A vast selection of bulls to suit all markets for stud and commercial producers has been assembled for the 25th annual Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale, which is being held at the Roma Saleyards on Friday, October 22, with bidding to get underway from 10am.
Sale committee chair Sharon Harms said the silver anniversary of the sale will indeed be a celebratory occasion with 136 bulls to be offered by 30 vendors from Queensland and New South Wales, including two vendors who'll be making their respective debuts this year.
"Conditions have been mostly favourable in the lead-up to the sale due to the combination of the forecasts of a good season ahead, commodity prices being up and the current confidence in the beef sector," Ms Harms said.
"With the assistance of the sale committee and agents, our loyal, regular NSW vendors will still be presenting their drafts on the day," she said.
Positive signs were readily apparent at last year's sale, in which 85 bulls averaged $8194, up from $6379 in 2019, while the clearance rate improved from 77 per cent to 91pc year-on-year, with quality bulls lifting the average by $1815.
Ryan and Chloe Hodgkinson, Cairo Cattle Company, Cairo, Clermont, purchased Wallace Vale Jalapeno (P) for the 2020 sale high of $36,000 from Roger and Jenny Underwood, Eversleigh and Wallace Vale Droughtmasters, Pine Hills, Wallumbilla.
Ms Harms said as the Roma Saleyards are a cleared facility it allows for ease of movement with stock purchased through the facility.
"The geographic location of the saleyards means that bulls are moved quickly to their destinations."
Eddie and Sharon Maxwell attended the sale for the first time last year where they purchased five bulls for use in their pure Droughtmaster commercial herd and stud operation Crown M.
The Maxwell's run their business on Rockvale, at Nelia, situated 75km north-east of Julia Creek, with Eddie representing the fourth generation of the Maxwell family to live and work on the property.
The family's affiliation with Droughtmasters stretches back to the mid to late 1950s when the breed was first introduced. While commercial cattle production remains the bread and butter of the business, Eddie and Sharon established the Crown M Stud in 2006 to make the most of the small herd they had at the time, separate to the family business.
Through succession planning, which was finalised last year, they now run the entire operation, through which they now mainly run dry cattle.
The majority of their steers produced are sold to the feeder market, while the smaller progeny are sold as trade cattle.
The Maxwells chose to attend the 2020 Roma sale, as they were chasing several stud sires as well as bulls for their commercial operation.
"We were chasing bulls with good clean poll heads, depth of body and a clean underline. Higher eye muscle area was also important in our selections as we're trying to get more weight onto the frame of our cows," Mr Maxwell said.
He said the vendors put forward a good lineup of bulls for the sale, which provided a diverse selection to choose from, well-suited to their requirements.
"Two of the bulls we purchased went into the stud operation, while the other three were put in the paddock with the commercial breeders, all in late December in controlled mating programs.
"We're expecting to see calves hitting in the ground in the next couple of months so we're excited to see how they develop. The bulls we purchased at the sale have all done their job and performed well."
The sale will be livestreamed through Elite Livestock Auctions.
"The growing popularity of the online platform shows not only photos of the bulls but also videos which means that buyers can pre inspect and bid online from the comfort of home," Ms Harms said.
The bulls selected for the sale will be available for viewing from 3pm on Thursday, October 21.
"Following the inspections we'll be holding our popular sale meet and greet from 5pm. The committee would like to thank Cafe 54 for catering the meet and greet as well as Royal on 99 and Newstead Brewing for their sponsorship support."
- For enquiries please contact sale agents Elders, Nutrien and GDL