Roma Droughtmaster Sale tops at $36,000 for Wallace Vale Jalapeno (P)

Also helping to improve the overall result was the continued strong commercial cattle market and a genuine improvement in the quality of bulls throughout the catalogue.

This was reflected in the prices when 85 bulls (79 in 2019) averaged $8194 ($6379) and the clearance rate also improved from 77 per cent to 91pc this year.

Sale committee chairperson Sharon Harms, Oakmore Droughtmasters, Greenmount, said the line-up of this year's sale bulls was exceptional and a credit to the vendors.

"Our Roma sale is now in it's 24th year and finally we have a potentially good season ahead and a strong commercial market, with vendors confident they can attract a premium for the right article," she said.

"We also benefited from a widespread buying audience which came from as far away as McKinlay, Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Longreach, Charleville, Yuleba, Mitchell and south into New South Wales, with also a strong local contingent," Mrs Harms said.

A member of the champion pair of sale bulls and selling for the $36,000 top price was Wallace Vale Jalapeno (P), a 26-month-old son of Alma Tawny (P) offered by Roger and Jenny Underwood, Eversleigh and Wallace Vale Droughtmasters, Pine Hills, Wallumbilla.

Wallace Vale Jalapeno weighed in at 994 kilograms with a scrotal circumference of 42 centimetres and was bought by first-time buyers Ryan and Chloe Hodgkinson, Cairo Cattle Company, Cairo, Clermont, who also operate the Cairo Droughtmaster stud.

Mr Hodgkinson said WV Jalapeno was a big, long bull with an excellent sheath, great weight for age and a good, sirey head and should click nicely with his stud cows.

Underbidders on the top-priced bull was the Kinbacher family of Garthowen stud at Biggenden.

The Underwoods sold eight bulls for a $13,000 average, with both prefixes represented.

Foundation stud, Vet School, University of Queensland, Gatton, under the guidance of Alan Morris, sold Vet School 074 late in the catalogue for the $21,000 second-highest price and averaged $9125 for their four bulls.

The impressive son of Fairhaven 07/133 was bought by Len and Sue Bode, Percol Plains, McKinlay, and will be joined to selected heifers in their commercial herd.

The Bode family accounted for another four bulls for a $8000 average.

Richard Golden, Golden Grazing, Potters Flat, Yuleba, bought seven quality herd improvers for a $8214 average.

Mr Golden paid up to $12,000 for Lynsey Park Sinbad 97/18 (P), a superb son of Red Acres Earl (P) from Lindsay and Lyn Philip.

John, Lynn and Cameron Hudson, Maranoa Downs Grazing Company, Maranoa Downs, Mitchell, accounted for four quality bulls for a $9125 average and paid up to $10,500 for Karragarra Que Batter (P) offered by Wayne and Ingrid York.

Cameron Hudson said he based his selections on correct structure, good depth-of-body and plenty of length.

"In addition, I wanted plenty of bone and softness as these bulls will go into our Angus/Limousin-cross cows," Mr Hudson said.

Interstate vendors and long term supporters Brett and Leanne Warne, Jembrae Droughtmasters, Leeville, New South Wales, again had a good sale result after selling Jembrae Noah (P) for the $18,000 third-highest price.

Jembrae Noah, a quality son of Clonlara 1552 (P), was bought by the partnership of Dan Jarvis and Sabina Mills, Ironhide Droughtmasters, Laidley, and Derek and Lara Mays, Tomawill stud, Templin.

The Warnes sold nine bulls under their Jembrae prefix for a $9500 average and their daughter Emma Warne of Gen Y stud sold a pair of quality youngsters for a $8500 average.

First-time vendors, the Farquhar family of Calco Droughtmasters, Rolleston, sold Calco Deputy, a beautifully balanced son of Medway Xpertes (P), to Terry and Catherine Piggott, Aldinga Droughtmasters, Aldinga Park, Rolleston, for $16,000.

Other vendors to share in the limelight were Pete and Clare Mailler, Coolibah stud, Boggabilla, who sold three bulls for a $11,000 average, while Tim Lloyd, Heitiki stud, Delungra, NSW, also sold three bulls for a $10,500 average.

Wayne and Ingrid York, Karragarra stud, Emerald, sold 13 bulls for a $9807 average, with a top of $15,000 for Karragarra Quarter (P), bought by Eddie and Sharon Maxwell, Crown-M Droughtmasters, Rockvale Station, Julia Creek.

Lindsay and Lyn Philip, Lynsey Park Droughtmasters, Bell, sold two for an $8500 average, and Inga Hayes, Sevenell stud, sold three to average $9500.

David and Sue Walmsey, Walm-ley stud, Injune, sold four bulls for a $7750 average, and Greg and Sharon Harms, Oakmore stud, Greenmount, sold half-a-dozen bulls for a $6166 average.