The buying gallery was decidedly selective but willing to pay for quality sire prospects at the CQ Invitational Droughtmaster Sale on Monday.
Of the 95 bulls that went through the ring at CQLX, 69 were sold to represent a clearance rate of 73 per cent.
Topping at $50,000, the line-up from 16 stud prefixes averaged $12,312 to gross $849,500.
The top money didn't come until the second-last page of the catalogue, with Sam and Jane Barton, Huntly Droughtmasters, Clermont, waiting for Sean and Evonne Barrett's lead bull, Konjuli Nikko (P), to enter the ring.
Sired by Huntly Rump (P) and out of Konjuli Faith 2 (P), the 23-month-old tipped the scales at 872 kilograms and measured 40 centimetres in the scrotum.
Scanning 138 square centimetres for eye muscle area, the sire prospect had P8 and rib fats of 13mm and 11mm respectively, and an intramuscular fat percentage of 5.1.
Mr Barton said he loved the complete package of Nikko.
"We weren't desperate for a bull, but at the same time when they turn up, you've got to buy them," he said.
"He's been on the radar for a while and I've seen a few of Rump's sons already and just loved what he's doing in general; I just liked the type of bull that he is, they're my sort of cattle and I just know that's going to work for us, so it was a no-brainer for us to buy him.
"He's a big bull now, but he's got a lot of growth left in him. We're just looking for that good-headed sire this year and with him I get a lot of other attributes that we love."
For vendors Sean and Evonne Barrett the price tag is the highest they've ever hit "by a mile".
"We're ecstatic and privileged really, to be amongst so many experienced cattle breeders and to get on top is pretty amazing," Mr Barrett said.
"We had a lot of hope for him, because he's probably the best we've bred."
A second-top price of $40,000 was paid for Wajatryn O'Kane (S), knocked down to the Spann family, Minlacowie and Wingfield Droughtmasters, Goovigen.
Offered by Warren and Carolyn Kenny, Wajatryn stud, Gayndah, the 23-month-old was sired by Minlacowie Vinnie 8817 (H) and out of Wajatryn 7-317-GZ (S).
Weighing in at 902kg, O'Kane measured 41cm in the scrotum and scanned 141sq cm for EMA, 13mm and 10mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, and 5pc for IMF.
Another of the Konjuli bulls achieved the third-top price of $32,500, with the Redskin Budweiser (P) son Konjuli GJ Duke (P) (AI) purchased by Gary and Jillian Little, Riverland Droughtmasters, Wycarbah.
Two bulls offered by the Spann family's Minlacowie and Wingfield stud each attracted $30,000 bids, with Minlacowie Xyon 9245 (P) knocked down to Samari Grazing Co, Roma, and Minlacowie Xian 9130 (P) bought by Warren and Carolyn Kenny, Wajatryn stud.
Volume buying saw Jellinbah Pastoral Co put together the biggest draft, with 11 bulls averaging $11,900, while Blue Valley Cattle Co, Charters Towers, wasn't far behind with nine bulls for a $7333 median.
LC Barker, Taroom, selected five to average $8600, and Fletcher Vale, Charters Towers, took four to average $11,500.
- Selling agent: Elders.
