IT WAS tough selling for the Northern cattle industry at the sixth annual Charters Towers Invitational Brangus Sale held at the Dalrymple Saleyards earlier this month.
In summary, 58 bulls sold for a total of $212,500 for an average of $3664/head and a 92 per cent clearance rate.
Considering the selling conditions the consensus was that the sale produced a strong result for vendors and great purchasing opportunities for bidders.
Sale coordinator Troy Trevor, Queensland Rural, Charters Towers, said considering the tough selling conditions caused by the lack of rain for the past two years plus, the sale proceeded remarkably well.
“There weren’t any records broken, but the bulls sold well to a strong gallery of buyers,” Mr Trevor said.
“It was very pleasing to see many familiar faces in the crowd come and support the sale again this year in what are very trying times,” he said.
“It was also great to see all our regular vendors come and support the sale with some top quality bulls.
“Many of the buyers and all of the vendors we spoke too said they’ll be back in 2015 which is very reassuring.
“With a bit of luck the tide will turn, we’ll get some good rain over the next 12 months and have a vastly improved selling situation next year.”
The sale topped at $8000 when Lot 45, Jett 178 H19, from Emerald breeders Mark and Donna Reid’s Jett Stud, sold to fellow vendors Stewart and Kerry Wallace, Wallace Cattle Co, Brigalow, Marlborough.
The Reid’s also secured the second top price bull of the sale with Lot 44, Jett 178 H5, sold to unconfirmed buyer, for $7000. All up the Reid’s sold 10 bulls for $47,500.
Mark Reid said while he was very happy with how the sale unfolded for themselves he understood that overall just like in 2013 it was tough selling.
“Due to the lack of rain many breeders around the region are doing it tough,” Mr Reid said.
“It’s testament to the character of the vendors that they keep supporting the sale while presenting solid lines of bulls even when they’re unlikely to achieve optimum prices for their sale drafts,” he said.
Echoing Mr Trevor’s comments, Mr Reid is hoping for a deluge of rain across the area in the next 12 months to really bolster confidence ahead of the 2015 sale.
He said he was very appreciative of the effort that the Queensland Rural team and sale organiser Brad Saunders from Pheasant Creek Brangus Cattle Co put into the sale.
“It’s definitely one of the better presented sales of the year, the quality of the advertising and promotion is excellent.”
Regarding the success of his draft at the sale Mr Reid said it was a positive sign of the work that the stud has been putting into genetics testing.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work with AI and embryo projects and it’s really starting to pay dividends with the results we’re achieving come sale time.”
The top price Jett bull was the sole purchase for the Wallace’s who also sold well at the sale with their draft of six bulls selling for $29,000.
Kerry Wallace said Jett 178 H19 caught their attention during the pre-sale inspection.
“He has a really good polled head, he’s square right from hip to pen, and has a deep flank,” Mrs Wallace said.
“Once we get it home we’ll be joining him with our Brangus females,” she said.
The Wallace’s also sold the third top price bull of the sale in Lot 49 Wallace B339/3 for $6500 to Colin Blacklock, Haddington, Julia Creek.
Mark and Donna Reid, Jett Stud, Paeroma, Emerald, were the top volume vendors of the sale, selling 10 head for $47,500.
Brad Saunders, Pheasant Creek Brangus Cattle Co, sold nine head for $23,000, while Brad and Briony Comsikey and Dennis and Claire Couper, Lunar Brangus, Barrinja, Emerald, sold eight head for 26,500.
Tony, Sharon and Bryce Fernie, Boombah Brangus, Boombah, Dingo, sold seven head for $22,000, while Paul and Denise Studt, Coolabah Brangus, Coolabah Park, Capella, sold seven bulls for $26,000.
Stewart and Kerry Wallace, Wallace Cattle Co, Brigalow, Marlborough sold six bulls for $29,000; Nev and Megan Hansen, Oaklands Brangus, Oaklands, Kalapa, sold six head for $23,000; and Rob Dunn, Silent Grove Brangus, Murray View, Mt Ossa, sold five bulls for $12,500.
Heart 2J Cattle Co, Valerosa, Capella, were the top volume buyers of the sale, taking home a well purchased draft of 10 bulls.
