The Santa Gertrudis breed added another successful sale to its 2016 run with the 24th annual Heartland bull sale taking place at the Roma Saleyards yesterday.
The 11 Heartland vendors welcomed an average sale price of $8850 with 75 bulls selling for a clearance of 94 per cent.
The top priced bull, Talgai Jango, sold to Robert Sinnamon of Yulgilbar Santa Gertrudis stud, Baryulgil, NSW, for $30,000.
The 31-month-old polled sire weighed in at 1100kg and offered EMA and scrotal measurements of 137 and 43.5cm respectively.
Mr Sinnamon said besides the bull’s structural correctness and reproductive maturity he caught his attention for the history within his breeding.
“This bull’s grandmother on his sire’s side was Robenlea Apple-Pie, which was one of the best cows we ever bred in my time with Robenlea,” he said.
“I knew the genetic strength on the sire’s side and he exhibits good bone and thickness which I believe are the Santa characteristics we need to keep in the breed.”
Mr Sinnamon said he planned to collect semen from the bull to be used in an extensive artificial insemination program as well as introduce him to the Yulgilbar stud herd for natural mating.
Talgai Santas principle Malcom Gadsby, Glenora, Goomburra, said the bull’s easy doing traits and strong bloodlines had previously stood out when the bull was awarded a first place ribbon in his senior bull class at the Royal Queensland Show.
Second top price honours went to Pinaroo 1663, which sold for $17,500 to CA Flower and Co, Garrabarra, Roma.
The Flower family put together a total of six bulls for an average price of $9333, making them the major volume buyers on the day.
Local buyers held the bid spotters’ attention for much of the sale with Moonya Pastoral Company, Roma, collecting four bulls and the Bonisch family, Injune, the Meeleebee Downs group, Roma, Golden Pastoral Holdings, Yuleba, the Lasker family trust, Teelba, Lyndale Grazing, Roma, and RJ and LK Phillips, Wandoan, each taking home three bulls.
As top price vendor Mr Gadsby said he was pleased to see strong results not only for his exhibits but throughout the sale.
“I believe these prices are a combination of good marketing on behalf of the Santa society and seasonal conditions keeping the cattle job strong,” he said.
“I’ve been selling here for 10 years and we’ve topped the sale here for the last three years in a row but this would be one of our best results on record.”
