A strong contingent of central Queensland buyers were in the stands at the Moongool Charolais bull sale at Yuleba on Monday.
The sale saw a top price of $28,000, with 78 of the 93 bulls on offer selling for an 84 per cent clearance rate and average of $7801.
The top money came early in the catalogue, with Alan and Nat Goodland, Clare Charolais, Theodore, placing the winning bid for Moongool N169.
Sired by Minnie Vale Joker, the 23-month-old polled bull weighed 1032 kilograms and measured 44cm in scrotal circumference, with an eye muscle area of 160 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 5.2pc, and P8 and rib fat depths of 9mm and 7mm respectively.
A second-top price of $26,000 was paid by the Speed family, Brigadoon Cattle Company, Taroom, for Moongool Nomad.
Also sired by Minnie Vale Joker, the 24-month-old polled bull tipped the scales at 1040kg and had a scrotal circumference of 39cm, boasting an EMA of 148sq cm, IMF of 4.8pc, and P8 and rib fat depths of 11mm and 9mm respectively.
Volume buyers included Logan Pastoral, Warrinilla, Rolleston, who took home eight bulls for a top of $16,000 and average of $7500, while the Fernie family, Riverview, Clermont also purchased eight bulls to a top of $11,000 and average of $6437, and Basalt Grazing, Boremba, Hughenden, put together a draft of seven bulls at a top price of $5000 and average of $4142.
Stud principal Ivan Price said it was a good result considering the year.
"Clearance was back a bit, but we're very happy with the outcome," he said.
"We had limited oats this year; the last two seasons have taken a toll and it's been a little bit harder to present those younger cattle for sale, but they were a really strong lineup of bulls.
"There was a definite premium there for polled bulls with a little bit more performance in them, and then buyers sort of picked through the horned bulls."
Landmark auctioneer Colby Ede said the sale had seen a good, strong result with a lot of repeat clientele.
"The want for that better article is still there, or it's getting stronger," Mr Ede said.
"The whole season is going a lot better than expected and of course we're seeing a lot of the buyers come from that north Queensland area.
"It really is following that wet weather rain pattern from earlier in the year.
"Central Queensland has been a pivotal part once again in the bull buying which has strengthened that market all the way through so far."
The sale was conducted by Landmark, Elders, GDL, Hock and Wilkinson and AuctionsPlus.