Best of the breed on offer in spectacular Big Country Brahman Sale draft

On the first day, at 9:30am, 120 red stud sires and herd bulls will commence the sale, to be followed by a record sale offering of 118 stud heifers, while 177 grey Brahman stud sires and herd bulls will go through the ring on the sale's second morning, commencing at 8:30am.

Selling agents Geaney's of Charters Towers and McCaffrey's Australian Livestock Marketing of Rockhampton have attracted outstanding vendor stud support from 51 individual studs from southern, central and northern Queensland.

Auctioneer Ken McCaffrey said they're delighted with the quality and industry suitability of the sale selection.

"What we have on offer is the best of the Brahman breed that has ever been assembled for a sale in northern Australia," he said.

"What we and our vendors have worked hard to achieve in this offering for prospective buyers are; large, quality consistent lines from breed leading studs; very high standards; a strong and broad diversity of red and grey genetics we know are proven in the beef industry and are at the top level of market demand; an A-grade sire selection as good as you would see at any sale in the breed - red or grey; a huge heifer offering of tremendous breeding attraction and potential; and a record poll influence of 199 lots, by far the greatest ever offered in northern Australia."

Jim Geaney said it is a credit to the Big Country sale buyers' support over past years that a growing number of the Brahman breed's top level studs now, as a matter of priority, reserve drafts of their best bulls specifically for the Big Country sale.

"When your catalogue includes sale lines from industry leaders such as Carinya, Cambil, Muan, Palmal, Kenrol, Kariboe Valley, Palmvale, Fairy Springs, Clukan, Lanes Creek, Token, Somerview, Kenilworth and many more like them, you know northern bull buyers and cattle producers are getting in the sale, the choice of 'the best of the best' right on their own doorstep," he said.

FEMALES TO THE FORE

Studmasters, breed enthusiasts and herd restockers will welcome the opportunity the sale's record heifer offering of 118 lots presents.

Over half of the selection are already joined, with the balance aged ideally for mating immediately post sale.

The section features impressive large lines, backed by strong sire and damlines, from Lanes Creek (41 unjoined), Kimora (23 PTIC), Laguna (12 including 11 polls) and the outstanding first auction draft of PTIC grey heifers (20) that John Kirk's Carinya stud has submitted to auction.

In total, 41 of the sale's females are poll, a figure which Mr McCaffrey believes to be the largest poll influence offering in a Brahman female sale in Australia.

BENEFITS INCREASED FOR BUYERS

The selling agents have welcomed in a new decade by increasing and improving the sale's buyer benefits.

Volume buyer rebates apply to bull buyers as well as female buyers at the sale. Each rebate has been improved, and increases apply up the scale the more lots purchased.

"This sale has always been a leader in buyer benefits and we're pleased to keep raising the bar, year by year. We aim to assist our valued and loyal buyers every way we can." Mr Geaney said.

Another positive factor for buyers this year is the large number of lots furnished with Group Breedplan EBV information.

There is no doubt recent seasonal conditions will have an impact on sale prices this year, according to Geaney's and McCaffrey's. That circumstance will lead to buyers attaining the best value ever in their purchases this year, they believe.

"It's a superior selection right throughout, and we know some buyers will not be able to attend. Therefore those who do operate will be well pleased with the buying value," Mr McCaffrey said.

"Considering the very positive outlook for Brahmans as the breed for the times, and the breed for the markets, the Big Country sale this year is an opportunity studmasters and cattle producers cannot afford to miss."