Loyal buyer secures top-price Bauhinia Park bull for a third straight year

The consistent performance of Bauhinia Park genetics was on full display at the Holzwart family's 21st annual sale in Emerald on Wednesday, August 20, where the first 10 bulls sold for an average of $19,900.

Buyers from across Queensland and Victoria were among the 56 registered bidders competing for the 84 Charolais and Angus bulls offered.

The sale's wide reach was a highlight for Bauhinia Park Angus stud principals Jeff and Raelea Holzwart and Bauhinia Park Charolais stud principals Ryan and Rachel Holzwart.

Charolais bulls set the pace early, with all 41 selling to a top of $40,000 and an average of $15,292. In the Angus section, 43 bulls sold for a high of $26,000 and an average of $11,906, with only one bull passed in.

Overall, 84 Charolais and Angus bulls sold to an average $13,559.52, representing a total gross of $1.139 million.

Bauhinia Park Angus stud principal Jeff Holzwart expressed his family's pleasure with the sale results, particularly the strong demand from commercial buyers in western Queensland.

"It was a pleasant surprise how many bulls sold into western Queensland," Mr Holzwart said.

"People are trusting our genetics, and our bulls are doing a really good job in that environment."

Mr Holzwart estimated that as much as 60 per cent of the Angus bulls went to western and northwest Queensland, a much higher percentage than in previous years.

"We've always had some influence there, but not as much as we did today," he said.

The demand for lot 5, Bauhinia Park Unlimited, was so strong that auctioneer Matt Beard barely finished his appraisal when the first online bid of $12,000 landed.

In the end, it was repeat client Phillip Lamb of Dingley Dell, Biloela, who outlaid the top bid of $40,000 to secure the top-priced Charolais bull, a poll red factor bull sired by 4 Ways Mario.

At 24 months, he weighed 916 kilograms, with a 46 centimetre scrotal, had the highest eye muscle area of the draft, with an EMA of 151 square centimetre and a 4.7 per cent intramuscular fat.

For the third year in a row, Mr Lamb secured the top-priced bull at the Bauhinia Park bull sale.

"I admired the bone and the structure on (Bauhinia Park Unlimited)," Mr Lamb said.

"He's got plenty of meat on him and has good sire appeal.

"This is our third year coming to this sale; the Bauhinia Park Charolais bulls are performing well in our operation."

The Lambs run 17,500 acres, between Biloela, Moura and Monto, running predominantly 1500 mixed Brahman and Charbray cows.

They normally chased the feeder market, and they fattened a lot of their heifers.

Mr Lamb said the top-price bull would return home to join their Charbray breeders.

Stud principals Ryan and Rachel Holzwart secured a one-eighth semen share in Unlimited.

They said the stud sire-prospect had been "a real standout since birth".

"We have offered some beautiful Mario sons over the past few years and I think that this sire is up there with the best of them," Mr Holzwart said.

"His dam is breeding very well for us with six calves in six breeding years and another one on the way."

The top-priced Angus bull sold via AuctionsPlus to the Elliott family at Winton, who paid $26,000 for Bauhinia Park GM U441.

The 848kg son of 3RLS Inertia R002 had strong growth traits with a +124 for 600-day weight and a +122 for maternal cow, also recording a +3.2 EMA and a positive +2.6 for IMF.

Several new and loyal commercial clients made their presence felt on the day.

LM and LJ Fielder of Oakvale, Aramac, were the major volume buyers, outlaying $111,000 for ten bulls at an average of $11,100.

Other buyers with multiple purchases included SM and JM Elliott of Winton, who secured five bulls at an average of $18,800, and the Hicks family of Mulgrave Grazing Company, Barcaldine, which purchased five bulls for an average of $12,400.

Five bulls also went to RW and LT Berry, The Berry Family Trust from Dysart, for an average of $10,200.

RF Active of Kaiuroo, Dingo, picked up four bulls for an average of $12,500, while Walara Cattle Co, Comet, secured four at an average price of $9500.

Mentmore Grazing and Jellinbah Agricultural and Pastoral each purchased three bulls, averaging $15,333 and $15,000, respectively.

New clients, Winvic Pastoral of Clermont paid an average of $16,333 for three Angus bulls.

There was a notable lift in online buyers this year, with AuctionsPlus securing 24 bulls, selling 12 more than the previous year, achieving a strong average of $13,625 as 65 per cent of all lots received online bids.

Bulls were sold into all local areas, and as far north as Charters Towers, west into Winton, and as far south as Victoria.

Sapphire Halliday, Waterford Charolais, Mount Macedon, Vic, outlaid $24,000 online to secure lot 4, Bauhina Park Umpire.

Auctioneer Matt Beard, RBV Rural, Emerald, said there was strong commercial and stud interest on the day.

"The Holzwart family has had a really good quality offering of bulls again, which have been pretty well represented," Mr Beard said.

"There were a lot of repeat buyers in attendance, as well as interest from interstate stud buyers, which was great for the Holzwart family to get that interest.

"The vendors have maintained a pretty high standard for a lot of years, and it's reflected in their results."

In 2024, all 41 Charolais bulls sold to a top of $41,000 and averaged $19,268, while all 40 Angus bulls sold, reaching a high of $20,000 and averaging $10,750.

• Agents: RBV Rural, Emerald