A veritable gold mine of Brahman genetics will provide prospective buyers at the Australian Brahman Breeders' Association (ABBA) sponsored 43rd annual Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale (RBWS) with an abundance of buying options across three days.
A total of 181 studs, hailing from as far south as the Hunter region in New South Wales to Charters Towers in northern Queensland, will offer their exemplary drafts at CQLX Gracemere, from Monday, October 7 through to Wednesday, October 9, from 8am daily.
This year 867 bulls have been painstakingly chosen for the sale, of which 845 are registered sires and 293 are poll/scurred.
A total of 524 Greys will go under the hammer from Monday to midday Tuesday, with the combined draft of 343 Reds to follow from midday on Tuesday and through into Wednesday.
ABBA manager Anastasia Fanning said the appeal of the RBWS come down to the sheer numbers of Red and Grey Brahman available for purchase in one place at one time.
"The same bulls don't always appeal to all buyers, so because of the numbers available, buyers have the ability to look for the traits they require and bid on the bulls within their budgets," she said.
"There are also many major studs who have large runs of bulls on offer. These studs sell their top bulls at this sale so the opportunity is there to buy some of the best bulls in the country."
Ms Fanning said there are scores of very exciting bulls on offer again at this year's sale, which possess excellent breeding's.
"It's tremendous to see bull after bull in the ABBA online catalogue that shows very good length of body, set in shoulders with beautiful depth of body through the girth flowing through to a deep flank with strong muscling into the hindquarter, a good sheath, structural correctness and ease of movement.
"This is what makes a good bull and that is what the vendors have delivered.
"The bulls selected for the 2019 catalogue are combined, every bit as good as last years excellent sale offering."
She said the 2018 sale result was very strong for vendors with a 95 per cent clearance and a $9600 average achieved for the 870 bulls sold.
"The sale committee has continued to push themselves to promote the sale.
"Every year a large amount of money is spent on advertising to let as many people as possible know about the sale and what it has to offer potential buyers."
Climatic conditions over the entire geographical footprint of the sale has been very dry this season.
"Some areas have had small windows of reasonable falls but the entire east cost is well under average rainfall again this year with many areas in severe drought.
"As a result of the ongoing drought, large numbers of females have had to be removed from breeding herds.
"The silver lining is that there has been a strong start to the selling season with good clearances and averages achieved in sales for other breeds, which is generally a good sign that it will flow through the season for good quality bulls."
All bulls will be penned for inspection by midday on the Sunday prior to the start of sale.
Online bidding and viewing of the sale will be made available through the Stocklive program.
The online catalogue is now available on the ABBA website. The website includes the bulls breeding's and photos of the bulls are now being put online for buyers to see.
Hard copies of the RBWS catalogue will be available from the selling agents or the ABBA office three weeks prior to the sale. The catalogue includes such information as what injections the bulls have had, if they're eligible for Western Australia due to their Johnes testing, Breedplan figures if they are available and for the first time it's stated if the bulls have had any of their pedigree confirmed by DNA testing.
A supplementary information sheet which contains all the bulls testing results from scrotal size, semen testing of motility and /or morphology, body scanning for fat over the rib and rump, eye muscle area and weight of the bulls will be made available on-site prior to the sale commencing. Also included in the sheet is an explanation of all that is included in the sheet so buyers can make the most of the information put in front of them. It is recommended buyers take the time to read through the explanatory notes regarding understanding this large quantity of information being made available to them.
The sale has freight rebates for buyers purchasing five bulls or more with $100 per bull available for buyers sending cattle into the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Bulls traveling over 500km can apply for a rebate of $50/bull.
Complimentary light refreshments will be available at CQLX from 5pm on Sunday, October 6, and all vendors and buyers are invited to attend.
"Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the sale."
- For enquiries please call your preferred studstock sale agent at Savage, Barker & Backhouse, Grand Daniel Long, Elders and Landmark
