Lindsey and Belinda Hindle from Fairfield Charolais recently held their first bull sale in Winton and, based on the demand from local buyers, it won't be their last.
After a tough string of seasons local buyers were keen to get their hands on the hardy Fairfield bulls, with a healthy clearance rate of about 80 per cent across 46 lots.
The top-priced bull, Fairfield N331E, was a polled Santa-Charolais composite and sold for $5,500 to local Winton buyers Jim and Sandra Smith from Cotswold Hills.
"It's our first time up here and we're happy with the result, it was good," Mrs Hindle said.
"We're happy with the sale. The top price was $5,500 and the clearance rates were good.
"Our top-priced bull was a Santa-Charolais cross. We sell probably about 30 of them a year, and they're very popular. He went local to the Smiths."
The sale cleared $130,500 with an average price of $3625.
Strong support from local buyers contributed to a successful sale on the day, Mrs Hindle said.
"The locals came and supported us. I think they appreciated us being up here, because they haven't had bull sales in Winton for so long.
"They've helped us so much up here."
Fairfield Charolais has been breeding stud Charolais since 2003 and recently moved their operations from Roma to Highfields near Toowoomba.
Although it was a fair trek to get to Winton, the strong demand on the day made it worthwhile, Mrs Hindle said.
"It's a long way but we are hoping we can do it again next year."
Fairfield has been producing hardy bulls that can hang on in the dry, which suited conditions in central west Queensland.
Mrs Hindle said their polled bulls were also popular among buyers.
"A lot of our clients say to us that they like the way our bulls hang on in the dry.
"The local buyers were definitely interested in their ability to hang on. We've sold a lot of bulls out around Quilpie and Augathella, which is similar sort of country.
"We try and breed bulls with good fat coverage, and we are heading the direction of polled genetics."