A stellar 212 lot catalogue has been assembled for the Charnelle Charolais Invitation Female and Genetics Sale all but ensuring the 10th annual sale will be one to remember when it takes place undercover at the Toowoomba Showgrounds on Saturday, March 7 from 11am.
Sale coordinator Graham Blanch, Charnelle Charolais, Tent Hill, Gatton, said in conjunction with the 14 invited vendors, an exciting catalogue comprised of 80 females, four bulls, 138 embryos, two flushes and 1453 straws of semen will be offered on the day.
Mr Blanch with many of the sale vendors having gone through a tough couple of seasons the recent widespread rainfall, with more predicted to be on the way, has been a welcome relief.
"Prior to the wet weather arriving over the last month or so, we were wondering if holding the sale would be the right thing to do. I think we've made the right decision to move forward with it, and we're all hoping for a positive outcome from the sale," he said.
"The paddocks are now green and it's great to get a season that will allow us to maximise our returns. The beef industry has never looked stronger for the future, with record prices being set already in the saleyards."
Mr Blanch said this year's sale draft has a female suitable for every operation, with 36 cows, 14 of which will have calves at foot, 30 joined heifers and 14 unjoined heifers, to be available for purchase. Nine females have been tested Homozygous Polled and are clearly marked as such in the catalogue.
"A beautiful line of 13 led show heifers (five joined and eight unjoined) start at lot 30 with sires represented include CML Distinction, Palgrove Justice, Elders Blackjack, Charnelle Louis, Glenlea Honourable and others.
To celebrate the sales' 10th anniversary, Charnelle Elegance 16 (AI) (ET) (P) by CML Distinction 318A out of Charnelle Elegance 6 will be offered in lot 30.
"Elegance 16 is without a doubt the most complete heifer we have ever offered for sale. And we don't say that lightly.
"She is due to calve (to LT Ledger) at the end of March, presenting a great opportunity for her purchaser to show this young cow and her calf at The Ekka this year. That show will also double as the starting point for the 2020 Charolais International Congress on August 5."
To further celebrate the sale milestone a heifer show will take place an hour before the selling commences.
"The led show heifers will be presented in three classes. It will also act as an early preview of the caliber of Charolais females that will be exhibited at the Congress event."
Mr Blanch said the major reduction sale of the Milford Park herd from Ron and Wendy Johnstone will represent a golden opportunity to purchase a wide range of top class genetics.
"Some Evolution daughters are being offered within their combined draft of 56 lots, which includes 39 females, one bull and their full dispersal of semen and embryos."
He said the two flushes catalogued in the sale are "really special" and come in at lots 17 and 18 from Glenlea and Wakefield.
"The opportunity to purchase a flush in Wakefield Amaze 38, the Brisbane Interbreed Champion cow, and undoubtedly the best Charolais cow in Australia, goes well beyond our borders.
"The vendors are also prepared to have the embryos retrieved in a licensed centre so that they're eligible for export. It's great to be able to offer genetics from her."
He said the semen and embryo packages represent the very best of the Charolais breed - both from yesteryear and the modern-day genetics.
"These packages will include complete dispersal of semen and embryos from Carol Heading, Colleen O'Leary, Helen and Simon Lofthouse, and Scott Freeman."
Mr Blanch said the sale has remained popular over its decade long history due to the vast range of the latest and best genetics which are made available by a number of long-term Charolais breeders, many of which utilise AI programs.
At the 2019 sale a total of 45 lots sold from the 69 lots offered to average $3398 and five of the 16 commercial lots sold to average $975. A total of 604 embryos and semen lots averaged $103 and grossed $62,200.
"The embryo and semen package sections of the sale have really grown in numbers and quality in the past seven years. Historically, vendors have offered exclusive hard to get semen at the sale with the Fernvale Charolais genetics dispersal, at the 2018 sale, being a particular highlight.
He said Western Australian breeders have taken a special interest in the sale as it allows them to get a hold of Charolais genetics from the eastern seaboard.
"For the last two years, I've hopped on a plane with a liquid nitrogen tank to personally deliver embryo and semen packages to our WA buyers. Last year I brought them over close to 80 semen straws and 30 embryos. I love making the trip as it provides a great opportunity to catch up with the breeders over there."
"This year we'll also have a WA-based breeder selling at the sale, so we'll likely have semen come back to the east coast."
Ensure you circle lot 102B in the catalogue as two Full French embryos, which are very likely polled, by X D Angely R (P) out of Riverview Angel (TW) will be offered for charity with all proceeds from their sale to be donated to RACQ LifeFlight.
"Full siblings of these embryos have been very successful in Qld, Victoria and WA."
The sale will be interfaced on Elite Livestock Auctions making livestreaming and online bidding on the sale lots possible for those unable to attend the sale in person.
"This year lots 1 to 136 will be a physical auction as normal with the semen lots from 137 to 212 to be auctioned online only. The online only auction will be open 48 hours before sale day"
Inspections of the sale draft can be organised any time by calling Mr Blanch, and most of the live lots will be penned at the Elders holding paddocks in Toowoomba from March 2.
To view the sale catalogue online please visit the Charnelle Charolais Elders and Nutrien websites. The catalogue and more photos of the lots are also available on the Elite Livestock Auctions website.
For enquiries contact Graham Blanch 0427 622 410 or charnellecharolais@bigpond.com, Michael Smith, Elders Toowoomba, 0428 541 711 or Colby Ede, Nutrien Livestock, 0417 265 980.