Commercial breeders push Benjarra bulls to $25,000 in record for the stud

An apricot poll bull sold for $25,000 to bullock fatteners to set a new record top for southern Queensland Limousin stud Benjarra at its 14th on-property sale on August 14.

The Passmore family's stud at Ellangowan, near Clifton, sold 36 of 38 bulls offered to an average $12,083, which was also a record.

Last year's invitational sale saw 30 of 31 bulls sold to average $7667 for a top of $17,000.

The line-up was predominantly polled, a mix of black, red and apricot and was all genotype tested.

A large proportion of bulls went to producers in the Warwick region, however buyers came from as far afield as the Northern Rivers region of NSW and north to Roma, Aramac and Morven.

The top price was paid by Greg and Cathy Wells, Nogun at Rolleston, via Stocklive, for Benjarra U80, a 20-month-old 800 kilogram bull with an eye muscle area of 146 square centimetres.

The Wells produce grass-fed European Union-accredited bullocks from a Santa Gertrudis herd and have traditionally used Angus bulls but have currently got their first Limousin-cross calves on the ground.

"We decided to blend a splash of Limo into our breeding herd to boost fertility and we're very happy with the calves we have so far," Mr Wells said.

The Wells also took a second red bull for $8000.

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The second top price of $22,000 was paid by weaner and feeder steer producers Jaime and Duncan Jukes, JMC Grazing at Morven, for Benjarra V4, a young 50 per cent Angus, 50pc Limousin bull.

By home-bred sire Benjarra Renegade, the bull was "super soft" with a beautiful temperament, Mr Jukes said.

"The Limousin breed has come a long way with their softness," he said.

"We like the muscle, mobility and temperament of the Limousin and we can sell their progeny into any market."

All up JMC took six bulls to an average of $12,500.

JMC are repeat Benjarra customers and say the bulls have proven themselves on a mix of country.

They run a thousand predominantly Droughtmaster breeders and use Limousin, Charolais and Simmental bulls.

Mr Passmore was thrilled with the sale result, which was up significantly on last year's average for his bulls of $8260.

He described this year's line up as the most consistent Benjarra had presented and said they hit the brief in terms of producing high-yielding progeny with fat coverage and good docility.

The Passmore family has had much success in stud and commercial competitions over the years, winning many grand champions, hook and hoof events and notching up multiple saleyard toppers from weaners to bullocks.

Other volume buyers were the Hudsons, Tongy at Mitchell, who took five bulls to an average $12,200.

A number of buyers took three bulls, including David and Kirsten York, of Wallumbilla, who paid an average of $15,000 for their sires and the Fields of Aramac who paid an $8000 average.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Livestock and Elders.