Stud and commercial producers from north west Queensland through to Tasmania chased the variety of genetics on offer at the National Charbray Bull Sale on Monday, to see it top at $37,500.
In total, 75 bulls of the 87 offered were sold to represent a clearance rate of 86 per cent, gross $704,500 and average $9393.
It was the Gooding family of Marlegoo Charbrays, Biloela, who headlined the sale, with Marlegoo Quartz (AI) (SC) hitting the top price of $37,500 by way of a bid from Michael Connolly and Lindy Bennett, Emjay Charbrays, Goomeri.
Sired by Savigneux (FR) and out of Marlegoo Emerald (P) (F1), the 26-month-old tipped the scales at 980 kilograms and measured 41.5 centimetres in scrotal circumference.
He scanned 151 square centimetres for eye muscle area and 7mm and 6mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats.
Mr Connolly said they hadn't attended the sale with the intention of buying, but they were determined not to leave without Quartz.
"I think he's the best Charbray bull I've seen this year, and if you like a bull, you buy him," Mr Connolly said.
"He's got plenty of punch and grunt and that's what the Charbray breed needs - more grunt.
"He'll go with cows, I'll find some for him, and he'll be out on duties soon."
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The sale-topping bull was just the tip of the iceberg for the Marlegoo draft, with their 14 lots clearing for an average of $16,107.
It's a result that earned the Gooding family a round of applause from the buying gallery, and left vendor Cherie Gooding "beyond belief and so grateful for the tremendous support".
"It's a bit overwhelming, but we're very excited to be able to put up a line of bulls that presented themselves and did the talking for us," she said.
"It's about persisting and working with genetics and getting that strength and bone and muscle that we're chasing along with the fertility that we all need, and making sure our cattle perform and presenting them right."
Ms Gooding said she wasn't surprised that Quartz had drawn the eyes of several parties.
"We kept his full brother, so we really like them," she said.
"There was another polly bull in there that we thought a lot about too actually, so we didn't know how it would pan out, but I'm very excited that it was him given that we've got those genetics still in our herd too."
Not far behind at $35,000 was the third bull into the ring, Wattlebray Pin Up, offered by the Ford family, Chinchilla.
Secured by Lauren Burn, Tasmania, via StockLive, the 34-month-old was the heaviest bull in the sale at 1080kg, and measured 43cm in the scrotum.
He boasted an EMA of 146sq cm, and P8 and rib fats of 14mm and 12mm, respectively.
Vendor Trevor Ford said they were ecstatic with the bid.
"It's the highest price our stud's achieved and great to see him go into a brand new stud, of all places Tasmania," Mr Ford said.
"We haven't given him his COVID shot, and we'll organise him to go with a cardigan or something, but I think it's great to see a new stud breeder with the confidence and a bold move to jump into such a sire with such an amount of impact as him.
"I think he's overall a complete package, he's got bone, he's got volume, he's got plenty of muscling and sire appeal and then the softness to go with as well, and I think he's got the ability to make an impact in the breed."
Next at $26,000 was Marlegoo Quicksand (P), sired by Marlegoo Lotto (P), knocked down to Les Marshall, Greenfields stud, Jambin.
Each achieving bids of $24,000 were the Ford family's Wattlebray Roper, heading to stud duties for the Rangeview prefix at Monto; the Gooding family's Marlegoo Quality (AI) (P) headed to Goondiwindi with the Curtis family; and, Bryce and Lucy Moore's Trifecta Quambatook (P) knocked down to Lambert Pastoral Co.
- Selling agents: Elders and GDL.
Read the full report in next week's Queensland Country Life.
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