Independent marks a major day for one stud at Bunya Droughtmaster Sale

Selective buying from astute cattlemen from as far as Moonie, Ilfracombe, the Wide Bay, Brisbane Valley and South Burnett set the pace at the annual Bunya Droughtmaster Sale at Coolabunia saleyards on Saturday, September 6.

Co-selling agent and auctioneer Simon Kinbacher, GDL, Rockhampton, said the vendors presented a quality run of bulls, while buyers were selective in their selections and purchases.

"We found the buyers were prepared to pay for quality over quantity, and we had buyers select a dearer lot over several cheaper bulls," Mr Kinbacher said.

In all, a total of 44 bulls sold from 61 offered for a top price of $24,000 to average $7852, representing a 72 per cent clearance.

In 2024, the same sale resulted in 55 bulls from 77 offered sold to a top price of $13,000 and averaged $6818.

Topping the sale in 2025 was Major Independent, a 19-month-old homozygous poll son of Billabong Joey 933 and Major Iris from the Brooks family, Wivenhoe Pocket.

The successful buyers were Lindsay and Lyn Philp, Sevenell Droughtmasters, Bell.

Mr Philp said his daughter, Inga Hayes, had told him the afternoon before the sale, he was 'the pick of the sale bulls'.

He said when he inspected him the morning of the sale, he agreed with her.

Mr and Mrs Philp run 120 stud females and said their new purchase would be joined over Vale View Diesel's daughters.

"We normally sell our bulls at the Roma Droughtmaster sale, and at the Fitzroy Crossing sale in Western Australia," he said.

Bec Brooks said Major Independent had been a standout, and he came from one of their favourite female lines.

"I have both his dam and his grand dam in our breeding herd," Mrs Brooks said.

It marked a big day for Major who averaged $12,666 for three bulls.

David and Colleen Smith, Vale View Droughtmasters Manumbar sold the next best priced bull at $22,000.

Vale View Hayes 2 was bought by the Rawlinon family, Jinghi, via Jandowae.

He was by Vale View Einstine 2 and from the Vale View Unmistakable female.

Rangeview Droughtmasters, Traveston sold Rangview Forged, a homozygous poll son of Angle Zed for $20,000 to Herb Perkins and family, Tiaro.

Roger Underwood, now of the Scenic Rim, and formally of Pine Hills, Wallumbilla was active on behalf of Becky and Larry Farquhar, Calco and Eljay Droughtmasters, Rolleston and paid $17,000 for Tomawill Innate, a homozygous poll son of Wallace Vale Jonah.

The Underwoods recently sold a portion of their Eversleigh and Wallace Vale stud cows and calves to the Farquhars as part of downsizing of their breeding herd. The have also sold their commercial breeeders and the Wallumbilla property.

Volume buyer was Shane Jones, Padua, Ilfracombe, who secured four bulls to average $7000 through StockLive.

Vendor averages (two or more sold under the hammer)

Caldy: 4/4 average $7625

By Mingo: 3/3 average $9666

Diamond Hills: 3/3 average $6000

Major: 3/3 average $12,666

Nindethana Pastoral: 4/5 average $5000

RSVP: 3/4 average $5666

Rangeview: 4/4 average $11,000

Seymour: 4/4 average $6000

Tomawill: 3/3 average $9666

Vale View: 5/5 average $9800

• Selling agents: GDL, Aussie Land and Livestock, Stocklive