Three-way tie for top-priced heifer at CQ's glitzy, BLING-y Brangus sale
There was not one, not two, but three top-priced heifers sold at the 3rd Brangus Ladies Invitational Notable Genetics [BLING] sale held on the evening of Friday, 16 May.
In its third year, the glitzy event took place inside the barn at Paradise Lagoons, and showcased 24 lots from 14 invited vendors, for a sale gross of $288,000, an average price of $12,521, and all but one heifer selling under the hammer.
In 2024, all 14 lots sold for an average of $14,857 with 100 per cent clearance and $32,500 top.
The top three heifers from Bauhinia Park, Circle H and Stutzview all sold for $26,000, with two of those heifers to the same buyer.
Danielle Hynes and her father, Dan Jackson, from Stutzview Brangus, Tiaro said they felt very fortunate to be invited, with a special pick of heifer on offer.
The 14-month-old Stutzview Vintage Queen was selected by Ms Hynes' brother, Mr Jackson's son, Ryan Jackson, who sadly passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.
"Ryan was the core and the heart of our stud, he passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest in January. And he had selected this heifer as the best we could produce," Ms Hynes said.
"I said to him, are you sure you really want to sell this heifer, and he said well dad if you get invited to a special sale, you've got to have special cattle, and second grade is not good enough, it's got to be the top of what you've got, and that's what we've brought," Mr Jackson said.
The polled heifer was the final lot of the evening, and sold to Paul and Catherine Mackenzie of Arizona Brangus, Dingo.
Stutzview Vintage Queen was sired by Triple B Revoler R291 and out of Stutzview 824.
"Preparation was very easy, because she's a stunning heifer, style, temperament is outstanding, and we're very grateful to the buyer [the Mackenzie's of Arizona Brangus], who is someone who has bought our bulls before," Ms Hynes said.
Not only did two other heifers sell for the same top price of $26,000, but both sold from the extended Holzwart family to Roger and Roslyn Nobbs, of Wingara, Moura.
For Jeff and Raelea Holzwart from Circle H Brangus, based near Emerald, it was an exciting surprise for both themselves and their son and daughter-in-law to take out two of the top-priced heifers.
"We were very thankful that [both of Circle H's offered lots] sold to the same home, we're very grateful that the Nobbs family [bought] them. They're going to the same home and I'm really happy about that," Ms Holzwart said.
Their 19-month-old heifer Circle H Miss Underline U252 was sired by S Bonox 1338 and out of Circle H Bronte R122.
"We picked her as a weaner, we thought if we were going to come to BLING we wanted to put something nice up. We're very blessed, we never expected that, that was extraordinary for us."
The couple also run their stud Bauhinia Park Angus on Grandridge, Emerald, where they host an annual bull sale, but are hoping to build up the Brangus business.
"We're just trying to breed some really nice [Brangus cattle] so more quality than quantity and then the quantity comes in the Angus," Mr Holzwart said.
Mr and Ms Holzwart's son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Rachel Holzwart, of Bauhinia Park, Emerald, were the third vendors to hit the top price of the evening.
The 20-month-old Bauhinia Park Miss Rock Solid U232 was sired by S Bauhinia Park Rock Solid and out of Bauhinia Park Miss Foundation N1097.
"We're really stoked that we achieved that price, we've got a lot of faith in that heifer, we really love her. She's an IVF calf we've admired coming through since she was born, so it was nice to see other people appreciate her as much as we do and to see her going to a good home," Mr Holzwart said.
"We always put a strong emphasis on a bit of bone and a bit of carcass merit, and try to breed cattle that are industry relevant, and just a nice maturity pattern. In our heifer's we really wanted to showcase that with a bit of breed character that Brangus are known for, but still have that Bauhinia style of bone and carcass merit."
The younger generation of Holzwart is based at Kensington, near Emerald, where they run the Bauhinia Park Brangus stud and a Charolais stud.
Sale coordinator and GDL stud stock specialist Georgie Connor said she was pleased to see how everything came together for the glamorous evening.
"We just thought under lights, the females, with a bit of glitter and glitz, we're bringing the crowd together and creating that atmosphere for an open auction system," Ms Connor said.
"I was humbled to see so many people from outside the breed that were here, that was very rewarding to see those faces and know they're here for a night out and to look at the cattle, and with what we chose to do this year with the barn, I thought that was very rewarding."
The sale was conducted by GDL, with Josh Heck as auctioneer, and simulcast on Stocklive.
