Genetic gold: Droughtmaster bull draws global attention after record-breaking sale
Less than a week after making headlines at the Droughtmaster National Sale, the $280,000 Oasis A Cracker Jack might have paid for himself, if the interest in semen is any indication to go by.
The 23-month-old homozygous polled bull, bred by Adam Geddes of Oasis A Droughtmasters, Dingo, was purchased by long-time friends and return clients Sam and Jane Barton of Huntly Droughtmasters, Rolleston, on the final day of the 2025 sale.
Now, with Cracker Jack temporarily stationed at a bovine reproduction centre for semen collection, Mr Barton said the interest had been pouring in both domestically and overseas.
"We've had international interest and also just strong domestic interest-from Western Australia right through to Queensland," he said.
"I figured that with a sire like that, people are going to want access to those genetics at some point. I just didn't realise how quickly it was going to come at me.
"We haven't said anything or done any advertising-they've come to us.
"It definitely looks like a big chunk of it is going to be paid back through semen sales moving forward."
The Bartons plan to keep a tight hold on the bull's genetic exclusivity, at least in the early stages.
"We haven't done a deal with anyone yet," Mr Barton said.
"It's all just wait and see how he collects. At the same time, we want to have some sort of security on those genetics breeding back into the future.
"We don't want everyone having access to it; that takes away the reason why we bought him in the first place.
"We're keeping it close to our chest for the first year, get the first natural sons on the ground, then we'll go forward from there."
Prior to his sale, breeder Adam Geddes, Oasis A Droughtmasters stud, Dingo, collected just under 300 straws from Cracker Jack to use in their AI program.
Cracker Jack is expected to return to natural mating duties at the Barton's Rolleston property this spring, once enough semen is stored for security.
Talk around the industry suggests semen sales may already be approaching over $100,000, though the Bartons haven't confirmed any figures.
In the eyes of Mr Barton and others in the industry, Cracker Jack is a once-in-a-generation sire.
"Those sort of bulls don't get bred every year," he said.
"I've heard people older than I am saying they've never seen a bull that good. You've just got to pounce when they come and use the genetics however you can-live cover or AI.
"I'm hearing people talking about him over in America. He's definitely made a splash.
"A large commercial breeder came to us straight after the sale and indicated they want a fair bit of semen, too."
