Yarrabee Santa Gertrudis bull sale averages $11,434, clears 94pc in 2021

Light showers across the Central Highlands created a buzz in the buyers gallery, with producers on the look out for new bulls to boost their productivity in their herds as the wet season gets underway.

Yarrabee Santa Gertrudis stud principals Maurice, Margaret and Will Barlow, offered 32 bulls and sold 30, representing 94 per cent clearance and a strong average of $11,434.

Will Barlow said the family was extremely humbled with the sale result, which is their best to date.

"This is our second year at Ag Grow in Emerald and we continue to break stud-records again this year, including the highest price bull we've sold and the our highest average for a sale," Mr Barlow said.

"We believe we presented a really good line up of Santa Gertrudis bulls this year and we received a lot of support from repeat and new commercial operations."

The sale result was a significant improvement on last year's average of $8820, top price of $18,000 and 88pc clearance.

It was Matt Sargood, Drensmaine Santa Gertrudis stud, Tambo, who took home the top-priced bull, Yarrabee Jindalee 1550 (P) for $60,000.

The 21-month-old sire prospect is the son of Bullamakinka M078 (PP) and out of Yarrabee Chloe 6089 (P).

He tipped the scales at 956 kilograms, scanned 140 square centimetres for eye muscle area, 11mm and 8mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fat, and 4.7pc for intramuscular fat.

With a scrotal circumference of 36cm, he recorded a daily weight gain of 1.4kg per day.

Lance Baker, Woodmillar Santa Gertrudis stud, Gayndah, purchased the second-top price bull Wilamba Jethro 156 (PS) for $16,000.

Sired by Bullamakinka M078 (PP) and out of Wilamba Georgette 88, the 27-month-old weighed in at 936kg.

Scanning 144sq cm for EMA, the sire prospect had P8 and rib fat depths of 13mm and 9mm respectively, IMF percentage of 5.2, and measured 38cm in the scrotum, with a daily weight gain of 1.07kg per day.

There were two notable volume buyers at the Emerald sale.

The Stuart family at Nebo were the top volume buyers of the day, purchasing four bulls for a top of $10,000, and for an average of $8000, while Lindsay and Donna-Maree Fairweather, Rolleston, secured three bulls for a top of $13,000 and for an average of $8667.

Read the full sale report in next week's Queensland Country Life print edition.

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