Yulgilbar Santa Gertrudis stud record becomes a selling season highlight
Correct and capable Santa Gertrudis genetics drove Queensland studs to record bids at the 2025 Yulgilbar bull sale at Baryulgil on Friday.
All of the 58 Santa Gertrudis sires sold, making an average of $13,818, with the best price returning $94,000 for the classified S bull, Yulgilbar United Kingdom U318.
The 22-month-old son of Darr Creek Serengeti S100, from a Yulgilbar dam with Caradona Patterson blood, presented for sale day at 832 kilograms, with a 38 centimetre scrotal circumference and a lifetime average daily weight gain of 1.10kg. He recorded an eye muscle area of 128 square centimetres and scanned with 5.8 per cent intramuscular fat.
Ian and Kerry Walker, Strathmore Santa Gertrudis stud at Blackall, Qld, went the distance in the sale barn against Tom Dunlop, Dunlop Cattle Co at Proston, Qld, bidding down the phone, to eventually secure the season highlight for the Santa Gertrudis breed.
"I like his type. I like his skin. He is very correct," said Mr Walker, who will use him in stud duties.
Strathmore stud began in 1959, registered number 65 by Lloyd Walker, as one of five family studs run by brothers.
To put that in perspective, the first Santa Gertrudis in Australia were imported from King Ranch in Texas, USA to Queensland in 1952. Yulgilbar, stud number 13, was registered in 1954.
"The breed suits our environment," said Mr Walker. "They can walk out. We have big paddocks."
Serengeti's sons continued to attract top competition, with the homozygous poll Yulgilbar Underbelly U116, from a daughter of Cardona Patterson, fetching $57,000 and going to repeat clients the Speed family, Brigodoon Cattle Company at Eurombah via Taroom, Qld.
Weighing 945kg at 25 months, the homozygous poll recorded 1.16kg ADG, 143cmsq EMA and 6pc IMF.
Underbidders for those top-priced Serengeti sons were his breeders, Abbey and Bella Franz, who with their brother Mitch, own Darr Creek Santa Gertrudis at Jandowae, Qld. They had to go to $50,000 for another Serengeti son in Yulgilbar Urban U110, 853kg at 25 months, with 1.04kg lifetime ADG, and 135sq cm EMA.
"We sold Serengeti too early," said Bella Franz, whose family backgrounds steers. "We wanted to get some of him back."
The story of how Darr Creek Serengeti infused the 2025 draft of Yulgilbar bulls goes back to this trio of teenage siblings, who fell in love with the breed at a Santa Gertrudis youth camp. They won and were gifted stud blood and presented the eye-appealing sire at Roma's Heartland sale in 2022.
Yulgilbar manager Brett Ellem was attending and took a liking to the promising sire, eventually landing in a tussle with Scott Dunlop, from Dunlop Santa Gertrudis stud, to win the exciting bloodline for $52,500.
Volume buyer Tony Schutt, Arrabury Pastoral with vast country in Queensland's channel country, bought six bulls to average $11,333 and top at $18,000 for Yulgilbar Uber U122, also by the Darr Creek surprise sire, with an EMA of 135sq cm combined with IMF at 7.4pc.
"We are certified organic and we like to grow out our calves to bullocks," said the breeder with 40 years' experience. "Santa Gertrudis calves grow out and stay strong all the way through.
"We also sell young calves to Coles and they are happy with the feedback on MSA and IMF. The carcase quality is getting better and better as a breed all the time."
The sale was hosted by George and Fuhrmann with Innes Fahey, Rocky Creek, calling the bids in time honoured fashion, while StockLive handled the online traffic.
