Top bull at 2025 Nioa Santa Gertrudis sale goes to new seedstock operator
A new entrant to the seedstock industry bought the top-price bull at the 2025 Nioa Santa Gertrudis sale, where fierce bidding from returning and new buyers delivered a good result for vendors.
About 150 people packed the stands at the Nioa family's Talgai Homestead, near Allora, on a sunny Thursday, September 4.
Bidders joined in person and online from local areas, central Queensland, as far north as Cloncurry, western areas such as Injune, Longreach, and St George, New South Wales, and even the Northern Territory.
Vendors grossed about $875,000 for the bulls, heifers, and semen straws sold at auction.
A total of 74 from 77 bulls sold through the ring for a clearance of 96.1 per cent and an average price of $11,284.
The result was up on 2024, when all 51 bulls offered sold for an average of $8402 and a top price of $22,500.
The Sinnamon family, based near Kyogle, NSW, sold Riverina Ulysses to Daniel Stoten, of the Karinya Stud at Doon Doon, NSW, for the top price of $40,000.
He was a homozygous polled bull, 22 months old, and weighed 842 kilograms.
He had an eye muscle area of 132 square centimetres, scrotal circumference of 40 centimetres, intramuscular fat of 6.1 per cent, as well as P8 and rib fat measurements of 14 and 11 millimetres.
Riverina Santa Gertrudis principal Rob Sinnamon said there was significant interest in Ulysses in the lead-up to the sale, with about 3000 views of his photo online.
"We showed him in local areas earlier this year: he was junior champion at the Inverell Feature Show, and reserve junior champion at the 2024 North Coast National," Mr Sinnamon said.
"His sire, Yulgilbar Queens Council, was a great performer for us, with 200-day weight in the top one pc and 400 and 600-day weights in the top five pc.
"Riverina Montego, his dam, goes back to bloodlines that we have had in the family for many years."
Mr Stoten, who established the Karinya stud in 2024, said he bought Riverina Ulysses on the balance of his pedigree and phenotype.
"He was the impact sire in the run," Mr Stoten said.
"His lower birthweight and slightly narrower frame were as important to us as his all-round quality, given we he will be joined to maiden heifers."
"We will flush females to him, and he will mop up in a herd of about 20."
The top bull in the Nioa family's run, Nioa Van, sold for $32,000 to Ian and Karen Heckendorf of Auburn Farming, Trangie, NSW.
Bill and Dallas Scott of the 270,000-hectare MacDonald Downs Station, near Hart, NT, bought the largest number of lots through the ring, with 12 head for an average of $11,833.
Ms Scott said 40 of the couple's existing bulls had reached the end of their working life, and they were looking to restock.
"We looked closely at the bulls' breeding and were in the market for polled genetics," she said.
"We picked up eight bulls at the Bullamakinka sale earlier this week, and another 10 here by private sale in addition to the bulls through the ring.
"They will have a spell in Longreach on their way back to the station, then we will join them with Santa Gertrudis females later this year."
APL Casino Kyogle agent Andrew Summerville said the polled bulls stole the show.
"Significant interest from new and returning buyers, in polled bulls in particular, delivered a very pleasing result today," Mr Summerville said.
"The good season in bidders' areas and the firm cattle market is giving people the confidence to invest in genetics.
"Many bulls will go back to Northern Rivers, western areas, and even the Northern Territory."
A total of 10 from 13 heifers sold through the ring for an average of $4429.
Riverina Umeka was the top-price heifer, selling for $6000 to Nigel Ellevsen of the Iconic Santa Gertrudis Stud in Woodenbong.
Three sets of 10 semen straws sold for an average of $283 per straw.
Individually, Nioa sold 37 of 38 bulls to average $12,784 while Riverina Santa Gertrudis sold 37 of 39 to average $9784.
- Agents: Nutrien Livestock, George and Fuhrmann, and AuctionsPlus.
