New and repeat buyers were in attendance at the annual Clay Gully Simmental bull sale at CQLX Gracemere on Monday.
Brother and sister duo Gareth and Sophie Laycock battled head to head in the sale arena for the front pole position of top priced bull for the day.
Overall, the lineup of 56 Simmental bulls and 9 Simbrah bulls sold under the hammer for an average of $10,416, with a clearance of 92 per cent.
The Simmental draft produced a strong average of $10,705 for the 56 head sold for a complete clearance, while the Simbrah bulls sold to average $6375 with a 44 per cent clearance rate.
A quality line up of Simmental and Simbrah bulls were on offer from Rob and Viv Laycock of Clay Gully along with Gareth Laycock and Emily Brassington, Biarra Valley, Sophie Laycock, Kipper Springs, Darren and Manuela Laycock of Brisbane Valley, and Craig and Trudy Hampson from Springfield stud.
Traditional Simmentals were the hot ticket item seeing the top priced bull Biarra Valley Platinum (P) offered by vendors Gareth Laycock and Emily Brassington, Biarra Valley, steal the limelight with the 22-month-old bull topping the sale at $22,00 early in the day.
Platinum, who is by Barana Earlwood (P) and out of Clay Gully Goddness, will make his way to his new home at Surbiton Station, Alpha, with new owner Sean Dillon and family.
"He is a bull that will go into any operation whether you want to breed retention heifers or bullocks," Mr Dillon said.
"We don't retain any bulls in our herd, but we are looking to have the Simmy crosses to go over our Brahman cows.
"The one reason we have gone this way as opposed to other breeds, is the Simmental cattle; they stay soft but they get a lot of impact quickly with our Brahman cattle and fix their frame issues up.
"This will mean our entire Brahman component this year will then be joined to Simmental bulls."
Mr Dillon secured three bulls on the day.
Hot on her brother's heels and fighting to take out the second top price accolades, Sophie Laycock sold 25-month-old polled bull Kipper Springs Ping for an impressive $20,000 to first time buyer Donald Burnett, Mount Douglas Pastoral Company, Clermont.
Mr Burnett took home another three bulls including the first two bulls to enter the ring from vendors Rob and Viv Laycock, Clay Gully. Paying $18,000 for Clay Gully Pentagon (P) and Clay Gully Pasttime (P) who sold for $13,000.
Kipper Springs Ping is sired by Lavarta Last Man Standing (P) and out of Clay Gully Jelly Bean (P). Ping's twin brother also sold at the sale for $11,000 to Tom and Clare Mifsud, Skyview Brahmans, Clermont.
"His backline is very good and it carries a lot of muscle there where all the money cuts are. He carries good bone and his temperament is outstanding," Mr Burnett said.
"I have only ever brought two Simmental bulls before and they were from Billa Park, and I am really happy with them; they have produced lovely progeny."
Ping will be used over Charolais and Charbray heifers in the base herds at the Clermont property.
Miss Laycock said after the sale, she was unsure about what would happen during the sale but was left smiling after such a great outcome.
Rob and Viv Laycock saw an impressive $11,739 average for the 23 bulls sold for a complete clearance. Highlight for the Clay Gully draft was Clay Gully Panasonic (P) selling to Scott and Claire York, Casa Toro, Jackson.
Craig and Trudy Hampson, Springfield, averaged $8700 for their five bulls sold, while Darren and Manuela Laycock averaged $7,452 for their draft of 20 bulls sold under the hammer.
Gareth Laycock and Emily Brassington, Biarra Valley, averaged a strong $13,777 for nine bulls sold and Sophie Laycock sold two bulls to average $15,500.
Additional volume buyers on the day were Coffey Cattle Co take home three head to average $5500 and Paul and Lisa Laycock who purchased three bulls to average $12,666. Rodney Perrett was again a repeat buyer, taking home three bulls for an average of $11,666.
- Selling agents: Elders and SBB/GDL