Santa Gertrudis bulls top $42,500 at Tambo for a $12,153 average
Summary
Holding a bull sale on a Sunday had not been done before, and neither had going ahead with one after 120 millimetres of rain, but both decisions worked for the Drensmaine Santa Gertrudis stud at Tambo on October 18.
Green shoots were already pushing through blackened tussocks that had seen only 100 millimetres for the rest of the year, as buyers drove in from as far north as Charters Towers and Winton, as far east as Wallumbilla and as far south as St George for the stud's 41st sale and second at its on-property venue. Together with online bidders from Hughenden, Eromanga, Longreach, Alpha and Glen Innes, a gallery of stud and commercial buyers helped the stud to a 100 per cent clearance of the 82 bulls offered, a top price of $42,500 and an average of $12,153. At last year's sale all 62 bulls sold for an $11,565 average and a $30,000 top.
The top-priced bull and cover bull for the sale catalogue, the 24-month-old Drensmaine Nutella N49, was sired by Drensmaine Kidman K246 out of maiden heifer Drensmaine K371. He weighed 824 kilograms with an average daily gain of 1.07 kilograms, an eye muscle area of 136 square centimetres and 5.4 per cent intramuscular fat.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bulls offered, sold | 82 offered, 82 sold |
| Clearance rate | 100 per cent |
| Sale average | $12,153 |
| Top price | $42,500 |
| 2025 result | 62 bulls at $11,565, $30,000 top |
| Second top price |
$26,000 |
| Volume buyer purchase, average | 8 bulls at $14,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Drensmaine Santa Gertrudis sale top at?
The sale topped at $42,500 for Drensmaine Nutella N49. All 82 bulls offered sold for a 100 per cent clearance at a $12,153 average. It was not until lot 33 that the price dipped below five figures.
How did the result compare with last year?
Last year all 62 bulls sold for an $11,565 average and a $30,000 top. This year the stud cleared a larger catalogue of 82 at a higher average. The stud co-principal said he was ecstatic with both the average and the clearance, noting there had been years with a $20,000 average but not while selling 80 head.
What figures did the top-priced bull record?
The 24-month-old weighed 824 kilograms with an average daily gain of 1.07 kilograms. He recorded P8 and rib fat of 9 and 7 millimetres, an eye muscle area of 136 square centimetres, 5.4 per cent intramuscular fat, a 41.5 centimetre scrotal circumference and 88 per cent semen morphology. He is by Drensmaine Kidman K246 out of a maiden heifer.
Who bought the top-priced bull?
Swan Hill Santa Gertrudis stud, on the western side of Tambo, secured him. There is history in the purchase: one of the first bulls the Drensmaine stud began with came from Swan Hill. The buyer said he stood out as a soft, tidy bull with good figures, and that his dark, cherry red colour and quiet temperament mattered as he is going into a stud herd.
Which other studs bought bulls?
Three bulls made $20,000 each: Drensmaine Ned Kelly to Killarney Park Santas at Tambo, Drensmaine Noosa to Forest Park Santas at Blackall, and Drensmaine Northern Lights to Glen Leigh Santa Gertrudis stud at Glen Innes. Darr Creek, Jandowae, paid $18,000 for Drensmaine Novak N131 and Yarrawonga Cattle Co $16,000 for Drensmaine Newage N32.
What made the second top price?
Banjo Grazing, Allandale, Blackall, paid $26,000 for Drensmaine Nimble N105. The 24-month-old weighed 813 kilograms with an average daily gain of 1.1 kilograms, P8 and rib fat of 8 and 6 millimetres, an eye muscle area of 133 square centimetres, 5.3 per cent intramuscular fat, a 38.5 centimetre scrotal circumference and 94 per cent morphology. Camberwarra Cattle Co and TB Brodie Family Trust, both of Winton, paid $24,000 each.
Who were the volume buyers?
Rostron Grazing, The Grove, Alpha, was a first-time buyer and one of the top volume buyers with eight bulls at a $14,000 average. The business has run Droughtmaster, Angus and Charolais bulls and is starting a Santa infusion, wanting locally bred bulls with resilience for tick country. Kirkland Plains, Charters Towers, took seven bulls at an $8285 average, praising bulls that were not overfed, ready to work and carried plenty of bone.
What else sold at the sale?
Five horses were offered by four vendors, the top a 14-year-old mare, Ellamay C-Prize, which sold online for $20,000 to Jaydean Pastoral at Lake Cargelligo. Three of four working dogs sold, the top a four-year-old collie bitch at $15,000 to a New South Wales buyer.
