Clermont Droughtmaster seedstock producer Josh Perry of the Strathfield 9JE stud, had the top priced bull at the Central Reds sale in Emerald on Monday, until he successfully bid $15,000 for one of the bulls offered by the Mostyndale stud at Springsure.
The tropical-coated 22-month-old Mostyndale 985(S) weighed in at 783kg and sported an eye muscle area of 134 square centimetres and intramuscular fat of 4.3 per cent.
Both his breeders, Kevin and Leesa Woolcock, and his purchaser commented on the bull's tidy underline, and Mr Perry said he'd also bought him for his length and depth.
"He's got softness combined with sire appeal," he said.
The bull was sired by Vale View Ziggy (S) and had been purchased by the Woolcocks at the Bunya sale a couple of years ago.
"He's been the kids' favourite, always up for a scratch - we love his nature, his bone and his underline," Leesa Woolcock said.
The Christmas Creek Cattle Co at Rolleston were the underbidders on the bull after earlier paying the sale's second top price of $13,000 for Strathfield 9JE Nelson (P).
Strathfield 9JE's Mr Perry said he was really happy to see the Piggot family, who operate their own Droughtmaster stud, take home the homozygous polled bull.
"He's only a baby, he's got a lot more growing to do," he said.
Nelson weighed 702kg at 20 months of age and had a scrotal circumference of 38cm and semen motility of 95pc.
The two sales were among the 42 bulls sold from the 51 offered by the seven studs, resulting in an 82pc clearance under the hammer and a solid average of $7619.
FLASHBACK: Central Reds Droughtmaster sale 2020 results
Strathfield 9JE finished with an average of $9166 for its six bulls sold, while Mostyndale cleared an $8545 average, selling 11 bulls.
The $8000 average posted by Sean and Evonne Barrett's Konjuli stud at Woolooga, near Gympie, included a top price of $12,000 for Konjuli Noice (P), a homozygous polled bull sold to the Talagi Grazing Co at Capella.
Dave, Colleen and Mac Smith of Vale View Droughtmasters at Manubar sold two bulls for $11,000 on their way to an average of $8125, to the Riverside Pastoral Co at Nebo and to BJ Soley and KM Laws of Springsure.
The Woolcocks snapped up one of the first bulls in the ring, offered by Rob and Kirstie Orphant's Seymour Droughtmasters at Gunalda, for $10,000. The stud finished with an $8333 average.
First-time sale vendor Tomas Flohr, Red River Droughtmasters, Nebo, sold all three bulls offered, including one to volume buyer, Murray Haigh of Blackwater.
Mr Haigh also purchased two Kenlogan bulls and one from Vale View to complete his shopping list.
Five of the 32 registered bidders bought three bulls each, including Clancy Bach Grazing of Walkerston, McLaughlin and Sons, Springsure, RJ Owens, Springsure, Zita Pastoral Co of Springsure, and the Woolcock family.
It was the first time the sale had been simulcast for online bidding, which, with 42 logged users and 130 viewers, proved its worth.
Following the sale, another six bulls were sold, by Seymour, Konjuli and Mostyndale studs, resulting in a final clearance of 94pc and an average of $7145.
- Selling agent - Nutrien, simulcast by Elite Livestock Auctions
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