A scorching hot day at the Dalrymple Saleyards cooked up a perfect storm of selling action during the 15th annual MAGS Droughtmaster Sale in Charters Towers on Friday.
The bidding action was fast and furious throughout the day and saw 106 bulls gross $783,000 to reach a record average of $7387 for a 95 per cent clearance rate.
Lamont Orlando 546 (S) from vendors Mac and Gayle Shann, Lamont Stud, Cantaur Park, Clermont, was just the second bull to enter the ring and would ultimately sell for a sale topping $30,000 to Jason and Carissa Childs, Glenlands Droughtmasters, Alkira, Dingo.
Mr Childs said he was impressed with the the 26-month-old, 810kg son of Glenlands Oratorio (P) D5 when he had a look at him during the pre-sale inspection.
“I like his overall correctness, length, depth of bone and especially his breeding,” Mr Childs said.
In all 63 registered sires made $485,000 for an average of $7,698.
Another bull from the Shann’s topped the herd bull section when Lamont 665 (P) was purchased by Jarvarnie Cattle Co, Charters Towers and SC Grazing, Canoona for $20,000.
A total of 43 herd bulls were sold to gross $298,000 and average $6930.
The vendors all enjoyed a successful sale, spearheaded by Lamont Stud selling 41 head for $389,000; Hugh and Sherri Philp, Valley Stud, Wyena, Clermont sold 34 bulls for $200,000; Kylie Graham and Mat Durkin, Mungalla Stud, Farnham, Taroom sold 28 head for $170,000 and Alison Atkinson, Durack Stud, Frenchville, Rockhampton sold three bulls for $24,000.
Peter and Ann Woollett, Nardoo Pastoral Co, Cloncurry took home a draft of 14 bulls to top the volume buyers list for the sale.
The Woollett’s purchased the top price bull of the 2011 sale and this year marked their return to MAGS after battling through the drought in the interim.
“They were a very tidy line of bulls, and what we paid was in line with what we expected based on recent stud sales,” Ms Woollett said.
Sidney and Tricia Godwin, Godwin Grazing Co, Tanderra Station, Springsure, were also highly active during the day in putting together a superb draft of 12 bulls.
Mr Godwin said the bulls they purchased represented good value for money taking into account the higher prices that Droughtmaster cattle have achieved around the state this year.
He said the bulls will be joined with heifers in their Droughtmaster/Brangus breeding and fattening operation.
“This is the third time we’ve attended, it's a good venue featuring good vendors, it’s a hard sale to miss,” he said.
Other volume buyers included Suttor Grazing Co Pty Ltd, Myall Springs, Collinsville, who purchased seven bulls, while TN & SJ Jonsson, Lyons Creek, Torrens Creek; DM & KF Luke, Lignum, Clermont; Timaru Cattle, Timaru Station, Torrens Creek and Woodstock Pastoral Services , Lansdown, Woodstock all took home six head each.
Sale co-coordinator Ken McCaffrey, McCaffrey’s Australian Livestock Marketing, was pleased with the result, noting that the total amount of bulls sold marked a 50 per cent increase on 2015.
“The lead-off bulls were the best we’ve had quality wise since the sale began, which set the tone for the rest of the day,” Mr McCaffrey said.
He was also impressed with the large and geographically varied gallery of buyers in attendance.
“We had bidders arrive from Cloncurry, Rockhampton, Atherton, Innisfail and Chillagoe just to name a few,” he said.
“I’d like to thank the vendors for presenting a wonderful draft of bulls, which was reflected by the record sale average, as well as all the sale sponsors.”
The Shann’s said they were “blown away” by the result, and thanked all buyers and underbidders for their support once the sale had finished.
“We cannot thank everyone enough for their support of our sale which includes our loyal repeat buyers as well as those who have purchased from MAGS for the first time this year,” Gayle Shann said.
“On the back of three crippling years of drought for vast tracts of Queensland, we hope this is the start of a new seasonal trend for everyone who has suffered,” she said.
Note: If you’re looking for a great Christmas present for a friend or loved one, copies of the book ‘On Eagles’ Wings, the Atkinson Family of North Queensland, 1862 – 2014’ are still available.
Sue Atkinson said the book (which is presented in two leather bound volumes) charts the struggles and successes of the Atkinson’s including their interactions with the indigenous people who were essential in the development of the Northern cattle industry and also a record of later generations of the family who adapted to changing conditions within agriculture to remain viable and prosperous.
For information and enquiries phone Sue Atkinson on (07) 4788 7083 or email bridletrack1@gmail.com