The popularity of the Speckle Park breed in Queensland was on show at Gracemere on Monday, when strong competition pushed the SpeckleMe Elite Speckle Park Bull Sale to a $23,000 high.
Offered on behalf of Anne Knoblanche and Peter Livingstone and assisted by Tim Bell and Greg Ebbeck, the inaugural sale saw all 31 bulls sold for a 100 per cent clearance rate and average of $7677.
Demand for quality genetics was clear from the outset of the sale, but it wasn't until halfway through the catalogue that the Birchmore family, Bernborough, Winton, placed the highest bid of the day to take home Bowan Park Cudal P195.
The 20-month-old son of Outback Joey 25D (P) (White) tipped the scales at 738 kilograms, measured 39 centimetres in scrotal circumference, and had an intramuscular fat of 6 per cent.
Labelled a "robust bull with great thickness and softness", Cudal P195 boasted an eye muscle area of 104 square centimetres, with rib and rump fat measurements of 8mm and 15mm respectively.
The Birchmore family were also the equal-top volume buyers on the day, taking home four bulls for an average of $14,375.
David Birchmore said the bulls represented new bloodlines for their Droughtmaster/Speckle Park-cross operation.
"We're mainly looking to really improve the meat quality in the Droughties," Mr Birchmore said.
"We put them over a pure Droughtmaster herd and looking for the weight gain with the hybrid vigour and the F1 cross.
"The main thing for us is the Droughtmasters are a great beast, but the meat quality is probably not up there as high as it could be with the marbling so we're looking for something to put that into them."
A second-top price of $15,000 was reached when John and Kate McLoughlin purchased Bowan Park Aston P219 late in the catalogue.
Sired by Spots 'N Sprouts Bart 110B (Speckled), the 20-month-old weighed 750kg, with an EMA of 109sq cm, IMF of 5.7pc, and a scrotal circumference of 34.5cm.
K and L Perrett, Barakee, Springsure, also took home four bulls for an average of $7125.
They paid to a top of $12,000 for their draft to take home Bowan Park Vantage P220.
Sired by Six Star 82U Royal Flesh 101Y (AI) (ET) (P) (Speckled), the 20-month-old white bull weighed 668kg, with a scrotal measurement of 39cm, an EMA of 103sq cm, and 6.5pc for IMF.
Nutrien Stud Stock agent James Saunders said the sale had seen strong support from online and in-person bidders despite the current uncertainty.
- Selling agent: Nutrien Livestock
