Huntington Charbrays has once again set a breed record top price, selling to $32,000 at their sale on Friday.
The Welsh families sold 40 of the 48 bulls they offered on property at Carrabah, Taroom, achieving a clearance rate of 83 per cent and average of $6700.
The Welsh's confidence in Huntington Nero was clear before the bull even entered the ring, with the announcement that they would be retaining a quarter share semen interest.
It was Matt Pulsford, Hampstead, Toogoolawah, who came out on top after a fast battle with several other bidders.
A son of Huntington High Roller (P/SC) and out of Huntington 18 Karat J320 (P), the 23-month-old cream bull tipped the scales at 748 kilograms and had a scrotal measurement of 42 centimetres.
A homozygous poll, Huntington Nero boasted an eye muscle area of 135 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 5pc and P8 and rib fat depths of 13mm and 11mm, respectively.
Mr Pulsford also took home seven registered females for an average of $1500.
He said Nero would go into a mob of 100 cows with Huntington bloodlines.
"A weaner market is predominantly where we aim for and we're growing out 30 to 40 bulls a year now," Mr Pulsford said.
"We're trying to grow the breed in our area and create a bull market in that neck of the woods.
"We're looking at improving the genetics of our herd at Toogoolawah, he's a nice young bull and we're looking to mix things up a little bit so we'll see what he's like."
Running 250 breeders, the Pulsfords have moved their operation toward the Charbray breed in recent years, and are now reaping the rewards.
"In the ticky country, the Charbray seems to handle it a bit better, the cows seem to do better in really tough times, and everyone loves the creamy cattle in that market," Mr Pulsford said.
"We're getting about 95/96 per cent preg testing rate and we're a little bit over the top with our bulls - we're probably running a bull over bout 30 cows - but we go close to topping the district with our preg rates.
"And then, most people tend to lose another five per cent, but we don't seem to do that, we seem to hang onto our calves.
"If we can get over 93 per cent saleable beast, that's what we're looking for."
A second-top price of $15,000 was paid by Beaumont Grazing Company, Taroom, for Huntington Pocock (P).
Sired by Wiluna How Worthy, the 16-month-old cream bull weighed 578kg and measured 35cm in scrotal circumference, with an EMA of 120sq cm, IMF of 4.4pc, and P8 and rib fat depths of 12mm and 10mm, respectively.
The sale was dominated by Craig Leggett purchasing for S. Kidman and Co's property Ruby Plains, Sturt, Western Australia.
Mr Leggett put together a draft of 13 bulls for a top of $6000 and average of $4230.
He said the company was drawn to the Huntington bloodlines because of growth, carcase and the emphasis on poll genetics.
"We're looking for bulls to go up into Western Australia, paying attention to fertility and structural soundness, and bulls that have got carcase definition," he said.
"They're going into a fairly high Brahman content herd, to produce steers for the company."
A repeat client of Huntington, Mr Leggett said the bulls had performed well in the tough conditions of WA.
"They'll (the steers) go into a number of different markets depending on how the season is in other parts of the company.
"Some may come south into the channels, others will end up on a boat going overseas."
Buyers were welcomed by a green tinge when they attended Carrabah, with Huntington co-principal Matt Welsh saying at the beginning of the sale that they had received 34mm of rain in the past week.
"We finished the sale this time last year and thought it had been a tough year and we'd get a decent year under our belt and away we'd go," Matt said.
"We're in the same spot again, but we know how to handle it now and what makes me even happier is I think the cattle we've got in the pen know how to handle it as well."
Luke Welsh said they were "really happy" with the sale considering how dry it is.
"We're really, pleasantly surprised with how many people turned up," Luke said.
"We normally sell 70 bulls, but we dropped them back to 50 this year because we were worried about it being probably the worst season we've had in a long time, and that's everywhere, not just here.
"We're finding there's a lot more appreciation for generation-bred Charbrays now, and more stud people wanting to buy the top line bulls.
"We've been marketing, not just as crossbred, they're actually a breed, and we're finding every year there's more people coming and chasing the better sires."
The Welsh's also offered 10 registered females, with all of them selling for an average of $1575 and top price of $2000.
The sale was conducted by Elders, Landmark, and GDL.
