Commercial and stud operators filled the stands at the Roma Droughtmaster sale on Friday, with strong demand for quality sires pushing the sale to an $18,000 top.
Of the 102 bulls offered at the multi-vendor sale, 79 sold for a 77 per cent clearance rate and average of $6379.
Top money was paid by the Farquhar family, Katrina Station, Rolleston, for Karragarra Pistol (P) offered by the York family, Karragarra, Emerald.
Sired by Fernleigh Grande (P), the bull weighed 902 kilograms and measured 45 centimetres for scrotal circumference.
The 23-month-old boasted an eye muscle area of 147 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 3.1pc, and P8 and rib fat depths of 11mm and 7mm respectively.
Larry Farquhar said they were attracted to the stud sire potential of Karragarra Pistol.
"It's hard to find a growthy, poll bull with depth and scale, with a tidy sheath and a good solid head on him," Mr Farquhar said.
"He'll go with a mixture of excellent D1 approved cows and purebreds."
Mr Farquhar said conditions at Rolleston were the driest he had ever seen them.
"We've taken measures that we haven't had to take before; we've sold all dry cattle on the place, except the weaners, and held onto the wet breeders."
Karragarra stud principal Wayne York said he was "over the moon" to turn off a consistent line of bulls that were well received by buyers.
"We're looking for performance stuff that's going to return dollars for the people that buy them," Mr York said.
"We want weight for age, we want doing ability but we've got to keep fertility there so we need a good sheath and good testicles, a good amount of bone, and it's all about volume and performance at the end of the line."
A second-top price of $16,000 was paid by Kurt and Neil Angus, Hillside Droughtmasters, Charters Towers, for Wallace Vale Idol (P).
Offered by Roger and Jenny Underwood, Wallumbilla, the 23-month-old, polled bull tipped the scales at 938kg and had a scrotal measurement of 41cm.
Sired by Glen Fosslyn Jigsaw (P), the bull boasted an EMA of 134sq cm, IMF of 3.8pc, and P8 and rib fat depths of 12mm and 8mm, respectively.
Several volume buyers were active at the sale, including Melinda Downs, Cloncurry, who purchased seven bulls for a top price of $7500 and average of $5357, while Golden Grazing, Yuleba, also took home seven bulls for a top price of $7500 and average of $5142.
Reynella Grazing Co, Charleville, put together a draft of five bulls for a top of $7500 and average of $6600, while the Purcell Family Partnership, Yatton, Marlborough, also took home five bulls to a top of $6000 and average of $4600.
Landmark auctioneer Dane Pearce said despite the bull sale season drawing to a close, the buying gallery had included a large spread of buyers, from Cloncurry to central New South Wales.
"It was a strong result considering the current seasonal conditions and the outlook for Queensland and much of New South Wales," Mr Pearce said.
"It was evident today that the commercial operators are definitely seeking that high quality article, and the higher quality bulls sold to a very strong trend."
The York family sold all nine bulls that they offered for an average of $10,111, while the Underwoods also sold all nine bulls to average $8166.
Oakmore Park Droughtmasters, Greenmount, sold five bulls for an average of $7000, and the Spann family, Wingfield, Jambin, sold six bulls for a $6500 average.
Selling agents: Landmark, Elders and GDL.
