Confidence in beef gives Queensland Simmental Bull Sale a huge average boost

A lift in confidence across the beef industry saw a big uptick in prices at this year's Queensland Simmental Bull Sale at CQLX Gracemere compared to last year, according to organisers.

At the fifth annual sale on Monday, July 28, the top price bull, Glenanna U Rockstar, fetched $22,000, surpassing last year's top price of $18,000 by a healthy $4000.

It was sold by NSW vendors, Maddie and James Hannah, Glenanna Simmentals,Merrygoen, near Dubbo, to Sheryl Franz, Yurimbar, Manumbar, near Kingaroy.

Weighing 793 kilograms, the 22-month-old poll milk tooth bull was by Loaderry Murphy and out of Glenanna Quiki Q916.

Its P8 and rib fat were 10 millimetres and 7mm, while its eye muscle area was 132 square centimetres, its intramuscular fat was 5.6 per cent, and its scrotal circumference was 41cm.

The auction grossed $914,000 for an average price of $9621, significantly higher than last year's average of $6560 for 84 of 103 bulls sold or a clearance rate of 81.5 per cent.

This year, the clearance rate under the hammer was 96.8pc for 93 bulls sold of 96 offered, although the remaining three sold after the auction.

Jamie Franz said he and his mother came to the sale looking for a heifer bull to put over their stud heifers.

Mr Franz said they liked the high-priced bull's statistics for easy calving and birth weight.

"We breed paddock bulls, not necessarily a stud as such, but we breed purebred Simmental paddock bulls," he said.

In the catalogue, Glenanna U Rockstar was listed as being in the top 15pc of the breed for his terminal index and top 3pc for calving ease.

The Franzs, who have attended the Queensland Simmental Bull Sale in 2021, have a mainly Santa Gertrudis commercial herd.

Mrs Franz said they had had Simmentals for 40 years since her late husband, Leon, started the crossbreeding program with the Santas.

"And they've done the job for us for a lot of years," she said.

Vendors James and Maddie Hannah said this was the second time that they had sold bulls in their own right at this sale.

The couple offered eight bulls for a total clearance and an average of $12,500 this year.

The Hannahs said the CQLX sale was a good place to sell as it was a central location and had strict entry requirements ensuring only high-quality bulls were offered.

They sold the top-price bull in 2023 with Glenanna Skippy making $30,000 to Taroom producer Joe Streeter.

TopX Gracemere selling agent Gavin Tickle said after post-sale negotiations the gross was $919,000 for an average of $9572 for the 10 studs involved in the sale.

"There's a bit of confidence in the beef industry at the moment (and) I think there was a really good line of bulls this year," he said.

"The bulls were more consistent this year.

"And the way the Simmental cross calves have been performing, not just here at Gracemere, but at all the saleyard facilities, they are becoming very popular with backgrounders and and finishers."

Mr Tickle said there were new and existing buyers at this year's sale, and there was a lot of action on Stocklive.

Bulk buyers included Lindsay Fielder, Aramac, buying seven bulls for an average of $8000; Jake Passfield, Arcuo Ag, Clermont, buying 11 bulls for an average of $8181; T and A Devillers, Harrami, buying six bulls for an average of $6166; Ninbah Pastoral buying five for an average of $7600; Comet Downs Cattle Trust, Comet, buying four bulls for an average of $12,801; Kirk Cattle Co, Mundubbera, buying four bulls for an average of $15,750; and Calliope Cattle Co, Calliope, buying four bulls for an average of $5500.

The studs were from Queensland, South Australia, NSW and Victoria.

Vendor Averages:

Yerwal Estate - 19/22 for an average of $10,000

Mount Mooney - 10/10 for an average of $9700

Springside - 5/5 for an average of $6000

Daraabah - 11/11 for an average of $11,545

Glenanna - 8/8 for an average of $12,500

Jarravale - 10/10 for an average of $9600

Barana - 7/7 for an average of $10,789

Grangeburn - 11/11 for an average of $9000

Tullayr - 8/8 for an average of $8500

Lone Station - 4/4 for an average of $5250

• Selling agents: TopX and Auctions Plus