Fourth time's a charm at Dangarfield for persistent Santa underbidder
After three sales as an underbidder on top priced bulls, the fourth time proved a charm for a local producer at the 37th annual Dangarfield Cattle Company Santa Gertrudis sale, held on-property at Kingswood, Taroom, on Tuesday, September 9.
Continuing a successful day of Santa Gertrudis sales, many bidders went to Dangarfield from the Dawson Valley sale held at the Taroom Showgrounds earlier in the day.
Described by Dangarfield stud principal Ben Adams as a pretty perfect sale result, all 50 bulls sold for a 100 per cent clearance, a $14,160 average, and an overall sale gross of $708,000.
For comparison, at the 2024 Dangarfield sale, 46 of 51 bulls sold for a 92 per cent clearance and a $14,097 average, peaking at $35,000.
After a round of intense bidding, the top-priced bull in 2025, Dangarfield Hemi, was ultimately taken home for $40,000 by Ken and Jackie Knudsen, Kilbeggan, Taroom.
He was sired by Kilcock Kasper Q28 and out of Dangarfield 7090, weighed 878kg, had an eye muscle area of 140 square centimetres, and 9mm of rump fat and 6mm of rib fat.
Buyer Ken Knudsen said that after coming in as underbidder on the top-priced bull at three other sales this year, taking home Dangarfield Hemi definitely felt like a win.
"I tried to buy a couple of bulls earlier today, and was losing bidder on the top-priced bull in town [Dawson Valley sale]," he said.
"I missed out on a bull at Dunlop, I missed out on a bull at Bullamakinka, and they were all top-priced bulls, so we finally got one."
Mr Knudsen said the bull caught his eye as it was horned and had good structure.
"I haven't been to Dangarfield in a long time, we used to buy a heap of bulls, so I thought we'd come back and have a look," he said.
"He was a nice bull, and I like the horned cattle probably a bit more than the polled.
"He was just a good, structurally sound bull."
Based 100km south east of Taroom, Mr Knudsen runs a commercial operation over 65,500 acres [26,305 hectares].
"We would run about 6000-6500 [head]," he said.
"Mainly all Santas; we buy in a few if we've got a bit of new feed.
"[When we turn off], nearly everything goes as a fat to Teys at Beenleigh, and if it is a little bit dry, we will try and sell some feeders."
Choosing to run Santas because they suit his country, Mr Knudsen said his new bull would be put to work with heifers once he got him home.
"We'll just get him home and wait until we put the bulls out in another couple of weeks, and I'll put him in with some heifers that we've picked out," he said.
"They don't get any special treatment when they're at home, so they'll just go out with the rest."
Dangarfield stud principal Ben Adams said this year's sale attracted both new and return buyers, with the spread of bulls stretching from local buyers, to the South Burnett, up to Clermont, and as far south as NSW.
Mr Adams said Dangarfield Hemi was a 'sentimental favourite' of his, and he wasn't surprised he sold so well.
"We collected him to use on-farm in AI and IVF," he said.
"We could have easily retained him.
"He is a real strong throwback to his dam line.
"He's just beautifully natured, beautifully skinned, he's got a bit of power and a bit of cow performance."
Bulk buyers at the sale included Cassiopeia Cattle Company, Clermont, who purchased five head for an average of $22,400.
Richard and Kim Donner, Boxvale Cattle Company, Taroom, purchased four head for an average of $12,500, while GC and TE Nielson, Surat, purchased four head for an average of $8250.
- Selling agents: Nutrien and TopX
