WHAT a great set of figures as Queensland cranks up the bull selling season!
A total clearance was achieved by Kilkenny and Barambah-Dale Charolais, Emjay and Wellcamp Charbrays at the Woolooga saleyards last Friday.
Michael Lawlor of Kilkenny Charolais and Wayne and Lesley Davis, Barambah-Dale Charolais enjoyed a standout result after 80 bulls averaged $7557 and sold to $12,000. This result compared favourably to last year’s sale when 57 Charolais bulls averaged $6614.
This was achieved on the back of insatiable demand from commercial beef producers looking for bulls that perform under most conditions and deliver improved carcase qualities with many buyers commenting on the evenness of the draft.
The entire Charolais draft ranged in age from 18 to 21 months with an average weight of 740kgs and their scans averaged 130 for EMA, 7 to 12 mm for P8 Fat and average IMF of 4.3 percent.
The $12,000 top selling Charolais, Kilkenny L163E, sired by Kilkenny Garland ET. A performance-backed home-bred bull with plenty of red meat characteristics was bought by return buyers Errol and Jan Otto, Boggomoss, Taroom to use over their high grade Red Brahman cows running on the Jericho-district property, Minnamora. The resulting calves will be grown out on grass and sold as bullocks at between 24 to 30 months.
Mr Otto said Kilkenny L167E was a correct bull all over with tons of thickness and will join his other purchases Kilkenny L78E and L107E – both good barrelled 20-month-olds with heaps of softness - bought for $10,500 each and all heading to Minnamora.
Another buyer operating on the top end was Kyle Smith, Templeton Beef, Eumundi who operates eight properties in the Gympie to Eumundi district bought four bulls Charolais bulls for a $8750 average paying up to $12,000 for another performance-packed son of Langi Ghiran Go Cats.
Mr Smith said he selected bulls with thickness and bone to use over larger-framed Droughtmaster cows to breed feeder cattle and wanted to ‘beef them up a bit’.
Regular buyers of the Charolais section Tony and Michele Perrett, Tye, Kilkivan bought seven quality bulls with good fleshing and temperament for a $7430 average to breed good vealers out of their Brahman-cross cows.
Other return clients included David and Wendy Wilkinson, Barford Station, Augathella who accounted for nine quality Charolais bulls for a $5777 average for their cross breeding operation.
Other highlights were Paradise Grazing who purchased four bulls, topping at $10,500. Inverstanley Pastoral who purchased three bulls topping at $10,500. Paul Clarkson who purchased three bulls topping at $10,000. Tandora Grazing purchased two bulls topping at $10,000 and the Gilla Partnership purchased one bull at $10,000.
Michael Connolly of Emjay Charbrays at Goomeri and Anthony and Kylee Curtis, Wellcamp Charbrays sold 27 Charbray bulls for a $5240 average to a top of $13,500.
The top-priced Charbray bull, Wellcamp 264, a two-year-old son of Kandanga Valley Floyd weighing in at 954kg with an EMA of 146cms and 4.7 for IMF was bought by the partnership of Warren and Eve Smith, Celestial Charbrays, Gympie and Michael Connolly, Emjay Charbrays, Goomeri.
The milk tooth youngster was described by Mr Connolly as having the ideal combination of good structure, plenty of softness, great growth-for-age with ample bone and muscling.
“Wellcamp 264 is easy of the eye and should retain the hybrid vigor we need in our herds,” said Mr Connolly.
Also active in the Charbray run were Greg and Shirley Callander, Colston Park, Sarina after taking home four bulls for a $6250 average which included the quality home-bred youngster, Emjay K264 at $7500.
- Agents; Sullivan Livestock & Rural Services and Shepherdson & Boyd Qld Pty Ltd