Palgrove once again achieves impressive results at Chinchilla bull sale

There wasn't a single spare seat in sight when bidding kicked off in Chinchilla for the Palgrove Annual Bull Sale on Friday, September 12.

Held on-property at Glen Wilga Sale Complex for the third year in a row, the 2025 sale once again yielded impressive results.

Overall, all 179 bulls sold for a 100 per cent clearance, a $19,492 average, and a $3,489,000 gross.

In comparison, overall, at the 2024 sale, all 179 bulls cleared for an average of $19,765 and a total sale gross of $3,538,000.

In a further breakdown this year, 92 Charolais bulls sold for a 100 per cent clearance and a $20,239 average.

This included 75 two-year bulls that averaged $21,720, while 17 yearling Charolais bulls sold by the new Palgrove Charolais entity, owned by the Nolley and Dayley families, averaged $13,705 and topped at $40,000.

The top-price Charolais bull, Palgrove Underdog U1283, sold for $75,000 to Len and Sue Bode, Percol Plains, McKinlay.

The 25-month-old homozygous polled bull was sired by Palgrove Landmark and out of Palgrove Festoon L377E.

He weighed in at 958kg, had an eye muscle area of 144 square centimetres, 11mm of rump fat, and 7mm of rib fat.

The second-top-priced bull, Palgrove U Rock U1428, another homozygous polled Landmark son, sold for $70,000, and was purchased by Alan and Natalie Goodland, Clare Charolais, Theodore.

Of the Ultrablack lots, 80 sold for an $18,638 average, including 69 two-year-old bulls for a $19,145 average and 11 yearling Ultrablack for an average of $15,454.

The top-priced Ultrablack bull, Palgrove Untold U771, sold for $55,000 to Megan and Gerald Easton, Cameray Downs, Richmond.

The 26-month-old bull was sired by Palgrove Rock Solid ET and out of Palgrove Dream Q10.

He weighed in at 884kg, had an EMA of 127 square centimetres, 20mm of rump fat, and 13mm of rib fat.

There were seven Brangus bulls on offer, all of which sold for a $19,429 average.

Dan and Bec Radel, Burenda, Augathella, purchased the top-price Brangus bull, Palgrove Ultrasonic U743, for $34,000.

Weighing in at 844kg, he was sired by Suhn's Blueprint and out of Castle Lochrose M665.

The 24-month-old bull had an EMA of 127 square centimetres, with 12mm of rump fat, and 8mm of rib fat.

Bulk buyers at the sale included Simon and Mym Daley, Mineeda, Blackall, who purchased seven Charolais bulls for an average of $31,142.

BKM Pastoral Company, Taroom, purchased eight Ultrablack bulls for an average of $18,750.

Palgrove general manager Ben Noller said the 2025 sale yielded a solid result, and he was proud of the quality of the bulls.

"I think we had the quality of the bulls in the line this year," he said.

"I think the front end of both breeds was rewarded for the prices they reached.

"There was a lot of depth in the catalogue, and the average certainly reflects that."

Mr Noller said the sought-after genetics of the top-price Charolais bull, Palgrove Underdog, appealed to buyers, and said he was pleased to see who nabbed the top bid.

"It was good to see the Bode family back again," he said.

"I can remember them buying bulls when I was a kid going to the Palgrove sale.

"It's obviously worked well for them for many years, and it's great to see they're back in the top end.

"[Palgrove Underdog's] sire, Landmark, has been around for a while; he's been a proven bull.

"He's sold over 1.2 million dollars in progeny."

Callum Moore, manager at Glen Wilga, said it was a pretty fantastic result for his first sale at Glen Wilga.

When asked by Queensland Country Life what made the top-price Ultrablack bull, Palgrove Untold, so sought after, Mr Moore said he had something new to offer buyers.

"He's an ideal blend in terms of an Ultrablack," Mr Moore said.

"He's got that softness, got that stretch, he's got enough content in him, he's very clean through the sheath, and he's a very docile sort of bull.

"He's one of the bulls we'd collected for in-herd use prior to the sale...he's always stood out."

Nutrien studstock agent Colby Ede said continued interest in the Palgrove name contributed to the impressive results at Friday's sale.

"There was a lot of interest back in their Charolais cattle today, and the Ultrablacks were quite strong as well," Mr Ede said.

"There was a big gallery of buyers out of the north, central Queensland, right across from Townsville to the NT border, which is where the Palgrove brand has had a big buying clientele for a long, long time.

"It was a big, strong buying gallery, with sales back into New South Wales as well."

Mr Ede said the year's good weather, kind season, and strong cattle market performance also contributed to the good result.

"I think when those stars align, that definitely helps and makes our job easier," he said.

"People are really pinpointing what they want today.

"They like what they want, and they'll go right to the wire on them.

"A lot of commercial operators are taking bulls back to breed in their own operation at home as well.

"I think it's a testament to the Palgrove brand."

• Selling agents: Elders, Nutrien, George and Fuhrmann, and Hourn and Bishop.