First calves drop from 2024's record breaking $150,000 Brangus bull

The progeny of two of Australia's highest-selling Brangus bulls are starting to hit the ground in central Queensland, marking an exciting milestone for one seedstock operation.

Just under one year after making headlines at the 2024 Rockhampton Brangus Sale with a record $150,000 purchase, calves from the top-priced sire Earlwood Riki are now calving, and the early signs are promising.

Earlwood Riki sold for $150,000, after the second top-priced bull, Earlwood Cobbo sold minutes earlier for $120,000, both to Lindsay and Fiona Barlow of Triple B Brangus, Dingo, at CQLX Gracemere on October 15 last year.

Sired by Tannyfoil P79 and out of Earlwood 3949, Earlwood Riki joined a herd of 80 stud Brangus breeders.

As of September 15, more than 20 calves have already hit the ground, with many more expected in the coming weeks.

Speaking to Queensland Country Life, Mr Barlow said they were impressed with the first number of calves.

"It's been a long time since I've been this excited about calves hitting the ground," Mr Barlow said.

"We're really impressed with both bulls' progeny at this point.

"There are some beautiful females among them and a bull calf that's a stud sire in the making, I believe.

"At two-and-a-half weeks old, he already looks like a bull."

Both sires have delivered high pregnancy rates, with Riki achieving nearly 90 per cent in early testing.

Around 80 breeders at the home property were joined, alongside an extensive AI program involving about 90 heifers.

"We actually did a fresh AI program, collected the bull one day and inseminated the next," Mr Barlow said. "The calves have come a little early, which is good. It's a bit of a nervous wait after making a significant investment, but the quality is exciting."

The purchase of the two sires was a strategic move to shift the Triple B Brangus herd's genetics back towards Australian bloodlines after a decade of influence from American bulls.

"The most we paid for a sire before that was $74,000," Mr Barlow said.

"We went looking for a change in direction, more softness, natural muscling, sire appeal, and structural soundness; these bulls had it."

They had long followed the lines behind both bulls, having previously been the underbidders on Bonox 822 (sold for $50,000) and Tannyfoil P79 ($52,500).

Last year, it was third time lucky for the Barlow family.

"We probably paid at least a third or more than we expected," Mr Barlow said.

"But if you're serious about running your own on-property sale and want to produce bulls of that top end, you've got to invest in the best."

Between the two sires, more than 140 females were naturally joined, in addition to the 90 head AI'd to each.

Both bulls have remained structurally sound and in good condition, with their offspring expected to feature heavily in future sale drafts.

"In two years, I'd love to see a huge percentage of our sale team of 80 bulls being by those two sires," Mr Barlow said.

Mr Barlow said semen from Earlwood Riki won't be commercially released at this stage, but a small volume of semen from Earlwood Cobbo had been sold privately.

The Triple B Brangus herd joins approximately 1200 females annually, split evenly between registered and commercial Brangus.

The long-term aim is to breed 200 sale bulls each year.

"We've used a lot of US genetics over the last 10 to 15 years, and while they bring power and performance, we found we were losing a bit of doing ability and type," Mr Barlow said.

"These bulls are helping us get back to that Australian balance, muscling, softness, sire presence, and depth of breeding.