CQ Premier Charolais Sale a major success as one vendor averages over $18,000

The CQ Premier Charolais Bull Sale lived up to its name on Thursday, September 11, when all bulls were cleared for an impressive average.

In its fourth year, the sale saw all 56 bulls sell to average $15,339, top at $28,000 and gross $859,000.

That was up on the solid results of 2024 when all 59 bulls sold to average $13,500, top at $28,000 and gross $778,500.

Bulls were offered at CQLX Gracemere by four vendors: Stephen and Alison Kajewski, Bettafield stud, Gindie; Ian and Katrina Bebbington, Mountview stud, Cambooya; James and Aleshia Pisaturo, Veejay Downs stud, Dingo; and David, Helen, Benn and Jemma Reid, Reids stud, Haly Creek.

All four studs shared in the glory, especially the Reid family, who sold all 23 of their bulls to average $18,608.

Among them was the $28,000 sale topper, Reids Utah, secured by Dillon Scott, Yacamunda Investments, Collinsville.

The 25-month-old son of full French sire, Ayr Egan's Ando, and out of a well-regarded dam line, Reids Sophie Q75E, was used as a yearling over 60 cows.

In terms of estimated breeding values, he was in the top one per cent for retail beef yield, top 3pc for eye muscle area, top 8pc for carcase weight, top 15pc for 600-day weight and top 20pc for mature cow weight.

He weighed 1010 kilograms, had P8 and rib fat depths of eight and six millimetres, a 151 square centimetre eye muscle area, 5pc intramuscular fat paired with 40 centimetre scrotum and 90pc motile semen.

Yacamunda Investments, an aggregation of 180,000 acres with around 14,000 breeding cows, will use Reids Utah over red Brahman cows to breed Charbray bulls.

Mr Scott said it was their first time buying a Reids bull.

He was attracted to the stud given their focus on breeding red factor cattle, with 64pc of the catalogue red factor and 93pc polled.

"I just liked his shape, and I'm chasing a red factor bull," he said.

"He's got good meat, good legs, good EMA; overall, a good, solid bull.

"We are chasing some more Charolais bulls and crossbreding bulls...for a feeder operation."

Bettafield sold all 13 bulls to average $14,230, Veejay Downs sold all 12 to average $13,333 and Mountview's eight averaged $10,750.

Prior to the sale, Veejay Downs stud principal James Pisaturo told the crowd that feedback from buyers was that the bulls were standing up very well in really harsh conditions.

That was reflected in the number of north west and central west buyers, many of them active online throughout the sale.

Around 33 per cent or 19 bulls were secured on Stocklive Elite.

They included Andrew Richardson, Namarva Station, Winton, who nabbed four averaging $15,000 as did Steve Burnett, Clermont, for an average of $14,500.

Mark Delahunty, Hughenden, secured three online, averaging $13,333, as did Tim East, Winton, for an average of $17,333.

Back in the stands, Bryce Camm, Camm Ag Group, Bowenville, won the battle on six bulls averaging $16,333.

Also securing three were Moorvale Pastoral Co, Nebo, averaging $18,000, and RH Perrett, Rolleston, with three averaging $14,666.

Reids Charolais stud principal, David Reid, said they had been concentrating on breeding skins that were suitable for the north.

"We're trying to breed them slick coated and we're also breeding them in the ticks, which I think's helping," he said.

He said it was the best sale they'd had since coming to Gracemere.

"We're just trying to breed cattle that are commercially viable and that'll hopefully put a bit of extra money in the pockets of the buyers when they sell their progeny," he said.

"Carcase weight is a big deal, and weight for age is a big deal, and over tropical-bred cattle, they are a perfect sort of animal to make them better or to improve their performance.

"They're just efficient in feedlots and they almost go together like steak and chips."

• Selling agents: GDL, with Stocklive Elite