First-time buyers boost average price at Emjay Wellcamp bull sale

The 2025 Emjay Wellcamp Premier Charbray sale delivered an average price almost $2000 higher than in 2024 due to strong interest from western buyers among others.

More than 100 people attended Woolooga saleyard on Friday, July 25 for the annual event, including bidders from local areas, Condamine, Injune, Brisbane Valley and northern NSW.

A total of 47 of 51 lots sold in the ring for a gross sale value of $409,000 and a clearance rate of 92.2 per cent, just behind the 2024 clearance of 98pc.

The average price of $8521 was $1810 ahead of the 2024 average of $6711.

Wellcamp stud principals Anthony and Kylee Curtis sold both the top-price and second-top bulls to first-time buyers Bryce and Lucy Moore of Trifecta Charbrays, Condamine.

Top bull Wellcamp Ubon fetched $19,000 at 22 months and 792 kilograms.

He was heterozygous polled with an eye muscle area of 134 square centimetres and P8 and rib fat measurements of 13 and nine millimetres, respectively.

Mr Curtis, based north of Goondiwindi, said he was pleased with the result overall.

"It was brilliant to get interest from first-time buyers alongside repeat buyers," he said.

"Both Wellcamp Ulmer and Wellcamp Ubon were by Huntington Malcolm, who has done a great job for us.

"He consistently produced easy-doing bulls with a good temperament."

Wellcamp Ubon was out of Wellcamp 398.

Mr Moore said he and his partner, Lucy, were looking for polled bulls that were true to type.

"Both bulls will be used as mop up bulls in an AI program starting shortly, and will then get their own herd of cows next year in our natural joining window," Mr Moore said.

"We were looking for polled bulls that didn't sacrifice bone and carried a tidy underline, after a few years of horned bulls being dominant in our herd.

"We may need to buy one more sire this year, so will see what's at the Charbray National Sale in September."

Wattlebray Charbrays principal Trevor Ford was the underbidder on the top-price bull.

The quality of bulls on offer and a firm commercial cattle market helped explain the good result, according to Shepherdson and Boyd agent Jack Fogg.

"High-quality articles are being rewarded so far this bull-selling season," Mr Fogg said.

"Buyers were more selective today than in previous years, but they were willing to pay good prices for the right bull."

The Wellcamp stud sold 13 of its 14 bulls for a price above the sale average, while Emjay Stud principals Michael and Lindy Connolly sold seven of their 30 bulls offered above the average.

First-time buyer Rhett Bonisch of Bonisch Cattle Co, Injune, took home eight lots at an average value of $7375, to run with the 1700 Charbray females his family joins per year.

Mr Bonisch said he had intended to buy four bulls, but bid on more lots because prices were lower than he had expected.

"We were looking for bulls with the right bone and length, and are happy with what we came away with today," Mr Bonisch said.

"It can be hard to find good generational Charbray bulls like the ones on offer at the Emjay Wellcamp sale.

"We are unlikely to buy at more bull sales this year; these will keep us going for a while."

Emjay also sold six heifers for an average price of $3125.

• Agents: Shepherdson and Boyd, Sullivan Livestock and Rural Services, and AuctionsPlus.