Oasis A stud makes history, unleashes best pen of bulls in years at Droughtmaster National
Described by seasoned breeders and buyers as one of the best pens of bulls ever seen at the Droughtmaster National Sale, the Geddes family of Oasis A Droughtmasters stud, Dingo, has delivered a result for the ages at this year's sale.
Led by the record-breaking $280,000 sale of Oasis A Cracker Jack, the draft of 13 bulls averaged an impressive $72,884, rewriting the record books and solidifying the family's long-standing reputation for breeding elite Droughtmaster genetics.
For Oasis A Droughtmasters stud principal Adam Geddes, the sale result meant a lot to the family.
"This result means a lot to our family," Mr Geddes told Queensland Country Life.
"It's been a tough year for us, and it's just nice, just a moment, to get a little bit of good."
Selling to long-time friends and return buyers, Sam and Jane Barton of Huntly Droughtmasters, Rolleston, Cracker Jack set a new Droughtmaster National Sale record, surpassing the previous $220,000 benchmark - also held by the Geddes family, set in 2022 with Oasis A Long John.
Sired by the $18,000 Hamadra Harley and out of Oasis A Boom Town, the 23-month-old homozygous polled bull was a standout even before stepping into the ring.
He tipped the scales at 1015 kilograms, boasting a 151 square centimetre eye muscle area, a scrotal circumference of 39 centimetres and 5.1 per cent intramuscular fat.
Bidding started at $40,000 and climbed rapidly, with competition from several leading studs, before Huntly secured him with a winning bid after 32 bids in the crowd.
Sommer stud, Simmons Cattle Co, and Yaralla Droughtmasters stud were among the hopeful underbidders.
The bull was sold with a three-quarter share, full possession, and 25 straws of semen.
Sam Barton, of Huntly Droughtmasters, said he knew Cracker Jack was the bull he needed as soon as he saw him.
"You don't get these types of sires year in and year out," Mr Barton said.
"He's got everything the industry demands, whether you're breeding bullocks or bulls."
"I just knew I had to get in. I couldn't buy him tomorrow, there's not another one like him."
The Bartons previously bought a half-brother to Cracker Jack, also sired by Hamadra Harley, from Oasis A, and were impressed with the performance of his calves.
That history gave them the confidence to go all-in.
"Adam gave me a heads up last year, said he had a really good calf coming through. We've kept an eye on him ever since. It was an easy decision," he said.
Cracker Jack will now be collected at Rocky Repro before returning to the Bartons' Rolleston property.
He will join a line of females alongside his half-brother, with plans to build out further sire lines within the stud.
"We've built a strong relationship with Oasis over the last 10 years," Mr Barton said.
"The cattle are top-notch, but the people are even better and that makes all the difference."
Mr Geddes credited the outcome to the depth and consistency of this year's sale team, which featured multiple sons of proven sire Hamadra Harley.
"Just the consistency of them, from the first bull to the last, they had grunt, bone, length and meat. That's what we aim for," he said.
Elders auctioneer Anthony Ball described the sale as "phenomenal," and said the quality of bulls on offer played a key role in driving the strong market response.
Mr Ball said it was very hard to predict the top end, but he believed the bull could have made $220,000 to $230,000.
"We had to work the crowd a little, but when it hit $280,000, a new national sale record, that was a moment I won't forget," he said.
Across the two-day sale, a total of 328 of 384 bulls were sold, representing an 85 per cent clearance and a $16,315 average.
This result reflected a lift from 2024, where the average was $14,595 and the top price was $120,000.
Cracker Jack had been a standout since birth, but for Mr Geddes, it was the feedback from respected studs that reinforced his value.
"When you've got stud breeders who've been around a long time telling you he's one of the best they've seen in years... you never expect that kind of money, but it meant a lot to hear that," he said.
Mr Geddes said the family approach to breeding remained at the core of Oasis A's success.
"We love this industry, we love cattle, we love breeding them, and we're always thinking about how to improve," he said.
"With my kids, we love going down and seeing the calves and what they're doing. It's just something we love doing together."
Also among Oasis A's standout sales was Oasis A Goddam I'm Good, which sold for $120,000 to Fernie Cattle Co.
The polled/horned sire prospect was sired by the $62,500 Glenlands D Abor, the same sire behind the previous $220,000 record-holder, and entered the ring at 955 kilograms with a 44-centimetre scrotal circumference, 148 sq cm EMA and 5.6 per cent IMF.
Oasis A Ace of Hearts sold for $100,000 to the Barnes family of Waylanbar J Droughtmasters, Emerald.
The 22-month-old son of Hamadra Harley and Oasis A Fox weighed 884 kilograms and measured 154 sq cm EMA with 10mm and 8mm fat depths.
Another notable result in the sale ring was Lamont Xplorer, offered by Mac and Gayle Shann of Lamont Stud, Clermont, which sold for $80,000 to Lazy A Droughtmasters.
Sired by the $50,000 Yaralla Wallace, Xplorer weighed 935 kilograms, scanned 148 sq cm EMA, 5.6 per cent IMF, and measured 42 cm scrotal circumference.
Completing Oasis A's run of top sellers was Oasis A Bear on the Loose, which sold online for $70,000 to Rob Brown.
