Top-price Yarrawonga buyers snap up bull they've had their eye on since Ekka
The 66th annual Yarrawonga Santa Gertrudis Sale kicked off with a bang at Wallumbilla on Wednesday, September 24, with the opening lot and top price bull heading to buyers who have wanted to take him home since the Royal Queensland Show.
Yarrawonga Pablo V46 sold for $90,000 to Scott and Wendy Ferguson, Glen Oaks stud, Nobby, in partnership with Luke and Carly Baker, Annabranch Santa stud, Wandoan.
Sired by Waco Massi M384 and out of Yarrawonga Jazz Q365, the 29-month-old bull weighed in at 1122kg, had an EMA of 154 square centimetres, 10mm of rib fat and 13mm of rump fat.
The 2025 Yarrawonga sale improved in all areas from last year, where 186 from 188 bulls sold for a $12,723 average and a $85,000 top.
This year all 152 bulls sold for a $13,974 average and an overall gross of $2.124,000.
Top-price buyers Luke Baker and Scott Ferguson said they had been waiting for the opportunity to purchase Yarrawonga Pablo V46 since August.
While the bull didn't place in the Santa ring, he made an impression.
"We actually noticed him at the Brisbane show; that was where we first saw him," Mr Ferguson said.
"He was just a big upstanding bull, and he was pretty hard to fault, really."
"He was a quiet, beautifully natured bull," Mr Baker added.
"You could just walk right up to him and pat him."
Bidding was red hot on Yarrawonga Pablo V46, and Mr Baker and Mr Ferguson said they were glad to come out on top.
"It was a pleasant surprise to be able to bring him home, that's for sure," Mr Baker said.
As Mr Ferguson and Mr Baker join at different times, they said they would share the cover of their top-price purchase accordingly.
"We'll probably both get to use him this year, over the next few months, so between now and Christmas," Mr Ferguson said.
Mr Ferguson and Mr Baker purchased three bulls in total for a $36,000 average.
Also selling well was the second top-price bull, Yarrawonga Picaso V104, who was purchased for $55,000 by Daniel and Kasey Phillips, Murgona Santa stud, Taroom.
There was very strong volume buying at the sale, with the Hill family, Oakey Park Pastoral, Dirranbandi, purchasing 14 bulls for an average of $14,143.
KF and SE Southern, Secret Plains, St George, purchased 13 bulls for an average of $8000.
The state member for Gregory, Sean Dillon, also commanded bidding at the sale, taking home eight bulls for an average of $18,000.
Yarrawonga stud principal Andrew Bassingthwaighte said he was pleased with the day's results, especially among commercial buyers.
"To see commercial buyers hitting them at $8000 is just a great result," he said.
"I know the market has turned up and improved for everyone now, and you're just starting to see a bit of that money flow into your bulls.
"People today were able to buy good bulls for good value and money, and I hope they're all going to be very happy when they get them all together and get them home."
Mr Bassingthwaighte said the top-price bull was one of the best Yarrawonga had produced, and he was pleased to see him sell to Mr Baker and Mr Ferguson.
"The cow he is out of goes back to an interbreed champion, and Waco Massi, who was an interbreed champion bull and in a breeders group at Beef, and the combination is just incredible," he said.
"He's going to do a great job, and I would just like to thank the Ferguson family and the Baker family for their purchase, and I believe he is just going to be an outstanding bull."
- Selling agents: Elders and KellCo, interfaced with AuctionsPlus
