Ekka champ tops Eidsvold Simmental and Fleckvieh sale; heifer action hot

A young polled sire that was the grand champion bull in the Simmental ring at this year's Royal Queensland Show topped the 2025 Eidsvold Simmental and Fleckvieh Sale.

The second year of the sale, held at Eidsvold saleyards on Saturday, August 30, saw Silver Linings Underdog sell for $32,500 to Beeblee Pastoral Company.

From Jessica Beddows' Silver Linings stud at Clonya, the 30-month-old bull, big across the spine with ample bone and carcase attributes, is by Woonallee Notice N141.

Run by Eidsvold Livestock and Property, the seven-vendor sale saw 46 of 51 bulls sold to $7924 average, with the majority remaining in the central Queensland region.

Bidding on the heifer offering was red hot with a 100 per cent clearance of 13 animals to an average of $6384.

The top-priced female was Herlo Park Una, selling for $9000, with a positive pregnancy to Simmental sire Willandra Panama.

She was secured by Greg and Bridgette Ehlrich, Wandoan, who were also the bulk female buyers of the sale, taking home seven heifers in total.

Around 65 per cent of the bulls and all the heifers were polled.

The result compares to 38 bulls sold of the 41 offered in 2024 to a top of $18,000 and average $7375, and two of four heifers sold for a top of $3750 and average $3620.

Underdog will go to Jason and Maria Lloyd's Nebo operation. With family, the Lloyds run a commercial herd of Brangus as well as operating two studs, Beeblee Brangus and MJ Park Brahmans.

They intend to put the Simmental bull over Brahman stud cows to breed a Simbrah targeting northern pastoralists.

"There is increasing interest in that type of animal in the north and not many people breeding them so we see some opportunity there," Mr Lloyd said.

"We knew we'd have to pay a bit for this bull because he ticks all the boxes and has that wow factor - he's got the length, the bone, the head."

The second highest price bull was Wondenia-Denmire Ulysses, purchased by Mooroongie Grazing for $17,000.

Bulk bull buyers of the day were the Payne family, securing four bulls at an average of $8,750 per head.

In the breakdown, Max Dench's Denmire Fleckvieh at Gilgranda sold seven of eight bulls to a $7714 average, while Chris and Ashleigh Ickinger's Herlo Park stud at Gilgandra, NSW, sold four bulls to a $7250 average and five heifers to a $7600 average for a total clearance.

Jo and Grant Berrie's Sweetholme Simmentals at Ban Ban Springs sold seven of nine bulls to a $7000 average and Melanine Sambrook's Stone Ridge Livestock at Eumungerie, in NSW, sold three of four bulls to a $4750 average and two of two heifers to an average $4750.

Douglas and Juanita Birch's Three Moon stud at Eidsvold, sold 16 of 16 bulls to a $8125 average and a top of $15,000.

Silver Linings sold two of two bulls to an average $22,250 and two of two heifers to an average $6250.

The Baldry family's Tennysonvale at Illabo in NSW sold seven of seven bulls to an average $5857 and four of four heifers to an average $5750.

There were 66 registered bidders on the grounds and plenty of additional competition online via StockLive.

• Agents Eidsvold Livestock and Property.