Donaldson Family Sale grosses $1.35m as averages lift $2608 on last year's result

The Donaldson family of Medway Droughtmasters and Donaldson Beefmasters of Bogantungan recorded their strongest on-property sale result to date on Friday, September 26, selling 98 bulls to gross $1.35 million.

It was their Beefmaster bulls that averaged higher than their Droughtmaster offering for the first time since the on-property sale began in 2023.

Vendors Hastings and Sandra Donaldson, along with their family, witnessed a near full clearance, selling all but one of their 99 bulls at auction for an average of $13,780, an increase of $2608 on last year's result.

Of that offering, 65 out of 66 Droughtmaster bulls sold, representing a 99pc clearance, with an average of $13,638 and a top price of $35,000.

The top price of $35,000 was achieved for Medway Hop On, a 23-month-old homozygous polled, registered Droughtmaster bull, which sold into stud duties to return client, John Atkinson of Glenavon Droughtmasters, Yaamba.

The Eli Park Frisky son weighed 802 kilograms and scanned a P8 and rib fat measurement of 6 mm and 9 mm respectively, an eye muscle area of 135 square centimetres, and an intramuscular fat reading of 5.3 per cent.

Mr Atkinson said he purchased Medway genetics in the past and was confident they would perform well in his own stud herd.

"(Medway Hop On) is a bull that carries his head above his shoulders, which I think is very important. That's a sign of pride," he said.

"He's a beautiful sheath bull, and he carries the muscling that we strive for in our own herd.

"We haven't had a Medway sire for a fair while now. The Donaldsons run a good herd of cattle that are bred on the same philosophy, which is that we breed our cattle commercially."

The first son sired by the $210,000 Glenlands Dubbo, Medway Haviland, sold for $34,000 to WT Rural, Dingo, via phone bidding.

The horned, 23-month-old sire prospect weighed 812kg. He recorded P8 and rib fat measurements of 8 mm and 13 mm respectively, an EMA of 137 sq cm, and an IMF reading of 5.3 per cent.

The six sons of Glenlands Dubbo offered in the sale averaged $16,166.

The growing popularity of Beefmasters saw the Donaldsons include an additional 12 Beefmaster bulls in this year's sale draft, a move that was met with strong demand from the buyers' gallery.

All 33 Beefmasters sold, achieving a 100pc clearance rate and averaging $14,061, up $4011 on the 2024 average, with a top price of $34,000.

Neil and Narelle Angus, their son Kurt and daughter-in-law, Mellissa Angus, from Hillside Droughtmasters, Dawson Vale Station, Belyando, paid $34,000 to secure the top-priced Beefmaster bull, Coorooman Archie, offered by Will Haviland of Sugarland Beefmasters, Coowonga.

The 24-month-old polled sire prospect was sired by CF Unico 219/1.

He weighed 828kg, scanned 6 mm and 8 mm for P8 and rib fats respectively, and recorded an EMA of 124 sq cm.

This is the first time the Angus family has introduced Beefmaster genetics into their Droughtmaster herd.

Kurt Angus said it was the consistency of the draft that drew them to the sale.

"The Donaldson Beefmasters were consistent all the way through, as you can see by the average," he said.

"They were solid from one end to the other.

"We've never had a Beefmaster sire before. We just thought we'd give it a go and buy a couple of good ones and see how they cross out and see what they look like.

"I can see only good things coming from it."

The Angus' also paid $25,000 to secure DB Eagle Rock, a 22-month-old homozygous polled Beefmaster sire, bred by Donaldson Beefmasters.

Bulls were sold right across Queensland, reaching a wide range of areas including Charters Towers, Springsure, Alpha, Jericho, Yaamba, Banana, Bogantungan, Mount Grant, Anakie, Dingo, Gumlu, Rolleston, Windorah, Emerald, Injune, Winton, Clermont, Woolooga, Comet, Orange Creek, Nebo, and Julia Creek.

The top volume buyer on the day was Morganbury Pastoral Co, Charters Towers, who spent $101,000 to secure eight Droughtmaster bulls at an average price of $12,625.

Return clients, the Dmitrieff family of Kurrajong Pastoral, Alpha, paid $116,000 for six Droughtmasters and one Beefmaster bull, averaging $16,571.

Doce Pty Ltd, Injune, secured five Droughtmaster bulls at an average price of $8000, while the Malones at Mount Grant Droughtmasters, Mount Grant, purchased five Droughtmaster bulls at an average price of $11,000.

• Agents: GDL with StockLive.