Eidsvold repeat buyer secures top lot at Moongana Santa Gertrudis bull sale
An Eidsvold repeat client secured the top price bull at the 20th annual Moongana bull sale on Wednesday. August 27, at Rolleston, marking the breed's first Queensland bull sale of the season.
Held at the Rolleston Livestock Selling Complex, vendors Cyril and Denise Gauld, Bethlee, Drillham, witnessed a 65 per cent clearance at the auction, culminating in a $13,091 average for the 33 bulls sold from 51 offered.
Most sires sold into central and western Queensland.
Mr Gauld acknowledged the support from new and repeat clients at their 20th annual sale, but noted buyers were "very selective" on the day.
"I don't think we had enough buyers for the bulls we had, but they picked the really good bulls, and they were prepared to pay for them," he said.
"There were a lot of repeat buyers active, but there was also a handful of new buyers, which we like to see every year, but the solid support that we have always got was from the repeat buyers."
In 2024, Moongana offered 45 bulls and sold 42, for an overall average of $13,190, a clearance rate of 93pc, and a top price of $32,000.
The sale topper in 2025 was the 24-month-old, Moongana 4074, which was knocked down for $30,000 to repeat clients, Ian and his son, Rick Gitsham, Rolling Hills Santa stud, Eidsvold, following a bidding battle with underbidders, Killarney Park Grazing, Killarney Park, Tambo.
Ian Gitsham said the top price bull caught his attention straight away for its carcase traits.
"(Moongana 4074) has got miles of meat on him, and that's what the game is about. He's got it all in the right places," Mr Gitsham said.
"He's got great bone, correct sheath and sirey outlook, which we aim to buy.
"We've been buying Moongana's bulls for a while now."
The Gitshams run about 120 Santa Gertrudis breeders, and plan to join the top sire with heifers in scrub country.
"Once they calve out, he'll join with them," he said.
The 896-kilogram polled son of Hayleigh Q88, posted an eye muscle area of 128 square centimetres, 41 centimetres in the scrotum, and rib and rump fat measurements of 16 and 11mm, respectively.
He was out of the Moongana 2975 cow, a breeder that had five calves in five years and was due to calve again this year.
He also had a daily weight gain of 1.16 kilograms.
Long-time supporters of the Moongana genetics, K and J Knudsen, paid $26,000 for the sale opener and second top-priced bull, Moongana Schooner 3986.
The 27-month-old homozygous polled, 1032kg son of Moongana Magnitude 3160 scanned an EMA of 144 sq cm, and rib and rump fat measurements of 15 and 10mm, respectively.
Peter and Pam Pullos, Kilarney Park Grazing, Tambo, outlaid $22,000 to secure classified S bull, Moongana 4070.
At 24 months old, he weighed 930 kg with an EMA measurement of 132 sq cm, and rib and rump fat measurements of 14 and 10mm.
Volume buyers, Murray and Loretta Smith, Arm and Dagger Cattle, Augathella, signed off on four bulls to average $9750.
- Selling agents: GDL with StockLive.
