Canowindra Santa Gertrudis stud reached new heights at its 3rd annual on-property bull sale held at Canowindra, Emerald on Wednesday with the $105,000 stud-record top price.
Light showers across Central-West Queensland brought optimism to the buyers gallery, with commercial and stud producers on the look out for quality bulls that can produce practical and profitable cattle.
Overall, 47 bulls were offered, and 40 bulls sold, for a 85 per cent clearance, and a solid $10,150 average.
In a further breakdown of the sale catalogue, the Wolff family of Canowindra Santas Gertrudis stud offered 41 bulls, and sold 38 for an average of $10,578, while Derek and Carlene Baker, Tally-Ho, Springsure, offered nine registered and herd bulls at the sale and sold two bulls under the hammer for a top of $5000.
New South Wales buyers Andrew and Angela Doering, Spring Creek Santa Gertrudis stud, Strathdarr, Moree, could not let go the opportunity to add Canowindra Tennessee T148 (PP) to their herd, making the bold bid of $105,000 over the phone to secure the sire-prospect.
The 29-month-old son of Yarrawonga J1220 (PS) and Canowindra P55 (P) was eventually knocked down to the Doering family of Spring Creek Santa Gertrudis stud, Moree, NSW, following a fierce bidding war with a syndicate between two Central Queensland Santa studs.
The Doerings inspected the bull three weeks before the sale, and took the risk of walking past some really high quality Santa bulls to hold off for Canowindra Tennessee T148 (PP).
Mr Doering said they were sold with his overall sire appeal, exceptional depth and that he comes from a great breeding program.
"The bull caught our eyes the first time we saw a photo of him. He's got a huge capacity with his depth and spring of rib. He's got a mirror dark coat and we've really been looking for that dark colour, which a lot of our clients are looking for bulls of that style," Mr Doering said.
"We were aware of his ideal pedigree history and he ticked all the boxes. We have big hopes for him."
"We'll put him with our stud cows and we're confident he'll perform well for us and that's why we went to this level of price tag."
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The outstanding sire prospect tipped the scales at 1060 kilograms, scanned 146 square centimetres for eye muscle area, 16mm and 10mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fat, and 5.7pc for intramuscular fat.
With a scrotal circumference of 41cm, he recorded a daily weight gain of 1.15kg per day.
At the conclusion of the sale, rain started to fall on the Canowindra property, bringing bright smiles to the Wolff family, following a tough dry season.
Canowindra Santa Gertrudis stud principal Jason Wolff said the family were humbled with the sale result and the support from new and repeat buyers.
"We're very excited to sell a bull for that price and it's like we can now tick that accomplishment off the bucket list," Mr Wolff said.
"Canowindra Tennessee T148 (PP) was the pick of the draft for our family. The homozygous polled bull excelled in the ring, boasting a lot of depth and great temperament.
"We believe we presented a consistent draft of bulls and we're confident these bulls will go and perform for the buyers."
Craig and Christy Moller, Recruit, Clermont, were also on the hunt for purebred Santa Gertrudis bloodlines for their operation at Recruit, and purchased the second-top price bull Canowindra United U94 (P) for $32,000.
Sired by Diamond H Real Force R117 (P) and out of Canowindra O25 (P), the 21-month-old weighed in at 915kg.
Scanning 136sq cm for EMA, the sire prospect had P8 and rib fat depths of 10mm and 7mm respectively, IMF percentage of 4.6, and measured 41cm in the scrotum, with a daily weight gain of 1.38kg per day.
Read the full sale report in next week's Queensland Country Life print edition.
- Selling agents: Elders and Nutrien Studstock; simulcast by AuctionsPlus.
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