Demand leads to expanded draft for Eidsvold Simmental and Fleckvieh Sale

The increasing use of Simmental and Fleckvieh genetics in crossbreeding programs, coupled with a stellar maiden sale result, has led to an expanded draft being offered at this year's Eidsvold Simmental and Fleckvieh Sale.

In all, eight vendors, from Queensland and New South Wales, have catalogued 68 lots, consisting of 36 Fleckvieh and 19 Simmental bulls, and nine Simmental and four Fleckvieh registered heifers for this year's sale to be held at the Eidsvold Saleyards from 11am on Saturday, August 30.

Included in the draft is Silver Linings Underdog, which was awarded grand champion Simmental bull at this year's Ekka, as is Wondenia-Denmire Ulysses, which claimed reserve champion Fleckvieh bull.

Sale chairman Douglas Birch said this year's draft included "top-quality potential stud sires and reliable, commercially oriented bulls".

"All heifers in the draft are polled, as are close to 65 per cent of the bulls," Mr Birch said.

He said the vendors were committed to offering quality animals that hadn't been overprepared, to ensure a long working life.

"Consistent with this, very strong fertility guarantees are provided."

This focus paid off for the vendors involved in the inaugural sale last year, in which 58 bidders from Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia secured 93pc of the 41 bulls offered at an average of $7375, while bidding reached a high of $18,000. The four heifers on offer sold for a 100pc clearance on the day.

All animals have been vaccinated for 3-day sickness, tick fever, and with 5 in 1.

Cattle from ticky areas have been pre-treated and pre-scratched to allow immediate delivery to clean country.

The vendors warrant that all animals are fertile.

All bulls will be semen tested (with motility above 60 per cent), and many have been morphology tested for those buyers who wish to incorporate these results in making their selections.

Bulls have been muscle-scanned, weighed, and mouthed, with this information provided on a supplementary sheet to be made available to bid card holders from Friday, August 29.

Prospective buyers are invited to view lots on the Friday afternoon before the sale, from 3pm.

Vendors are offering free freight to several saleyards, including: Taroom, Moura, Biloela, Biggenden, Murgon, Dalby and Goondiwindi (and other destinations will be considered).

Buyers unable to attend the sale have the opportunity to utilise the Stocklive platform for online bidding and viewing.

For enquiries, please call Eidsvold Livestock & Property sale agents Cameron Bygrave, 0458 820 309, or Rob Bygrave, 0477 590 844.