Record $140,000 bull leads the Dunlop Santa Gertrudis sale grossing over $2 million
Summary
The annual Dunlop Santa Gertrudis sale at the family property Jingeri, near Proston, delivered a record result on September 5, grossing more than $2 million with fast, competitive bidding. The top-priced bull, Dunlop Arlington W274, sold early for $140,000, more than doubling the previous year's $65,000 top and setting a new benchmark for the program. The second top bull, Dunlop Alpheus W226, made $94,000 as lot 111. All 132 bulls offered sold for a 100 per cent clearance, a sale average of $20,210 and a gross of $2,688,000. The catalogue split into 121 stud bulls averaging $20,388 and 11 herd bulls averaging $19,545. The record-priced bull weighed 1002 kilograms at 20 months, with an average daily gain of 1.35kg, rump and rib fat of 15 and 12 millimetres, a 150 square centimetre eye muscle area, 5.7 per cent intramuscular fat, a 40 centimetre scrotal circumference and 76 per cent semen morphology. Sired by Dunlop Waverly S206 and out of Dunlop Q255, it was praised as a homozygous poll bull carrying power, muscle, softness and length. The buyer, a large-scale operation breeding about 500 bulls a year, plans to use it in embryo transfer programs and alongside a Droughtmaster herd in the Northern Territory. Two families each bought seven head as volume buyers, and agents reported strong confidence in the Santa Gertrudis breed for its sought-after genetics.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Top price (bull) | $140,000 |
| Second top price | $94,000 |
| Bulls sold (100% clearance) | 132 |
| Sale average | $20,210 |
| Gross total | $2,688,000 |
| Stud bulls average (121 head) | $20,388 |
| Herd bulls average (11 head) | $19,545 |
| Top bull weight | 1002 kg |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the top price at the 2026 Dunlop Santa Gertrudis sale?
The top-priced bull, Dunlop Arlington W274, sold for $140,000. That more than doubled the previous year's $65,000 top price.
What was the sale's overall result?
All 132 bulls sold for a 100 per cent clearance, a sale average of $20,210 and a gross of $2,688,000. The sale grossed more than $2 million.
How did stud and herd bulls compare?
The 121 stud bulls averaged $20,388, while the 11 herd bulls averaged $19,545. The catalogue totalled 132 bulls.
What were the top bull's key measurements?
Dunlop Arlington W274 weighed 1002 kilograms at 20 months and gained 1.35kg a day. It recorded a 150 square centimetre eye muscle area, 5.7 per cent intramuscular fat and a 40 centimetre scrotal circumference.
What was the second top price?
The second top bull, Dunlop Alpheus W226, sold for $94,000 as lot 111. Bidding stayed strong throughout the sale.
How will the record bull be used?
The buyer plans to use it in embryo transfer programs. It will also join a Droughtmaster herd in the Northern Territory.
Who were the volume buyers?
Two families each purchased seven head as the main volume buyers. Bidding was hot and fast across the catalogue.
How does this compare with the 2025 sale?
The 2025 sale topped at $65,000 twice, with a 100 per cent clearance and an $18,562 average. This year's $140,000 top and $20,210 average both improved on those results.
