Repeat buyers get top bull again at the 2025 Western Downs Santa Group sale
The top-price bull at the ninth annual Western Downs Santa Group bull and female sale sold to Taroom producers who previously paid the peak price in 2021.
About 100 people filled the stands at the Dalby saleyards on a sunny and at times windy Friday, September 12.
Bidders joined in person and online from local areas around the Darling Downs and Burnett, north to Clermont, and west to Quilpie.
A total of 61 bulls from 78 sold through the ring for a 78 per cent clearance, and an average of $9640, helping to deliver a gross sale value of $633,000.
By comparison, 51 from 69 bulls sold in 2024 for a 74pc clearance, an average of $9137, and a top price of $25,000.
Fierce bidding early saw four of the first 20 lots sell for $18,000, and isolated bids of $12,000 and above continued throughout the sale.
Ian and Felicity Shaw of Glen Leigh Santa Gertrudis, Wellington Vale, NSW, sold Glen Leigh Upgrade to Jan Clark and John Robbins of Daandine Pastoral Company, Taroom, for the top price of $22,000.
He was 25 months old, homozygous polled, and weighed 922 kilograms.
He had an eye muscle area of 135 square centimetres, scrotal circumference of 40cm, intramuscular fat of 6.0 per cent, as well as P8 and rib fat measurements of 21 and 10 millimetres.
Glen Leigh Upgrade was one of two bulls Ms Clark and Mr Robbins bought for an average of $20,000.
Mr Robbins said the couple were looking for bulls with a good temperament, good scan figures, and the ability to perform on tougher country.
"We wanted mature bulls who could go out and serve females from day one if needed," he said.
"Glen Leigh Upgrade ticked these boxes.
"He will run on forest country around Taroom, and will be joined naturally with the older cows in our herd."
Ms Shaw said Upgrade was among the first progeny from a sire the couple advertised online as "probably the best bull that we have ever bred".
"His sire, Glen Leigh Upgrade, is also a well-balanced animal with good eye appeal, temperament, and a dark coat," Ms Shaw said.
"His dam, Glen Leigh Nadia, has the traits we strive for in our cow lines.
"She has a good frame, fertility, and the ability to perform in a range of conditions."
All six females were sold through the ring for a 100pc clearance, and an average of $5500.
The Maskall family of Homeleigh Santa Gertrudis, Bringalily, sold Homeleigh Versace and her calf-at-foot to the Adams family, Dangarfield Santa Gertrudis, Taroom, for the top price of $7000.
Sonie Crumpton and family, based at Kingaroy, bought the largest number of lots through the ring with eight head for an average of $6125.
Mr Crumpton said he was a long-time supporter of the Western Downs Santa Group sale, having attended for more than five years.
"We bought enough bulls today to top up our herd of a couple of thousand breeders for the remainder of the season," he said.
"These bulls will go straight out into paddocks with breeders, on natural pastures and cropping country in a rotation with peanuts."
Most attendees were repeat buyers, according to GDL Dalby livestock manager Anthony O'Dwyer.
"There was a strong showing from local areas and into the Burnett, with buyers also travelling from western and central Queensland," Mr O'Dwyer said.
"Buyers were selective today: they were willing to pay good prices for top-quality articles, but there was also plenty of value on offer.
"It helps that the commercial cattle market has been firm, and the season has been reasonable in most areas."
- Agents: Grant Daniel Long and StockLive.
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Vendor averages - bulls
Burramurra: 3/3 average $6667
Byac: 2/2 average $9000
Denngal: 4/6 average $9000
DSB: 3/4 average $5333
Glenelg: 5/5 average $8400
Glen Leigh: 10/10 average $12,100
Hayleigh: 14/18 average $12,033
Homeleigh: 4/4 average $5750
Triple S: 16/20 average $10,875
Woodmillar: 2/4 average $6000
Warrillee: 4/6 average $8500
