Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale hits $140,000 on day one

The top bid is unsurprising in the current marketplace, nor is the demand, but it's the day's results that truly paint the full picture.

Of the 266 bulls offered, 260 sold for a clearance rate of 97 per cent, to achieve an average of $13,446 and a gross of $3.496 million.

It was the Ahern family of Ahern Brahmans, Gayndah, that took top honours on Monday, selling Ahern Brock 915/0 (IVF) (H) for the $140,000 bid to the Brownson family, Burdekin Brahmans, Charters Towers.

The first bull to be offered in the Ahern line-up, the 24-month-old was sired by Mr V8 Noble 458/7 (IMP US) (H) and out of Ahern Miss Brook 48-6 (AI) (H).

He weighed 906 kilograms, measured 39 centimetres in scrotal circumference, and tested 80pc for sperm motility.

Scanning 13mm and 11mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, he also boasted an eye muscle area of 144 square centimetres and intramuscular fat percentage of 5.2.

Buyer Nick Brownson said the sire prospect was bound for stud duties in their operation, which predominantly breeds herd bulls for paddock sales.

"Just the amount of bone, skin and type that fella has got in him, and more so probably weight for age as well," Mr Brownson said about why they picked Brock.

"It will probably more so be a polly line of heifers that we'll put him over, just from a bone point of view to try and fix that bone situation in our polly herd."

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The top seller wasn't the Brownsons' only big haul on day one, having also paid $80,000 in partnership with the Scott family, Yacamunda Investments, Yacamunda Station, to secure Whitaker Mr 3234 (IVF) (H) from Clint and Robyn Whitaker, Mundubbera.

Sired by JDH Mr Mohawk Manso 113/5 (IMP US) (H) and out of Topline Miss Lady Mary Grande Red Manso 1199 (ET) (H), the 20-month-old was brought to the front of the Whitakers' line-up due to the strong interest prior to the sale.

The sire prospect weighed 850kg, measured 42cm in the scrotum, scanned 12mm and 9mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, 148sq cm for EMA and 4.5pc for IMF.

Joining company with the other top sellers was the Bishop family's Garglen Leroy (PS), knocked down for the second-top price of $100,000 to Kelvin and Margaret Maloney, Kenilworth stud, Mount Coolon.

Sired by Willtony Blundstone 1013 (PS) and out of Garglen 9997 (H), the 33-month-old tipped the scales at 1025kg, measured 39cm in the scrotum, scanned 13mm and 9mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, 153sq cm for EMA and 5.2pc for IMF.

Vendor Sandra Bishop, Moura, said the result was like achieving a bucket list item.

"It's been a lifetime dream to do that," she said.

"My father's stud number 44 and Shane's father was stud number 63, so we've been coming here a long time and we're very humbled and excited.

"And we're excited that he's going to Kenilworth, as much as anything."

Kenilworth principal Margaret Maloney said the genetics were new to their operation.

"Our daughter and son-in-law saw him and liked him and said 'go and have a look at him'," Mr Maloney added.

"Going on the sale, I didn't think we'd have to pay that much, but going on what bulls have been going for before we came down here, I thought we'd have to pay over $100,000 if we could find a bull that we wanted.

"We'll collect semen out of him straight away and probably put that on the market.

"We've got an AI program coming up so we could be lucky enough to use him there too, otherwise he'll go out in the paddock with a mob of cows and do the job."

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