SOUTH Australian vendors Tom and Lizzie Baker found gold under leaden skies at the inaugural Woonallee Simmental bull sale at Inverrio, Duaringa, on October 30.
So impressed was he with the buyer support of the auction at Inverrio, home to Brett Nobbs' NCC Brahmans, Mr Baker said the sale "was here to stay" and planning would begin in earnest for the 2020 renewal.
He said the support of the Nobbs family and of Gowrie Simbrah, Charleville, which also offered stock, was integral to their success.
Collectively, Woonallee and Gowrie presented 107 bulls, 55 offered by the former and 52 from the latter.
Buyers bought everything, paying to a top of $20,000 for a Simmental bull and $19,000 for a Simbrah sire and generating an average across-the-board of $6518.
The line of 55 Simmental bulls averaged $6472 while 52 Simbrahs averaged $6567.
"It was an outstanding result and a great start to what we hope is going be something very special in the future," Mr Baker said.
"Obviously we have a passion to continue this, so thank you to everybody who has supported us today.
"It has been a fantastic opportunity for the Baker family to be involved here. We are highly grateful to have the opportunity to work with the Nobbs family."
Matt Kirk, Ticoba, Mundubbera, paid the top money for Woonallee N Nuriootpa (P) (R), a 1012kg son of GK Que Sera K17 and Woonallee Keona L52, a highly successful daughter of Woonallee BHR Tornado.
Nuriootpa (P) (R), just over 26 months of age, has an eye muscle area of 144sq cm and his P8 and rib fat measurements are 7mm and 6mm, respectively.
Nuriootpa (P) (R) was one of seven Woonallee bulls to fetch at least $10,000, Tom and Lynette Olive, Apis Creek, Marlborough, paying the next highest price at $12,000 for the 26-month-old Woonallee N Nutshell.
Tipping the scales at 870kg, Nutshell is by Woonallee Fetish (S) from a purebred Simmental cow and features a scrotal circumference of 41cm, motility of 85pc and an EMA of 132sq cm.
He was one of four purchases for Apis Creek, which averaged $9500 for their draft, including an $11,000 outlay for the 29 -month-old, 1046kg Woonallee N Naples.
The first of the "five-figure" bulls off the Woonallee line came early when Eric and Lyn Slack-Smith, Gladevale, Richmond, paid $10,000 for the second lot on offer.
The 980kg Woonallee N Nostradamus (SC) (ET) (AI), by Woonallee Justified J112 from Woonallee Vasti J45 by DDD Sargent Rote 211U, is 27 months old with a scrotal circumference of 41cm, semen motility of 85pc, EMA of 140sq cm and P8 and rib fat measures of 5mm and 7mm.
The Gowrie Simbrah draft, headlined by the 26-month-old Gowrie N243, featured four bulls attracting final bids between $10,000 and $19,000.
Charlie Taylor, Maleny, signed for the 916kg Gowrie N243 after prevailing in a tense bidding duel.
Tracing to Gowrie Dominator through his sire Gowrie Hero, Mr Taylor's newest acquisition can claim an EMA of 134sq cm, scrotal circumference of 44cm with motility of 70pc and an IMF percentage of 3.4 with P8 and rib fat measurements of 9mm and 6mm.
The next most expensive of the Simbrahs was Gowrie N339 bought for $15,000 by Last Pastoral Company, Biggenden.
Danny Allan, Erne, Blackall, paid $14,000 for Gowrie N065, a 26 months-old son of Gowrie Garrison and Gowrie L014 with a weight of 858kg, EMA or 135sq cm and IMF percentage of 5.2.
The most active of the buyers was Brodie and Co, Cloncurry, which bought 10 at an average price of $5000 with a top of $6000.
JHA Trio, Wade Station, Greenvale, bought eight bulls at an average of $4000 apiece and Stephen Von Pein, Underdog Pastoral Birralee, Collinsville, averaged $5571 for seven purchases.
Danny Allan, Erne, Blackall, signed for six bulls (av $8333) and Suttor Creek Pastoral, Glenden took home five bulls at an average of $4200.
Agents: McCaffrey's Australia Livestock Marketing, Savage Barker and Backhouse and Queensland Rural.
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
