Clermont Beef Bull Sale tops at $46,000

Of the 104 bulls offered, 99 were sold for a 95 per cent clearance, and an overall sale average of $10,383.

It was Palmal 9587 (PS), owned by David and Julie McCamley, who topped the sale early in the catalogue.

The promising young sire was purchased by Mal and Sue Burston, Broadlea Station, Moranbah for $46,000.

Sired by Kenilworth PP Herd Bull 5170 (PP) (COM), and out of Palmal 6203, the 26 month old bull weighed in at 874 kilograms, with an eye muscle area of 140 square centimetres, P8 and rib fat of 15mm and 10mm respectively, intramuscular fat of 5.6 per cent and a scrotal circumference of 35cm.

Semen motility and morphology were measured at 85pc and 80pc respectively.

This was the Burston's first year attending the Clermont sale and they were impressed by the quality of bulls on offer.

"I think the sale quality was very good and it would be lovely to see more people get behind these country bull sales and make them more popular. They prepare the bulls nicely without too much grain and that's what we like," Mr Burston said.

"We'll definitely be back again next year, we were quite impressed with the calibre of the bulls showcased".

Mr Burston said it was the weight for age, and semen morphology that drew him to the Palmal bull.

"He's the first bull we've purchased from Palmal and we're really interested to see how he goes," he said.

"He'll go to Moranbah to be put over some high grade Brahman cows. We're hoping to breed a few herd bulls from him for our northern property in the Gulf. I think he's a good enough calibre bull to do that."

Mr McCamley was proud of how his bull performed and thanked the Burston's for their support.

"We thought a lot of him, he's a polled bull and he's got a lot of bone and length and scale about him and a great temperament," he said.

"We try to breed good consistent Brahman cattle that have a good temperament, good bone, structurally sound and that will go out and do the job for the people we sell them to."

The second top priced bull, Viva Davis 2026, belonged to Alistair and Pam Davison, Viva Brahmans, and was purchased by John and Julie Borg, Harrybrandt, Nebo for $30,000.

Sired by Viva Dermott and out of Viva Eve 964, the 25 month old bull weighed 850kg, with an eye muscle area of 140 square centimetres, P8 and rib fat of 12mm and 9mm respectively, intramuscular fat of 4.8 per cent and a scrotal circumference of 35cm.

Semen motility and morphology were 60pc and 79pc respectively.

Mr Borg purchased some Viva bulls in last year's sale and was happy with how they had performed in his herd.

The Borg's run a mixed breeding and fattening organic cattle operation between multiple properties at Nebo and Rolleston.

Selecting for temperament, conformation, weight for age and overall structure, Mr Borg said he had Viva Davis earmarked in the lead up to the sale.

"This was the bull we came to buy, he had a good EMA and was pretty correct in a lot of ways," he said.

"We'll be putting him with a few of our better cows that we'll breed bulls out of for our own herd. We normally keep 10 or 15 bulls for ourselves every year."

Out of his draft of cattle, Mr Davison said he believed Davis had been a standout bull from the start.

"He had length right through and a big EMA to back that up. He was the heaviest bull, the longest bull, beautiful temperament and very structurally correct," he said.

"That was the dearest bull we have sold here at Clermont, and it would be our highest ever average too."

Largest volume buyers in the sale were Paul and Sally Fry from Strathmore, Collinsville who put together a solid draft of bulls, purchasing 19 bulls for an average of $10,473.

"We were very happy with the whole sale, and it really reflects the conditions of the market at the moment," Mr Davison said.

"We want to thank all the bidders and underbidders and everyone for their support."