Buyers from three states pushed registered bulls to $65,000, registered heifers to $12,000 and commercial heifers to $1850 on the way to a $1.473 million gross at last week's annual Rockhampton Brangus Sale, CQLX Gracemere.
In a massive show of breed confidence, 117 bulls were sold for an average of $12,590 - up by $2560 on last year - to reflect a 94 per cent clearance rate.
So strong was demand for males that 68 individuals (58pc) sold for sums of $10,000 or more, while 36 bulls (31pc) sold in a range from $4000 to $8000.
Setting the pace at market level was the $65,000 River Run 20 (P) offered by Brenton and Tahnee Bradford, River Run stud, Dingo.
The 26-month-old son of Bonox 996 (S) recorded an 808kg liveweight, a 137 square centimetre eye muscle area, fat scans of 15mm and 11mm, and an intramuscular fat reading of 6.6pc.
The youngster sold to Hardy and Amanda Woodard, Taloumbi stud, Eidsvold. After the sale it was announced that a share in the top seller had been bought by the Pearce family, Telpara Hills stud, Atherton.
Brad and Briony Comiskey, Lunar stud, Emerald, secured the $50,000 River Run 27 - a paternal half brother to the top seller.
At 21-months, he weighed 842kg, delivered scans of 12mm and 9mm, and an EMA of 128sq cm. Five from River Run averaged $33,400.
Brad and Nicole Saunders, Pheasant Creek stud, Wowan, sold five bulls to average them $22,500, topping at $40,000 for Pheasant Creek 126. The 964kg, 146sq cm EMA son of Tannyfoil Jackson sold to Lindsay and Fiona Barlow, Triple B stud, Dingo.
Bruce and Leanne Woodard, Bonox stud, Taroom, sold nine to average them $20,722. Topping their 2020 team was Bonox 1188 (Bonox Mick), selling to Mick and Tanya Madden, Earlwood stud, Duaringa, for $45,000.
David and Julie McCamley, Palmal stud, Dingo, paid $32,500 for Bonox 1170. The Bonox results included three two-year-old's that averaged $9667 and topped at $11,000. The six older bulls averaged $26,250.
Sale opener Oaklands Earl made $24,000. Offered by Nev and Megan Hansen, Oaklands stud, Kalapa, he sold to Leyton and Kimberley Young, Mt Wilkin Station, Clermont.
Paul and Denise Studt, Coolabah stud, Capella, averaged $20,000 for their pair topping at $28,000, with both entries selling to David and Tracey Muscat, Brangaloo stud, Dows Creek.
Joe and Sharon Strazzeri and family, Barronessa stud, Atherton, averaged $15,500 for their three, topping at $20,000.
Ian and Sharon Bush, Maytoe, Alpha, purchased four for on average $13,750, while the Mackenzie family, Coolmaringa, Dingo, took three for a $18,000 medium.
Dan and Kath Kenny, Dartmoor Station, Collinsville, selected five to average them $8800. The Lord family, Mt Stanley stud, Mt Stanley, purchased four for $8250 average, while Ian, Anne and Dan Lamb, Parraweena, Banana, took four for a $14,750 average.
The Hick family, St Elmo, Julia Creek, signed off on a trio for a $11,333 average. Taking three also were the Kenny family, Tralee, Middlemount, at an average $14,667.
Red bulls topped at $16,000 on two occasions. These were offered by the Dwyer family, Burrumbush stud, Goovigen, and Tannyfoil stud, Blackwater, selling to buyers from Marlborough and Banana.
Registered females crack $12,000 high
The line-up of quality registered Brangus females was met by solid demand, with 25 of the 26 heifers on offer selling for a 96 per cent clearance rate.
Averaging $4920, the market topper for the section was the $12,000 Bonox B1204.
Catalogued by Taroom breeders, Bruce and Leanne Woodard, Bonox stud, the 23-month-old granddaughter of Bonox Mick sold to John Collins, Yaraandoo stud, Gogango.
Next best at $9000 was another of the Bonox entries in Bonox B1190, a 24-month-old granddaughter of Coolabah Arthur, selling to David and Tracey Muscat, Brangaloo stud, Dows Creek. Bonox averaged $9333 for their three.
Yaraandoo stud will also be the home for the $8500 Jardine Abigail (Maccaboyz No Fear) offered by Dave and Kay Franks, Jardine stud, Jardine.
As a vendor, John Collins sold 10 to average $3550. These topped at $6000 for a granddaughter of Bonox Mick aged 11-months, selling to the Fernie family, Boombah stud, Dingo.
Jamie and Jane Saunders, Charlevue stud, Dingo, took a $7000 Bonox Mick daughter from the Woodard stable, Bonox stud.
Dennis and Lola Jackson, Stutzview stud, Owanyilla, sold six to average $5667 topping at $6500 on two occasions for a pair of daughters by Bindaree 0707 selling to Charles Stewart, Colac, Victoria, and Magnum Young, Bauhinia stud, Wowan.
Gary Taylor, Ginoondah stud, Gayndah, sold three to a top of $2500, while Mark and Amanda Salisbury, Bimbadeen stud, Monto, secured a $5500 entry from the Jardine stud.
Tammie Robinson, Glen Heart - T stud, Toogoolawah, secured the $5000 Jardine entry, Bonita (Weona Adbul).
Commercial heifers met by hot demand
Commercial heifers were also in demand with the quality line-up of 126 head selling for a complete clearance.
Averaging 407c/kg to make $1392/hd, No.8 heifers topped at $1750, their No.9 counterparts hit $1850, and No.0's sold to $1450.
Market toppers in the older section were a pen of six No.8 heifers from the Kime family, Amaroo, Nebo, selling for $1750/hd (368c/kg) to Phil and Deborah Reid, Black Springs, Capella.
Sectional toppers for the No.9 heifers were a pen of nine sold on account of Greg and Sue Barlow, Amaroo, Comet, making $1850 (458c/kg) and selling to Troy Dunn and family, Bloomsbury.
Topping the youngest section of the day were a pen of seven No.0 heifers offered by Bruce and Leanne Woodard, Bonox, Taroom. These fetched $1450/hd and came back at 471c/kg, selling to Geoff Parker, Manilla, NSW.
Top sellers in the dollar value per kilogram were also offered by the Woodard family. The pen of 10 No.0 heifers sold for 476c/kg selling to the Ahern family, Baralaba.
- Selling agents: Ray White Rural, SBB/GDL, and Elders.