Young studs underpin demand at High Country Droughtmasters 12th annual sale

Young studs looking for proven bloodlines to create a solid foundation underpinned demand, particularly for stud females, at the 2025 High Country Droughtmasters sale.

Held on-property at Paul and daughter Steph Laycock's Eskdale operation, the sale saw 31 out of 32 females sold to an average $3532 and a top of $6500.

In the bull section, 16 out of 28 lots sold to an average $7031 and a top of $20,000. Three more bulls sold post-sale to an average $5500.

Four genetics packages were also offered, with three pregnant recipient cows sold to a top of $8000 and an average $5166.

Bulls and heifers went throughout southern Queensland, into mid and northern NSW and as far north as Clermont and Cloncurry and east to Sarina.

The top-priced bull, High Country Nardoo - a son of the stud's $160,000 record-breaker Rondel Whiskey - went to William Shingles, Shings Droughtmaster at Stonelands, via Stocklive.

Mr Shingles purchased heifers from High Country last year for his new stud and said they have proven to be beautiful animals.

"We're calving at the moment so my father went down to inspect and this bull stood out immediately," Mr Shingles said.

"He obviously ticks all the genetics boxes but he also just has that little bit of spunk about him."

The bull, with an eye muscle area of 138 square centimetres, was also backed by a proven maternal line.

The top price pipped last year's top bull price of $12,000 but heifer prices were down. Last year stud heifers topped at $24,000 and averaged $5586.

The top-priced heifer, High Country Nightstar, sired by Glen Fosslyn Idol and out of Glenlands D Andrea, went to a two-year-old stud, Brian Roberts' Yellowstone Droughtmasters at Gympie.

Mr Roberts bought four other lots, paying an overall average of $3200.

He said he was looking for larger bone structure and tallness, along with all the right genetics, because that was what equalled more weight-for-age for the commercial producer at the end of the day.

The top-priced recipient cow was for an embryo due in December that is a cross between Glenlands D Agnes, a powerhouse female the Laycocks secured as a calf at Beef 2018, and Rondel Whiskey.

The same mating produced the $100,000 Make My Day sold to a syndicate of leading producers.

Bulk buyers of the females included Anthea Noona, who is setting up a new beef operation from scratch in the Somerset region and who took nine head to an average $5072.

Blake and Makayla Duff, Duff Droughtmasters at Toorooka on the Mid North Coast of NSW, took six stud heifers to an average $2933.

The Duffs' stud is four years old, with a large amount of High Country bloodlines.

Mr Blake's father, Glen Duff, who runs a 250 head commercial herd on the same property, purchased three bulls to an average $5800.

He uses Droughtmaster bulls over his Brahman-Hereford breeders to produce mostly vealers and weaners.

He said the Droughtmaster brings weight-for-age but also exceptional doing ability in his steep country and pest resistance.

The sale was conducted by Shepherdson and Boyd, Toogoolawah.