The strength of the cattle market was evident at the Kilkenny Charolais and Emjay Charbrays Bull Sale on Friday, with demand from commercial producers pushing the sale to a high of $15,000.
More than 120 bid cards were registered and bidding remained fierce through the entirety of the catalogue, with all 94 bulls sold for a 100 per cent clearance rate to achieve an average of $8276 - up from $4737 in 2019.
Commercial producers Craig Dakin and Robyn Hayes, Gunalda, purchased two sons of Wakefield Home Boy B1S H374E, including the top-priced sire prospect Kilkenny P11E offered by Michael Lawlor.
At 20 months of age, the red factor bull weighed 780 kilograms, had an eye muscle area of 131 square centimetres, and measured 40cm in scrotal circumference, with an intramuscular fat of 5.3pc, and P8 and rib fat depths of 8mm and 6mm, respectively.
Running 300 Brahman cows across 400 hectares of agisted country, this is the Dakin family's first foray into Charolais genetics.
"We've still got Simmental bulls and Droughtmaster bulls, but thought we'd try these guys over the Brahman cows for a while and see how they go," Mr Dakin said.
"We sell weaners straight off the cow through the Gympie Saleyards and these guys (Charolais) are always easy to sell.
"We're looking for commercial weaners with some weight in them, and this bloke (Kilkenny P11E) was thick and has got the weight and the bone, but young enough that he's still got a bit of growth in him."
Topping the Charbray section of the catalogue, and making the second-top price of the sale, was Michael Connolly's Emjay P3667 for $14,000.
Purchased by Peter and Helen Little, Mt Nicholson, Bauhinia, the two-year-old son of Kandanga Valley Kane (P/S)(C6) weighed 793kg, had an EMA of 133sq cm, scrotal circumference of 40cm, IMF of 6.2pc, and P8 and rib fat of 11mm and 7mm, respectively.
The Littles are repeat clients and were the top volume buyers, purchasing nine sire prospects for an average of $8111.
Running 2000 cows across 12,000ha, Mr Little took home two Charolais bulls to run with Brahman-cross cows, and seven Charbray bulls to put over Charbray and Droughtmaster cows, and sells the progeny into the feeder cattle market.
Kilkenny Charolais sold 47 bulls for an average of $8276, and Emjay Charbrays sold 11 bulls for a $9000 average.
Wayne and Lesley Davis, Barambah-Dale Charolais, sold all 26 bulls for a top of $13,000 and average of $8288; Anthony and Kylee Curtis, Wellcamp Charbray stud, sold eight Charbrays for a top of $13,500 and $6687 average; and WJ and EM Smith sold two bulls to $11,000 for a $10,500 average.
- Selling agents: Sullivan Livestock, and Shepherdson and Boyd.
