Longtime vendors top Charnelle Charolais female sale with five-figure sale

A longtime vendor of the Charnelle Charolais Female and Genetics Sale nabbed the top result of the 15th annual auction in Toowoomba, selling the highest price cow and calf unit for five figures.

The top-priced female, Mountview Goldbeef S2, sold for $14,000 on Saturday, March 1 and was presented as a three-in-one package; her Mountview Ramsay sired heifer calf at foot and back in calf to Palgrove Eclipse.

Ian and Katrina Bebbington, along with farmhand Bob Luck, of Mountview Charolais, Ramsay, sold the female to John Hurley and Owen Smith of Oakey Bovine Breeding Unit, Oakey.

She set the pace for 62 of 76 females that sold for an 81 per cent clearance and an average of $5387 at the fall of the hammer. This was an improved clearance from 2024 when 49 out of 72 females sold, or 68pc, and averaged $5632 for a $13,000 top.

On Saturday, the genetics offering included 17 of 64 embryo lots averaging $676 and topping at $900 while 49 of 68 straws sold to average $95 and top at $550.

The top price female, Mountview Goldbeef S2, was a homozygous poll by Raile Sovereign, a trait leader for birthweight and milk, and out of Mountview Goldbeef P2.

Mountview Goldbeef S2 was described in the catalogue as being in the top 1 per cent for the milk estimated breeding value.

It was the first time Mr Hurley had purchased from the Charnelle sale, and he said the overall build of the cow was what caught his eye.

"That cow is going to Oakey Bovine Breeding Services and it's going to be flushed and bred with Angus bulls to produce Angus Charolais cross bulls," he said.

"We've got a few people chasing Angus Charolais cross bulls, so I was just looking for a big-boned cow.

"We are pretty happy; it was a three-in-one package; she had a pretty good heifer calf at foot, and she was in calf again, so I thought it was good buying."

Mr Hurley also purchased a pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifer, Charnelle Emma, for $5000, and an additional cow and calf unit, Cheyenne Yellow River and four-month-old Cheyenne Valdez, for $6000.

Vendors, the Bebbingtons, said they were over the moon with the result.

"We're pretty overwhelmed actually," Ms Bebbington said.

"We knew we had good cattle, but to get the top price out of such good quality cattle with so many vendors at a sale like this, we've waited a long time, but we've finally got there," Mr Bebbington said.

"We've sold at this sale ever since it started, and even before it started, when it was called the summer sale and was run by Landmark."

Charnelle Charolais stud principal Graham Blanch said prices were up from last year due to the overall quality of the animals on offer.

"[I'm] very, very happy," he said of the day.

"The live lots, which is the females, and heifers, and bulls, were really strong and we're very happy.

"There was a lot of really good quality females here from both New South Wales and Queensland, and I think there was a good number of cattle here, so if people wanted three or four, they could get them."

Mr Blanch said he was particularly happy with the online engagement from Stocklive buyers at this year's sale.

At least 72 lots were purchased through the site by buyers from as far away as Western Australia and Victoria.

This year's sale brought a mix of new and returning buyers.

"We've got some very, very happy vendors," Mr Blanch said.

"We've had buyers all the way from Charters Towers, return buyers from Emerald, and buyers from Victoria as well.

"Along with our return buyers, we have got some new ones, so we are really grateful for that."

• Selling agent Elders