OPTIMISM was running high at the conclusion of the Kilkenny, Barambah-Dale Charolais and Emjay, Wellcamp Charbray bull sale after vendors posted a record sale average, top price and turnover at the Woolooga saleyards on Friday.
The scene was set with over 140 buyer registrations, a booming stud cattle market and running out of catalogues prior to the kick off meant the sale was only going one way and prices were going to head north.
Insatiable demand forced prices to record levels with a total of 141 bulls changing hands for a $11,528 average and a turnover of $1,625,500 which comprised 101 Charolais bulls for a $12,292 average for a top of $27,500 and 40 Charbray bulls averaging $9600 and selling to $19,000 for a complete clearance of the catalogue.
In fact, the last Charolais bull offered by sale host Mike Lawlor in Kilkenny Q86 (P) made $16,000 and was bought by Craig Dakin of Paterson.
Wayne and Lesley Davis and family, Barambah-Dale Charolais, Dalby, topped the Charolais market at $27,500 with Barambah-Dale Quarry, a 22-month-old son of ANC Medal weighing 920 kilograms with positive growth figures and scanned 141 square centimetres for eye muscle area which was bought by Peter, Helen and Tom Little, Mt Nicholson, Bauhinia.
Tom Little was buying on behalf of his parents and reckoned Barambah-Dale Quarry epitomised everything he liked in a bull - extra length, great depth and quiet temperament.
The Little family were instrumental in the overall success of the sale after buying 27 bulls for a $14,963 average which included 21 Charolais for a $16,595 average and six Charbray bulls at $9250.
They recently acquired the 24,000-acre holding Clematis Creek at Bauhinia and wanted Charolais bulls to join to their quality grey Brahman commercial cows and their Charbray selections are headed to their home block, Mt Nicholson, to go over Charbray and Droughtmaster females.
Anthony and Kylee Curtis of Wellcamp Charbrays sold the $19,000 top-priced Charbray bull, Wellcamp Qasim (P), a honey coloured, generational-bred son of Huntington Leggart (P) with exceptional length of body and depth of flank to Tony and Lyn Grabbe, Nooralaba, Cunnamulla.
Mr Grabbe said Wellcamp Qasim was the best bull in the Charbray line-up and he was impressed with the bull's overall sire appeal. Qasim will be headed for their Droughtmaster-cross herd.
- Selling agents: Sullivan Livestock & Rural Services, and Shepherdson & Boyd; simulcast by Elite Livestock Auctions.
Full report in next week's Queensland Country Life.
