FIVE years ago the Kinbacher family, Garthowen, Biggenden, purchased a new sire in Jembrae Fenton from the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale for $31,000.
This year, the family doubled their previous sale record when one of Fenton’s sons, Garthowen Xavier 2, sold for $78,000.
Xavier 2 was purchased by the McCormack family, Clonlara Droughtmasters, Glenmorgan.
The 22-month-old bull weighed 804 kilograms with an eye muscle area of 135sq cm and a scrotal circumference of 43cm.
The McCormack family purchased the Kinbacher’s top priced bull at last year’s sale for $34,000 and Gus McCormack said he knew he wanted Xavier 2 in his stud herd.
“He ticks all our boxes – he’s good underneath, good bone, a good strong, polled head,” he said.
He said while he was hoping to not have to pay $78,000 for the bull, he knew he wanted to take him home.
“I liked him and I got beaten on a bull yesterday (Tuesday of the sale), so I had my back up a bit,” he laughed.
The Kinbacher family operate on 2023 hectares and have 60 Droughtmaster stud breeders.
Garthowen co-principal Simon Kinbacher said after purchasing Jembrae Fenton, the small stud had seen a strong turning point.
“This is our third drop of sons of his and they have been averaging around $20,000 for about 15 sons,” he said.
“He’s sort of clicked with the right cows with a good polled head and tidy sheath on all the bulls.”
Mr Kinbacher said Xavier 2 was a personal favourite of his.
“He was a good calf, heap of bone and a good sheath and he was polled, which is what they’re all chasing at the moment and he is a very quiet temperament bull with everything going for him,” he said.
“We had a fair bit of interest in him before the sale and we were hopeful that he would go well.”
The Kinbacher family had a fantastic sale after selling eight bulls for a solid $25,000 average with Xavier 2 topping the lineup.
The family’s second top priced bull was Garthowen Xbow 2 who sold for $44,000 to Telemon Droughtmasters, Hughenden.