New stud the largest bulk-buyer at National Droughtmaster Female Sale
Softer prices at the 2025 National Droughtmaster Female Sale saw bulk buyers - including a new stud - pick up value-for-money animals, with some speculating rising costs of living and production made people more reluctant to bid.
About 300 people attended the Gympie Saleyards on Saturday, March 22, including buyers mostly from traditional Droughtmaster breeding country in the hinterland and dividing range from the NSW border north to Rockhampton.
Shings Droughtmasters, a stud near Murgon about to start its breeding program, picked up the largest number of lots in the ring, with eight heifers at an average of $4500, about eight per cent below the overall sale average of $4900.
Shings co-owner William Shingles said he and his father Wayne started their Droughtmaster stud in 2024.
"We are new to the Droughtmaster breed and looking to grow our numbers: we like the versatility, look of the breed, and they suit our country well," Mr Shingles said.
"We were sight-buying more than focusing on particular bloodlines: we picked up heifers at 13 to 16 months old with good size and weight for age.
"We will put a bull over them that we purchased last year at the national bull sales, and that will be the start of our breeding program."
Shings picked up two heifers each from Rangeview and RSVP, as well as heifers from Calco, Cribrum, Locarno and Vale View Droughtmasters.
Not far behind were Aurora Droughtmasters, Cooroy, with six lots at an average of $3667, and Claymore Cattle Company, Buderim, with six head averaging $3167.
Aurora Droughtmasters co-owner Marcus Swan said he had been in the stud breeding game with his partner Alicia McCaul for the past six years.
"We cull hard with our cattle while sticking with the Droughtmaster standard of excellence using top genetics and ensuring we produce quality cattle with good carcase traits," Mr Swan said.
"We were spoilt for choice with bloodlines from well-regarded and up-and-coming studs: we picked up Diamond Hill and Waringle heifers with genetics from Glenlands, as well as one heifer each from Billabong, Glen Valley, Saddleback and Michicki.
"I think prices were softer because of the rise in the cost of living in areas such as energy and food, meaning that many producers have less disposable funds to buy heifers with."
Claymore Cattle Company co-owner Brent Mickelberg said he was looking to restock his and his wife Anna's 60-heifer herd.
"We were looking for moderate-frame cattle, and like many producers have made a conscious decision to breed the horns off our cattle," Mr Mickelberg said.
"I think bids were lower than expected not just because of the cost of living, but because input costs in the cattle business have increased, meaning some people will use their own heifers for breeding."
Claymore Cattle Co bought two lots from 3D, and one heifer each from Glen Valley, Vale View, Nindethana and Notable Droughtmasters.
