Cattlemen's Choice sale tops $11,000 at Dalby in an inaugural multi-breed auction
Summary
New South Wales vendors took on the south east at the inaugural Cattlemen's Choice multi-vendor, multi-breed sale at the Dalby saleyard on October 16, where large rocks and strong pegs kept the paperwork and gazebos from flying away.
The sale brought three like-minded New South Wales studs to the Darling Downs market, offering 77 head across three breeds: 25 Charolais bulls with Alpine Charolais, 35 black composite bulls with Bluestone Beef and 17 Simmental bulls with Daraabah Simmental.
The Simmentals proved most popular, with 12 of the 17 selling for a 70.59 per cent clearance, an average of $7666 and a gross of $92,000. Six of the 25 Charolais sold for a 24 per cent clearance at a $6000 average and a $36,000 gross, while 10 of the 35 black composites sold for a 28.57 per cent clearance, also at a $6000 average, grossing $60,000.
The top-priced bull was the Simmental Daraabah Wolfy W550, which made $11,000 to a Wandoan enterprise. The 18-month-old weighed 786 kilograms, with P8 and rib fat scans of 9 and 7 millimetres, an eye muscle area of 130 square centimetres, 5.2 per cent intramuscular fat, a 41 centimetre scrotal circumference, 90 per cent semen motility and 89 per cent morphology.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total head offered, sold |
77 offered, 28 sold |
| Top price | $11,000, Simmental |
| Simmentals sold, clearance, average | 12 of 17, 70.59 per cent, $7666 |
| Charolais sold, clearance, average | 6 of 25, 24 per cent, $6000 |
| Black composites sold, clearance, average | 10 of 35, 28.57 per cent, $6000 |
| Combined gross | $188,000 |
| Largest online order | 10 black composite bulls |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Cattlemen's Choice sale top at?
The sale topped at $11,000 for a Simmental bull, Daraabah Wolfy W550. Across the three breeds, 28 of the 77 head offered sold. It was the inaugural running of the multi-vendor, multi-breed sale.
How did each breed sell?
The Simmentals were most popular, with 12 of 17 selling for a 70.59 per cent clearance at a $7666 average, grossing $92,000. Six of 25 Charolais sold for 24 per cent at $6000, grossing $36,000. Ten of 35 black composites sold for 28.57 per cent, also at $6000, grossing $60,000.
What figures did the top-priced bull record?
The 18-month-old weighed 786 kilograms with P8 and rib fat scans of 9 and 7 millimetres. He recorded an eye muscle area of 130 square centimetres, 5.2 per cent intramuscular fat and a 41 centimetre scrotal circumference, with 90 per cent semen motility and 89 per cent morphology. He is sired by Daraabah Houston H253 out of Daraabah Treasure.
Who bought the top-priced bull?
A Wandoan enterprise secured him, citing the physical presence he displayed despite his young age. The buyers said he would suit their operation, with a lot of frame about him and good growth for a young bull. They will not put him in with females for another four to six months as they feel he is still too young.
What is that buyer building?
The buyers are establishing their own Simmental and Charolais studs on a 3000 hectare property, after deciding to breed their own bulls rather than keep buying them. Earlier this year they bought the top-priced Simmental at the February All Breeds sale and paid $130,000 for Moongool Victory, the supreme champion interbreed bull at the Ekka.
What did the vendors say about the top bull?
The Simmental vendors saw him as a standout for overall type, noting his sire was the first bull they ever bred. They cited calving ease and his presence, describing him as a pretty boy. They said the buyer fell in love with him and bought another of their bulls as well, and were happy with where he had gone.
Who were the volume buyers?
Volume buyers dominated the online space. Logical Livestock & Property, headquartered in central New South Wales, purchased 10 of the Bluestone Beef black composite bulls, the largest single order of the sale.
Will the sale return next year?
Yes. The vendors said they will return to the Dalby saleyards with bulls on offer, with plans to host the sale earlier in the season. While they described this sale as tough, they were not discouraged and noticed a strong online presence. One vendor called Dalby the gateway, central to clients in the west and north, and said the facility did the job of getting bulls to new areas and new people.
