dogs selling south to Holbrook, NSW, west to Ivanhoe, NSW, and north to Alpha, Queensland.
“Buyers were mainly looking for outside paddock dogs with cover, style rand the ability to work in the yard plus cattle,” Mr Austin said.
He said five well educated, natural young bitches were still available along with outstanding stud sire Kirkcaldy Doc, and brood bitches including Kirkcaldy Jess and Kirkcaldy Gabby, the business name and domain name.
Peter and Kate are retiring from breeding after 48 years of selling dogs throughout Australia and to Japan, USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“Gabby was the dam of nine of the lots in the dispersal while Jess was the mother of Kirkcaldy Dream and she is now in pup again to Doc,” he said.
Mr Austin said this represented a rare opportunity for someone to purchase superior Kelpie genetics and carry on the stud.
Doc, a sound 11-year-old, continues to work and breed, being the grand sire of many of the dogs in the dispersal and is now being offered for sale.
Among the young dogs is the strong, all round black and tan bitch Kirkcaldy Abby (Kirkcaldy Butch x Kirkcaldy Gabby), well-educated on cattle, sheep and goats, and with a medium eye and classic footwork.
Kirkcaldy Trixie is of the same breeding and boasts natural working ability and a great temperament. She is a stylish paddock and yard bitch with a classic cast, medium eye and cover, free moving and will work sheep, cattle and goats.
“If I was to continue breeding, those would be the first two bitches I would keep in the stud. They are both beautiful natured and really smart,” Mr Austin said.
He said a further four young dogs undergoing training on sheep, cattle and goats will also be sold before the couple retires.
For all enquiries relating to the dogs contact Peter Austin on 0407 503 456.