Crossbreeding operation jags top Eidsvold Charolais bull for commercial herd
A repeat buyer with a crossbreeding operation scored the top-priced bull at the 14th annual Eidsvold Charolais Bull Sale on Tuesday, September 2.
Held at the Eidsvold Saleyards, 64 bulls were sold of the 66 offered by vendors, Alan and Natalia Goodland, Clare Charolais, Theodore, and Ross and Paul Warren, Elridge Charolais, Gympie.
This represented a clearance of 97 per cent for a gross of $672,500 and an average of $10,507.
In 2024, the sale had a total clearance of 63 lots for an average of $12,111, and a top of $36,000.
This year's top priced bull, Elridge Uno, was purchased by Noeline and Murray Melville, Joliffe Park, Biloela, for $23,000.
It was sired by 4 Ways MK R69E and was out of Elridge Yoly N9E.
Weighing 734 kilograms, the 25-month-old homozygous polled bull had a P8 and rib fat of 11 and 8 millimetres respectively, an eye muscle area of 134 square centimetres, a scrotal circumference of 39.5 cm and an IMF of 5.3 pc.
Mrs Melville said they bought the bull because of his softness, fat cover and quiet temperament.
"And we just think that he will do a good job here in our Charolais cross commercial herd," she said.
"We have purchased bulls at Eidsvold before off Clare and Eldridge, and they just do a good job in our commercial herd that we're operating here."
The Melvilles have a breeding operation with 180 breeders on 1100 acres, turning off about 150 weaners straight off their mothers through CQLX Gracemere.
They have been breeding Charolais for about 20 years.
The top priced bull would go out into their main herd while a second bull they purchased for $9000, Eldridge Ultimate, was set to be joined with their first calf heifers.
A first-time buyer at the sale, Shaun Backshall, Culcraigie, Eidsvold, was the main bulk buyer, scoring four bulls for an average of $6500.
Mr Backshall runs a Brahman/Brangus herd, crossbreeding with Simmental and Charolais bulls.
He said he liked the temperament of the four bulls and the fact that they were all homozygous polled.
"So they breed a pure poll calf, which is a big thing for me, having poll calves, and apart from that they're just nice little bulls," he said.
Mr Backshall has a breeding operation on 27,000 acres, selling between 700 to 1000 weaners a year.
He sells his steers through Eidsvold saleyards while his heifers are spayed and grown out on country at Beaudesert.
The Goodland's top price bull, Clare Utah, was bought by first-time buyers, Bridgette and Greg Ehrlich, Wangalea, Wandoan, for $22,500.
The 24-month-old was sired by Ascot Kudos and was out of Clare Karla. He weighed 912 kg, had a P8 and rib fat of 10 and 7 mm, an eye muscle area of 140 sq cm, a scrotal circumference of 41cm and an IMF of 4.8pc.
Mr Ehrlich said he was attracted to the bull's length, width, size and growth rate.
It was proposed that Clare Utah would be used in an AI program, while a second bull, Elridge Uppercut, that the Ehrlichs bought for $8000 would be put out with their first calf heifers.
Mr Ehrlich said they were looking to improve the muscling and meat in their commercial Charolais herd of 600 breeders on 7000 acres.
He said they had only just stepped into Charolais in the last couple of years, and away from Brahmans, to get a better carcase and money.
Vendors Ross Warren of Elridge and Alan Goodland of Clare were both pleased with the sale results.
Mr Warren said the top-priced bull went to repeat buyers, who had been a great support to them for a very long period of time.
"...and we really appreciate them and everyone else that turned up to the sale," he said.
Mr Warren said the sale was very strong, which was reflected in the clearance.
"The bulls went to a large coverage of Queensland and a lot of repeat buyers were operating here today," he said.
"I think the bulls were right for the times, and they were well received by everyone here and online, and I think there was really good value presented in the bulls here today...some bulls sold to Julia Creek and Cloncurry."
Mr Goodland agreed there was a trend for poll bulls, but that buyers were also looking for growth, weight for age, softness and muscle in a Charolais.
"If we can keep getting new buyers every year...that's a positive," he said.
"And there was definitely a lot of repeat buyers...who are happy and coming back, and if we keep covering both bases, that's really good."
Mr Warren said Charolais were a really good, strong breed.
"As a breed, we've put a lot of energy into breeding cattle that suit the commercial market and there's a lot of Charolais cross cattle that find their way into grass finishing or feedlot finishing.
"I think we've got that versatility in the Charolais breed to meet the range of markets.
"We've got plenty of muscle in the breed and we've also got plenty of cover, which ticks off on those carcase qualities that are so desirable these days so it's a very complete breed."
- Selling agents: Burnett Livestock & Realty, Eidsvold Livestock & Property, and AuctionsPlus.
