THE Brangus breed claimed the top price honours at the recent February All Breeds bull sale held at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (CQLX), Gracemere.
Overall the sale fluctuated in favour of the buyer's cheque book, when 273 bulls sold to average $3632, and 23 females sold to average $2164 to represent 63 per cent clearance.
It was the 29-month-old bull Brangus bull, Byrne Hannibal, offered by retired teacher John Byrne, Byrne Brangus, Gympie, which sold for the top price money of $13,000.
Mr Byrne, who has harboured a passion for cattle for many years, started breeding Brangus in 2011.
He bought this bull's dam, Greendale Xcluder, as a foundation dam when she was eight months in calf to Hannibal of Brinks, and the calf she produced emerged as the top-priced lot at the sale.
"I really was amazed that Byrne Hannibal sold for such a good price, and very relieved he sold so well," Mr Byrne said.
Entering the sale ring with a weight of 1020 kilograms and a EMA of 132sq cm, he was bought by David, Julie, and Edward McCamley, Palmal Brangus, Dingo.
Mr McCamley said they were in need of another stud sire to use over stud cows in their registered Brangus Stud they registered in 2013.
"We really liked his pedigree, and he is a big, growthy bull with plenty of length and bone," Mr McCamley said.
Mr McCamley first saw Byrne Hannibal the afternoon before the sale when he was unloaded at Gracemere, and left instructions with his son Edward to secure him.
The price tag of $6500 was achieved on two occasions.
The first vendor to sell at that money was Jason McCormack, Maccaboyz Brangus, Yargullen, who offered the commercial polled 28-month-old Maccaboyz 291, selling to Collinsville district bullock breeder, Errol Comerford, Exmoor Station.
Also making the same money was Shadow Valley Middleman offered by Lee, Jan, and Dean Kapernick, Gin Gin, and bought by Stewart Denis, Wran Creek Station, St Lawrence.
Shadow Valley Middleman, a four-year-old son of Brinks Sundance had been bought by the vendors as an embryo from Telpara Hill Stud, Atherton Tableland.
Two bulls also sold at $6000. Veteran Brangus breeder Reg Robinson, Glenheart Brangus, Toogoolawah, sold the 27 month-old Glen Heart 2217, a son of Greendale Z355 to Mackland Grazing, Johnny Cahe Station, Collinsville.
Roffcor Partnership, Bundaberg paid the same money for the rising four-year-old Kuraby 886, offered by Gavin Klibble, Kuraby Brangus, Goomeri.
The larger Brahman catalogue sold to a top price of $10,000 on three occasions and all three bulls were offered by Lee and Gillian Collins, Wandilla, Marlborough stable.
Two bulls making the top-price money selling under the hammer were both bought by Nebo district bullock producers, Alan and Jeanette Williams, Riverside, Nebo.
Acting on behalf of Mr Williams was Colby Ede of Landmark, who said his instructions were to secure both bulls from the Collins' Wandilla draft.
Colby Ede from Landmark, Toowoomba, bought Wandilla Fiddler on behalf of Allan and Janette Williams, Riverside, Nebo, for $10,000, and is pictured with vendors Gillian and Lee Collins, Wandilla, Marlborough.
First was the impressive 38-month-old red Brahman, Wandilla Fiddler 468/9, by Kandoona Utai from a Wandilla matron.
Mr Williams' other choice was the 38-month-old grey sire, Wandilla Fort Knox, by FBC Becker.
Wandilla Forceful was offered by Lee and Gillian Collins, Wandilla, Marlborough, and was bought by Robert and Anna Hick from St Elmo Pastoral Group, Julia Creek, for $10,000.
The third Brahman making the top money had earlier been passed-in for $6500 and later sold to Robert and Anna Hick, St Elmo Pastoral Group, Anitrim, Julia Creek.
Repeat vendor Lee Collins, Wandilla, Marlborough, sold Wandilla Fort Knox for $10,000 to Allan Williams, Riverside, Nebo.
Leading volume buyers in the Brahman catalogue were Andrew and Gillian McNicol, Birralee Station, Collinsville.
John Kirk and family, Carinya, Gayndah, sold Carinya Fairmont for $9000 to Clint and Robyn Whitaker, Whitaker Brahmans, Burnett Park, Mundubbera.
Clint and Robyn Whitaker, Whitaker Brahmans, Mundubbera, bought this Carinya Park Brahman bull from the Kirk Family for $9000 and are pictured with Mitch Kirk who represented them.
Brian, Yvonne and Josh Heck, Bryvonlea Droughtmasters, Glastonbury, topped the Droughtmaster offering when Byrvonlee Old Red sold for $8500.
At 27-months-of-age, Bryvonlee Old Red was bought by Richard and Adele Acton, Ambleside, Thangool.
This polled bull appealed to the Actons for his strength of bloodlines, and good bone, and will be used over stud heifer.
The price tag of $7500 was achieved on three occasions.
The Hecks sold the polled 15-month-old bull Bryvonlea Onasis to Laid Matthews, Mary Valley, Gympie.
The Whitehead family, Undercliffe Pastoral Co, Satellite, Springsure, secured Craiglea Hillery offered by Jason Johnson, Craiglea Droughtmasters, Obi Obi, while Tom Christmas and family, Glenrobin, Jericho, finished with Birch Newton, offered by Douglas and Jaunita Birch, Birch Droughtmasters, Eidsvold.
The Atkinson family, Cardona Santa Gertrudis Stud, Blackwater sold two bulls
for a top of $5500. Both bulls were bought by the Becker family, Yallambee, Blackwater.
Angus bulls sold for a top of $8500 twice.
Greg and Alicia Magee sod St Omer Home Brew, a polled 35-month-old sire to Lindsay Davenport, Biloela, while Scarbrah Angus, Pine View, Guyra sold to the Trebbin family, Mel-Arish, Kingaroy.
Mervyn and Courtney Newlands, Lavarta Simmentals, Captains Mountain, sold the top price Simmental at $8000.
The growth black 18-month-old sire Lavarta Join the Ranks, was bought by Bruce Berry, Walkerston.
In the Charbray catalogue, Greg Lee, Diamond L Charbrays, Nanango, sold an unregistered 25 month-old-bull Diamond L Henry, for the top price of $7500 to the Curran family, Spenbar Brahmans, Benwerrin, Condamine.