Thirteen breeds amounting to 466 lots have been assembled and catalogued from a vendor list stretching across two states for the annual February All Breeds Bull and Female Sale, being held at CQLX, Gracemere, on February 10 and 11.
This years offering is comprised of 374 bulls representing all 13 breeds and 72 females from two breeds. Traditionally, the sale heralds the commencement of the central Queensland annual seedstock sales calendar with the 2020 offering witnessing a slight reduction of numbers catalogued when compared to that of the 2019 event.
Regarded by many as a barometer for many of the sales that follow and specific breed values, the February All Breeds Sale offers a massive genetic and diverse catalogue catering to a wide buying audience.
Spokesman for the selling agents, Robert Murray, Elders Stud Stock, Rockhampton, commented on the upcoming sale saying, "This years offering that we and our co-agents (Landmark) have been entrusted with has again attracted cattle and genetics from some of our leading client bases from both Queensland and New South Wales."
"The recent widespread seasonal break across many areas of the state and more importantly the major buying areas that traditionally support the sale, has had a positive effect on both the seedstock and commercial sectors of the industry," Mr Murray said.
"One of the major attributes of the sale is the ongoing support of leading producers looking for both quality registered and commercial replacement bulls and females for their operations," he said.
"In recent years this sale has seen bulls sell to $32,000 and females to $15,000, indicating the type and the calibre of the cattle assembled in the catalogue.
"Bolstering all of these factors is the extremely buoyant market conditions for both store, prime, manufacturing and live export cattle sectors."
Kicking off the two day sale which commences at 9am on both days is a catalogue offering of 269 lots involving three breeds and five categories.
Sale openers on Monday, February 10, are 131 Brahman bulls. These are followed a small but select quality offering of eight used Brahman sires, 67 Brahman red and grey females, 35 Charolais bulls and an offering of 28 Charbray bulls that close the first days trade.
The second and final day, Tuesday, February 11, witnesses the remainder of the offering. The day involves 10 breeds which commences with an offering of 85 Droughtmaster bulls followed by a small offering of five Droughtmaster females. A single Red Angus bull is next followed by 23 Angus bulls, a trio of Hereford bulls, a single Senepol male, six Gelbvieh bulls, 16 Simmental bulls, six Simbrah bulls, a pair of Limousin bulls and closing the sale an offering of 49 Brangus bulls.
At the 2019 sale the fixture saw 203 bulls sell to average $4150, topping at $13,000 on two occasions while 42 females averaged $3125 to sell to a top of $9000 culminating in a gross of $973,750 with a 55 per cent clearance ratio to a buyers address list that saw cattle dispatched to all parts of the state and into the Northern Territory.
The opening day of the fixture saw two bulls hit the sale high of $13,000 and heifers sell to $9000. Brahmans and Simmentals both topped out at sums of $13,000 while used Brahman sires topped $8000 to average $5333. The final day featured 10 breeds and their composites offered with the result being 125 bulls selling to $10,000 to set an overall average of $3988 to clear 53pc of the offering.
The top selling Brahman was the 37-month-old, 858kg, 142EMA, Wandilla Jagger. Offered by Lee and Gillian Collins, Wandilla Stud, Marlborough, the bull sold to Brett and Susan Kirk and family, Hazelton Stud, Middlemount.
Wandilla also took the top seller in the used Brahman sire section with their grey, FBC Bravo Manso, 1038kg, 144EMA making $8000 and also selling to the Hazelton Stud.
The top Brahman female was Kenrol Miss Getti (AI) (12-months) which sold for $9000. Offered by Ken and Wendy Cole, Kenrol Stud, Gracemere, she sold to Fenella Neilson, Tolmie Creek, Blackwater.
The equal top seller of the sale was also offered on the opening day. Making $13,000 was the 29-month, 948kg, 136EMA, Simmental entrant, Lucrana M97 (P) offered by Andrew Moore, Lucrana Stud, Texas. The red bull sold to Eddie and Josephine Pace, Pindi Pindi.
Charbray bulls hit $10,000 on the second and final day. Honours went to 29-month-old, 1015kg, Wattlebray Might N Power offered by Trevor Ford, Wattlebray Stud, Chinchilla. Sired by Huntington Fashionable (P) the bull sold to the Euston family, Glastonbury. Wattlebray Maguire made $6500 selling to Kendah Enterprises, Kendal, Wowan.
Droughtmasters sold to $9500. The top of the section was the 25-month, 885kg, 130EMA, Farogan Valley Ace (P) catalogued by Nick and Sarah Hughes, Farogan Valley Stud, Kandanga. The son of the Beef 2018 Champion, Farogan Valley Aura, Ace sold to Darryl Ahern, Rosedale, Baralaba.
Next best at $9000 for the Droughtmasters was the 26-month, 886kg, 138EMA, Vitwood 3642 (P) offered by David and Anita Torrisi, Vitwood Stud, Pialba. The bull sold to Savannah Droughtmaster Stud, operated by Valmai Jones, Savannah Rural Solutions, Tennant Creek, NT.
Brangus topped at $9000. Sectional honours went to James Hayden, West Oak Stud, Guyra, NSW, with West Oak Gallaxy, 28-months, 12/10mm, 130EMA, 5.6IMF, 848kg, (Valley View 613) selling to Colin Kime, Amaroo Stud, Nebo.
Next best at $8500 was Lazy S Bomber 28-month, 981kg offered by Sue Fawcett, Lazy S Stud, Condamine. He sold to John and Alison Bell, Inavale Stud, Boonah.
The top selling Charolais was the $6000, 965kg, Tanic Nardo (AI) (P) offered by the Hartwig family, Tanic Stud, Monto. The 21-month-old by Ascot Eldorado sold to the Lee family, Diamond L Charbrays, Nanango.
The Mikkelsen family, Wiluna Charbray Stud, Yandaran sold bulls to $6000. Angus bulls topped at $6000 on two occasions while Limousin males hit $5500.
Market leaders as far as clearance levels were concerned was the Charolais section with 74pc of the offering cleared at auction. Brahman bulls achieved an average of $4588 while Simmentals recorded a sale average of $4235.