Seven buyers purchase more than half the bulls at Lucrana Simmentals sale
Demand was strong for traditional and black Simmental bulls offered by the Lucrana stud, Texas, Queensland, as seven bidders took home 58 per cent of the sale offering.
The sale's top price was $30,000, with a full clearance of the 68 bulls catalogued to an average of $12,176. This was an increase of $862 on last year's sale average.
Stud co-principal Andrew Moore said the buyer support was mainly from northern NSW, through the Maranoa and central parts of Queensland.
David and Callum Murray, Boolara, Meandarra, Qld, bought the sale topper, Lucrana Ultimate U170, a 24-month-old son of 02 Lucrana Radar out of a Lucrana Hunter female.
Callum Murray said he and his father were chasing a bull that would suit their plans to breed Simbrah cattle.
Mr Murry said they run about 200 breeders, of which 60 were Brahman and the remainder were Simbrah.
"We've been buying a few Simmental stud females as well," Mr Murray added.
He said U170 would be joined to mainly first-cross Simbrah females and some pure Brahman cows.
"We loved the bone and carcase in the bull, which was great to find in a homozygous polled bull.
"He was very masculine in the head and looks like he will breed well.'
Mr Moore said U170 was, "a wonderful sire prospect, with natural softness, eye appeal and a great temperament".
"He is one of the most complete bulls ever offered by Lucrana, and possesses many of the desirable traits of his sire with some extra bone and muscle shape," Mr Moore said.
Mr Murray said that he and his father preferred the traditional Simmental bulls over the black Simmentals.
"We find they finish heavier; they might be similar in weight as weaners, but they pull out in front as they age," he said.
"We also find the mature cows are heavier, and they produce extra milk."
The second top-priced bull at $22,000 was Lucrana Uncle U47, bought by long-time supporters, Bidgel Grazing, St George, Qld. The 26-month-old bull weighed 920 kilograms and had an eye muscle area of 144 square centimetres.
The top-selling black Simmental bull was Lucrana Uki U173, bought by Golden Grazing, Surat, Qld. Golden Grazing bought four bulls at a $14,000 average.
The volume buyers at the sale were Greg and Sophie Bennett, Goondoola, Talwood, Qld, with 11 bulls to a top price of $17,000, averaging $8909.
H and K Terry, Ludgate Station, Prairie, Qld, bought six bulls, while Keith Chandler, Glen Tulloch, Injune, Qld, also bought six bulls.
Mr Moore said new sire lines featured in this year's catalogue included the first progeny of Meldon Park Revolution.
While the Black component of the draft contained the first drops of Charmana Rip Tide and Bonnydale Nashville S154.
Mr Moore said the sale highlighted the return of many repeat and first-time buyers.
The selling agents were Nutrien Ag Solutions Queensland Stud Stock, with Colby Ede the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online service.
