Stud and commercial producers from three states were in action at the Lancefield Brahmans Invitational Sale on Monday, with unwavering demand seeing the five vendors achieve an overall gross of $1.848 million.
Clearing all 102 bulls in the line-up - which included 95 greys and seven reds - for an average of $18,117, bidding entered six-figure territory on two occasions.
Hitting the $100,000 top price in the first instance was the sixth bull into the ring, Elrose Exception 19519 (PS).
The son of NCC Justified (H) was described by vendor Roger Jefferis, Elrose stud, Theodore, as "a rare bull" that was faultless, and the Kirk family, Hazelton Brahmans, Middlemount, couldn't disagree.
Buyer Brett Kirk said they'd come to the sale chasing a polled bull and Exception was at the top of their list.
"We just felt he was very correct, for a polly bull he had a lot of thickness and a lot of beef qualities about him," Mr Kirk said.
"He was like a good horned bull with a polled head and he had plenty of breed characteristics and we just found him hard to fault.
"He'll go to Rocky Repro and get collected first, then he'll come home and go out in the paddock; we'll use him in a single-sire herd and we'll probably use him in an AI program as well."
Tipping the scales at 935 kilograms, the 28-month-old sire prospect measured 40 centimetres in the scrotum, and scanned 150 square centimetres for eye muscle area, 14mm and 12mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, and 4.8pc for intramuscular fat.
He was ranked in the top 2pc of the breed for 200- and 600-day growth, and top 10pc for 400-day growth, retail beef yield, carcase weight and EMA.
The Jefferis family followed their $100,000 sale with a $100,000 bid late in the catalogue, to top the sale from both sides of the equation.
The newest addition to the Elrose operation is 2AM Everett 7420 (H), who incited such a bidding frenzy from all corners of the buying gallery that the bid spotters were hard-pressed to keep up.
Offered by Andrew and Anna McCamley, Dingo, the 21-month-old son of 2AM Excalibur 4361 (H) and Lancefield A Cherie Brancha 3559 (H) had estimated breeding values in the top 10pc of the breed for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, and carcase weight.
He weighed in at 767kg, measured 41cm in the scrotum and tested 90pc for semen motility. With an EMA of 136sq cm, he had fat scans of 12mm and 8mm, respectively, at the P8 and rib, and an IMF percentage of 4.4.
Buyer Rodger Jefferis said Everett ticked a lot of boxes.
"His EBVs were nice and balanced and fitted what we were looking for, and he's very correct; just a good all round bull with a great temperament," he said.
The second-top price of $80,000 was also achieved on two occasions.
The first of David and Julie McCamley's bulls to enter the ring, Palmal Drayton 9535 (H) caught the eye of Rob Flute, Chatfield Brahmans, Charters Towers, who breeds herd bulls for northern operations.
By Carinya Denver 6/521 (H) and out of Palmal Emma 7017 (ET) (H), the 24-month-old has EBVs in the top 5pc of the breed for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, and carcase weight.
He weighed in at 894kg, measured 39cm in the scrotum and tested 89pc for semen morphology. Scanning 152sq cm for EMA, he boasted P8 and rib fat scans of 16mm and 11mm respectively, and an IMF of 5.7pc.
Vendor David McCamley said it's always sad to see the good ones go, but they were happy that Drayton was bound for the Chatfield operation.
"He was probably one of the best bulls that we've sold and that's the highest price for a bull we've sold ourselves," David said.
"Right from a calf, he was probably one of the best weaners we had and we alway thought we'd keep him, but we brought him here to sell him and... we believed he was our top bull of the sale.
"A really sirey type of bull with a lot of breed character and style, structurally very sound and very correct, great in his testicle size and clean sheath, and overall he was the highest eye muscle bull of the sale and he's only two-years-old; just a real complete, top bull."
Also at the second-top money was Lancefield M Fleetwood 6737/M (H), bought by the Knuth family, Glencoe Station, Charters Towers.
Offered by Matthew and Janelle McCamley, Lancefield M stud, Dululu, the 25-month-old was sired by FBC Felix Manso 924/1 (AI) (H) and out of Lancefield M Clotilde 3803/M (H).
He weighed 835kg, measured 39cm in scrotal circumference, and tested 85pc for semen motility. Scanning 143sq cm for EMA, he had P8 and rib fats of 11mm and 9mm respectively, and an IMF percentage of 4.5.
Read more: Dawsonvale bullocks a 'beef bank'
Other big bids included $65,000 for Lancefield M Bulmer 6771/M (PS), headed to the Chatfield stud, Charters Towers; 2AM Sergio 7150 (IVF) (PS) purchased by the Kirk family, Carinya stud, Gayndah, for $55,000; and, Palmal Addington 9557 (IVF) (PS) off to Gipsy Plains stud, Cloncurry, for $50,000.
Topping Scott and Lizette McCamley's Lancefield S draft were Lancefield S Bryson 6097/1 (PP) and Lancefield S Orlando 6104/1 (PS), each making $47,500.
Bryson was knocked down to Hillgrove Pastoral Company, Charters Towers, while Orlando found a new home with Nosilla stud, McKinlay.
Volume buying saw the Bettini stud, De Grey Station, Western Australia, put together the largest draft, taking nine bulls for a $11,111 average, while Brett Cattle Co, Northern Territory, purchased eight at a $6750 median.
Farmleigh Grazing, Injune, picked out six for a $12,333 median; Pemble Livestock, Charters Towers, also took six to average $8667; and, the Hicks family, Charters Towers, paid a $9000 average for six.
- Selling agents: Hourn and Bishop Qld; simulcast by StockLive.
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