‘Fair Crack for our Farmers’ charity has raised more than $30,000 during this year’s Droughtmaster National bull sale.
The charity’s efforts culminated in a bull semen auction, held in Rockhampton on Tuesday night, with vendors and buyers from the Droughtmaster cattle breed bidding up big to support other farmers in need.
Famous Sun Palms pub was packed to full capacity with plenty of bids flying to purchase some of the Droughtmaster breed’s top genetics.
Showing both their compassion and commitment to the Droughtmaster breed was top price bull semen buyer Tim Lloyd, Heitiki Droughtmaster Stud, Delungra near Inverell in New South Wales.
The Lloyd family bought breed impact sire semen from Oasis A Thurston, kindly donated by Munda Reds Droughtermasters in Western Australia, and paid $6500 for a 10 straw package.
“We’ve been breeding Droughtmaster bulls for 40 years and it’s great to both support a very good cause and secure some top sire semen for our artificial insemination program with our stud females,” Mr Lloyd said.
“We’re having a dry season as well but those farmer south of us near Tamworth and Gunnedah in NSW, plus in some parts up here in Queensland, are in the grip of a tough drought.”
Also supporting the charity event and digging deep to help drought impacted farmers was Ken McKenzie, Yaralla Droughtmasters, Blackwater who spend $5000 for a 10 straw package of Medway Queenslander sire donated by the Medway Droughtmasters. Tipping in $4000 to support the event was High Country Droughtmaster’s Paul and Lisa Laycock who purchased Oasis A Hudson sire semen. Duncan and Karen Geddes, Telemon, Springsure bought several packages including Glenlands Tradition and donated a total of $3100. Gus McCormack, Clonlara Droughtmasters, Glenmorgan snapped up a Yaralla Maxwell sire semen package and tipped in $1500. Also, donating and buying sire packages were Capricorn Rangelands, Strathfield Droughtmasters and Sally Perry.
Terry Piggot, Aldinga Piggot Droughtmasters, Rolleston, donated $2100 for a signed Cowboys NRL football jersey and Morty Wilson spend $500 buying at framed Maroons jersey.
Bull semen packages were also kindly donated by Bowman Park Droughtmasters, RSVP Droughtmasters, Ingrams Droughtmaters, Tomawill Droughtmasters and Minlacowie Droughtmasters.
Elders Stud Stock and Savage Barker & Backhouse (SBB) livestock agents have forgone sale commissions on several bull lots sold during the Droughtmaster National Sale and donating them to the ‘Fair Crack for our Farmers’ charity.
Event organizer Nadia Gillies, Gillmara Grazing said it was fantastic to receive support for so many Droughtmaster cattle breeders who are also doing it hard during these dry times and expects to raise over $30,000 for the drought-stricken farmers charity.