Meldon Park Q52 (P) sets $38,000 Simmental Qld breed record at Ag-Grow Multi-Breed Bull Sale in Emerald

As widespread rain brought relief to producers battling the toughest drought across the Central Highlands, there was plenty of optimism from buyers in the stands and online.

The multi-breed sale offered Charolais, Simmentals, Black Angus and Murray Greys, with bulls brought from across the central-west Queensland and as far afield as Inverell, NSW.

A total of 77 bulls were offered, with 76 selling to average $9145, for a gross of $695,000 and a clearance of 99 per cent.

Top priced bull was Meldon Park Q52 (P), offered by Rodney and Elisabeth Skene, Meldon Park Simmentals, Cecil Plains, and purchased by George and Lorraine Bartolo, Carrinyah, Nebo.

Not only did the the 26-month-old bull break the Ag-Grow Bull Sale record, but he set a new Queensland Simmental breed record as well, eclipsing the previous record set by Lucrana Legend (P), who sold for $32,000 in 2017.

Meldon Park Q52 (P) weighed in at 980 kilograms with an eye muscle area of 144 square centimetres, and a scrotal circumference of 43.5cm.

He recorded 10mm at the P8, 7mm at the rib, and an 80pc semen motility.

Second-top priced bull was 4 Ways Quakadu (P), knocked down for $28,000. Offered by David and Lynette Whitechurch, 4 Ways Charolais, Inverell, NSW, the sire prospect was purchased by the Griffin Family Trust.

The 28-month-old Charolais bull weighed in at 938kg and recorded an EMA of 142sq cm, and a scrotal circumference of 39cm.

Quakadu scanned 9mm at the P8 and 6mm at the rib, and had a 75pc semen motility.

The black Angus line offered four bulls to sell four for a clearance of 100pc, top of $10,000, and average of $8,875.

Charolais saw 36 bulls offered to sell 35 for a clearance of 97pc, top of $28,000, and average of $10,471.

A small showing of Murray Greys saw four bulls offered to sell four for 100pc clearance, top of $7000, and average of $5250.

Simmentals saw 33 bulls offered to sell 33 for 100pc clearance, top of $38,000, and average of $8,242.

Grant Daniel Long Dalby stud stock auctioneer Mark Duthie said this year's sale was one for the history books.

"This year's sale was probably the best sale that we've ever had here," Mr Duthie said.

"I know it's not as many bulls that we've had in the past, but I think the average has increased considerably.

"In previous years, this sale has only topped in the $20,000 range. I just did a quick calculation and we had 25 bulls sell for $10,000 or more, which is a great percentage for the sale.

"We had a very good crowd and I think we worked out that there were 28 bulls going back to the central west."

Mr Duthie said bulls were sold to country north of Sarina, west of Barcaldine, Aramac and south of Roma.

Queensland Country Life will publish a full sale report in the July 1 edition.