Guest auctioneer Wayne York summed up the Clonlara sale draft perfectly when he described the bulls as 'all thump, all grunt and commercially relevant' at Gus and Jen McCormack and family's Clonlara Droughtmasters spring sale, Dilga, Glenmorgan, yesterday.
Clonlara co-principal Gus McCormack was appreciative of his long-term client support, as well as a number of first-time buyers, in attendance at his 33rd annual on-property fixture.
Overall, 73 bulls out of 73 sold for a $11,253 average which comprised 58 Droughtmaster bulls for a solid $11,784 average to a top of $45,000, and 15 Composite bulls for a $9200 average to a $30,000 Clonlara record price.
This result compared favourably with last year, with their average up $2575 with 14 more bulls finding new homes.
Typical of the long-standing clients were Ian and Donna Atthow of the Sevenangle Droughtmaster stud at Millmerran who bid the $45,000 top money to secure Clonlara 20237 (S), a 23-month-old son of Garthowen Webcke 2 (S) from the very fertile cow, Clonlara 17122.
Read more:
The Atthows have been buying Clonlara bulls for the past 15 years and have been very happy with their performance and the progeny they produce.
"Clonlara 20237 was the standout on the day with good figures, great temperament and excellent weigh-for-age," Mr Atthow said.
"He is a good flat-back type which should produce progeny for all markets, especially the feeder and MSA markets which we supply."
Other regular supporters were Rob Warby and family, Billinbah Pastoral Company, Billinbah, Glenmorgan, who paid the record $30,000 composite money for Clonlara Composite 20955 (P), a two-year-old son of Kimberley KB251 which exhibited great muscle expression with a clean poll head and beautiful skin.
They also paid $9000 for the next Composite bull in the ring, Clonlara Composite 20961 (P) which was by the same sire and was a similar type to their previous acquisition for their composite bull breeding program.
The Warby family accounted for another Composite bull at $13,000 and paid the $32,000 second-top Droughtmaster money for the home-bred sire in Clonlara 20047 (P), with an excellent sheath and testicular development.
Powerful breed advocates Roger and Jenny Underwood, Eversleigh and Wallace Vale Droughtmaster studs, Pine Hills, Wallumbilla, selected three outstanding stud prospects for a $58,000 outlay.
Their purchases included Clonlara 20102, a homozygous polled, two-year-old son of Wolfang Valentine (P) with a large eye muscle measurement of 137 square centimetres at $22,000.
- Selling agents: GDL; simulcast by Elite Livestock Auctions.
Full report in next week's Queensland Country Life.
Want daily news highlights delivered to your inbox? Sign up to the Queensland Country Life newsletter below.