Droughtmaster female record broken at Beef 2024

Glenlands D Fancy Free was offered for sale by Darren and Helen Childs, Glenlands D, Theodore at the Beef Genetics in Focus Sale on Wednesday night.

She sold for $80,000 to Ken Mutton, Fieldhouse Droughtmasters, WA. The underbidder was Vitwood, Susan River.

The 17-month-old was a daughter of Glenlands D Alabama and Glenlands D 2969.

It is understood Mr Mutton wants to utilise the female in an IVF program.

The previous breed record was set in 2023 when Glenlands D English Rose was knocked down for $70,000 to the Carrington family of Rondel Droughtmasters, Winton, during the Glenlands Future Proof Female Sale at Bouldercombe.

In the end, the Beef Genetics in Focus Sale saw all 18 female lots sell to average $17,417, two packages of 10 semen straws sold for $13,000 each and one in-utero pregnancy make $40,000.

Glenlands D stud principal Darren Childs was speechless and said they never expected that sort of result.

He said they weren't overly keen to part with Fancy Free initially.

"She has been a long time in the making, that genetic cross is something we have had in the pipeline for a long time," he said.

"We are retaining a full sister and she went well today but the fact people were able to see the value in her and the opportunity there was pretty rewarding.

"I'm confident she will go on and do a job."

Glenlands D also offered a six-month-old in-utero calf from Rondel Whiskey and Glenlands D Bells 'n' Whistles.

It sold for $40,000 to Rowan and Coralyn Smith, Smithy's Droughtmasters, Warwick.

The genetic combination had a combined earning of $2.1million in 2023 including record price $320,000 Glenlands D Everest and $70,000 Glenlands D English Rose.

Mr Childs said they were reasonably confident that if there was someone that wanted to make an investment, it would repay them.

The price tag was around double what the Smiths had set themselves, but they said it was the sort of opportunity they couldn't put a price tag on.

The first generation producers run 60 Droughtmaster breeders along with 50 recipient females and have been utilising IVF since purchasing their first donor female, Locarno Piper, in 2021.

"After looking at the results that Glenlands have got with Bells 'n' Whistles and with Whiskey, it was almost a sure bet," Mr Smith said, who established the stud in 2017.

"It almost was like well do you want to miss out on it for that price and no we didn't," Ms Smith said, who is hoping for a heifer from the mating.

Earlier in the night, the Beef 2024 junior champion Droughtmaster female sold for $57,500.

Glenlands J Favourite was offered for sale by Jason and Carissa Childs, Glenlands J, Dingo, and sold to Dan Sommer, Sommer stud, Maleny ahead of underbidders Munda Reds, WA.

The 19-month-old homozygous poll heifer was the first release of former Beef champion sire Glenlands Bateman and out of Glenlands J 15817

She was flagged as a "donor level female" by Glenlands J.

Later in the catalogue, Jigsaw Faith sold for $44,000 to Sasha Mylrea, Sakensha Droughtmasters, Gogango.

She was a 20-month-old daughter of the $80,000 Oasis A Boomshakalaka and leading donor female Hamadra Jasmine and offered by Cody Hansen and Kellie Pickersgill, Geneva, Theodore.

The sale wrapped up with two semen packages, featuring two straws in Oasis A Bronco, two in Oasis A Mouse, two in Rondel Whiskey, two in Glenlands J BB King, and two in Needmor Hyatt.

One package sold to High Country Rural, Eskdale and the other to RMT Syndicate, Paterson.

There were 53 registered bidders, with Stocklive Elite handling the sale online.

Selling agents: GDL