Enthusiasm for red Brahmans was insurmountable at the 2016 Rockhampton Brahman Week bull sale and one stand out sire can now be named king of the selling ring.
A packed bidding stand reached fever pitch in the afternoon on day three when the Johnson family, Grafton, sold polled sire Jomanda El Toro 802 for a record price of $150,000 to Darren and Sue Kent of the Ooline Brahman Stud, Goovigen.
The previous top price sat on $90,000 set in 2006.
The 22-month-old bull offered a 33cm scrotal circumference and P8 and rib fat depths of 10 and six millimetres respectively.
Colin Johnson spoke on behalf of the Johnson family and said it felt surreal to make such phenomenal money for the bull even though there had been “talk and hype” about the bull in the weeks prior.
“Brett Nobbs saw him a few weeks ago and said he could top Brahman week and Ooline saw him a month ago and they were pretty excited about him too so its all built from there,” he said.
“It’s a huge achievement for a little stud from NSW to break the record. There’s no way you can anticipate that sort of money- we’re not a big recognised stud and we only bring a couple to Rockhampton but I guess we try to punch above our weight.”
Mr Johnson said Jomanda El Toro 802 was sired by NCC Casablanca 1541, which the family had leased from Brett Nobbs of NCC Brahmans, and was therefore a grandson of the legendary JDH Mr Elmo Manso (IMP US).
“Casablanca and Elmo have been the most powerful cattle and Elmo has been the most successful bull in modern history,” he said.
“Jomanda El Toro’s mother, Jomanda Kylie, is a very fertile cow with a lot of genetics on her side without being any supermodel. She’s a good solid cow that does the job.
“Most of our cattle go to F1s to breed F1 cows but we try to breed cattle that have some bone, some punch and some power and I guess it’s the right year to have the right bull.”
Mr Johnson said the family did not aim to breed polled bulls but that was the main attraction in his top priced offering.
“They usually don’t have enough bone, meat or power but this bull has all those things,” he said.
“He combines every good beef aspect and you’re not sacrificing anything because he’s polled.”
Purchaser Darren Kent agreed the fact the bull was polled was a bonus.
“You often hear people saying a bull is a good bull as far as polls are concerned but this is a good bull and the poll is a plus,” he said.
“We’re pretty hard on carcase attributes and muscle and this fellow has beautiful skin and he’s as thick as a brick.
“He’ll get joined over some of our NCC Diplomat and Manuscript daughters and we’re going to try him over a few grey cows as well.
“I think he’s got a lot to offer not only the Brahman breed but the whole industry so hopefully he’s a good investment.”
The Ooline stud averaged $19,277 for the sale of nine bulls and Mr Kent said it had been a great week.
“It’s great to see confidence back in the market. Commercial people are getting good money for their cattle which is long overdue because their cost of production has gone up astronomically in the last 20 years without any appreciable increase in what they received for meatworks cattle,” he said.
“The optimism at this year’s sale sent the vibe that beef is headed in the right direction.”