Bidding frenzy ends in $90,000 hammer drop for standout red sire on final day of RBWS

There was no question who the standout red bull was on the final day of this year's Rockhampton Brahman Week, and when the bidding reached $90,000, it confirmed just how determined buyers were to secure him.

The red top price for 2025 was set by Jileaba Webb, offered by Reade and Jill Radel of Injune, whose draft drew strong interest throughout the day.

The successful purchasers, Scott and Coralie Sorley, Mt Callan Brahmans, Dalby, knew exactly what they were after and said the bull fit the brief perfectly.

"(Jileaba Webb) is very correct and carrying a lot of weight, evenly distributed, with a beautiful disposition," Mr Sorley told Queensland Country Life.

"We admired his top line, hindquarters, structural soundness... good sheath, good testicles; he just ticked all the boxes. This is what we've been trying to find for a long time."

The 23-month-old son of Tarramba Topshelf 4174 and Jileaba 0738 was knocked down to repeat clients, the Sorley family, after a fast-paced bidding war with underbidders, the Williams family, Riverside Pastoral Co, Nebo.

The young sire prospect tipped the scales at 922 kilograms and measured 40 centimetres in the scrotum.

He scanned 146 square centimetres at the eye muscle area, 14 mm and 10mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, and 4.8pc for intramuscular fat.

The newly purchased sire will now head to Rocky Repro, where he will be collected for artificial insemination.

"We'll use him in an AI program and try to get as many calves by him as we can," Mr Sorley said.

Having previously purchased bulls from the same stud, Mr Sorley said the consistent quality of their cattle gave him full confidence in the purchase.

"The Radels have done an awesome job. We've bought great bulls from them before. It's good to keep going that way. The quality of their cattle is second to none," he said.

The Sorley family runs a fully red Brahman operation, managing between 350 and 400 breeders in their stud program.

Three other red sires were knocked down for $50,000.

Ben and Sally Sweetland, Sweetland Grazing Company Pty Ltd, Samari S Brahmans, Roma, sold Samari S Napoleon, for $50,000 to Peter and Joy Newman, Emerald, in three-quarter share, full possession.

Sired by Mt Callan Victor 22/21 and out of Samari S Dolly 188, the homozygous polled 23-month-old weighed in at 843kg, and measured 38cm in scrotal circumference.

He scanned 136sq cm for EMA, 14mm and 12mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, and 7.2pc for IMF.

Samari S sold all four bulls for an average $28,250.

They may have been the last in the catalogue to sell their bulls on day three, but the Johnson family of Jomanda Brahmans, based near Grafton, New South Wales, finished on a high.

The stud sold all six bulls for an impressive average of $32,333, including two red bulls, each reaching $50,000.

Their strong result contributed significantly to lifting both the red bulls and day three sale averages.

A son of the $120,000 Kariboe Valley Ventura, Jomanda Untouchable, sold for $50,000 to the Scott family, Rosetta Grazing, Yacamunda Investments, Collinsville.

Out of NCC Lady Ella 5243, the 25-month-old homozygous polled bull weighed in at 930kg and measured 42cm in scrotal circumference.

He scanned 148sq cm for EMA, 14mm and 9mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, and 5.7pc for IMF.

Two lots later, Jomanda U-Bet, also sold for $50,000 to the Burnett family, Bendemeer Brahmans, Clermont.

Sired by $200,000 Fairy Springs Royal Flush 6123, which sold three years ago at Rockhampton Brahman Week, and out of Jomanda HJ Cindy 1065, the 25-month-old weighed in at 884kg and measured 38cm in scrotal circumference.

He scanned 144sq cm for EMA, 13mm and 8mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fats, and 5pc for IMF.

RBWS 2025 wrap-up

This year's RBWS saw 712 of 759 bulls sold over the three-day event, achieving a 94 per cent clearance rate, up 3 per cent on 2024.

The average sale price surged by 14.7 per cent to reach $11,540, compared to $10,061 in 2024, while gross revenue climbed by more than $1.32 million to total $8.22 million, up 19.2 per cent year-on-year.

Greys led the sale in volume and value, with 402 of 420 bulls sold, improving on 2024's 94 per cent clearance to hit 95.7 per cent, while increasing the number sold by 27 head.

The average price for greys jumped 16.4 per cent, from $9717 last year to $11,308, delivering a gross of $4.55 million, up nearly $902,000 year-on-year.

A new benchmark was set with a top price of $120,000, a full $50,000 above 2024's high of $70,000.

Red bulls recorded solid gains, with 310 of 339 offered bulls selling, matching last year's volume but with a clearance rate lifting to 91.4 per cent, up from 87 per cent in 2024, a 4.4 pc point increase.

The average price for reds rose by 13 per cent, up from $10,477 in 2024 to $11,840, generating a gross of $3.67 million, an increase of $422,400.

Elders stud stock manager Michael Smith said the results from the 2025 Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale reflected the strength and maturity of the sale.

"It's the biggest bull sale in the Southern Hemisphere, and the results this year have been phenomenal," he said.

"The really pleasing thing is that better-quality cattle are now starting to attract the premium they deserve in the marketplace."

While the market dynamics have shifted since 2022, Mr Smith noted that bulls with highly sought-after genetics, correct structure, and strong breed type were clearly making a premium.

"Buyers are still being selective, but there's a strong appetite for the right bulls," he said.

"It's a great sale for the Brahman breed, it really is the showcase of the breed, and to achieve such strong results over that number of cattle is fantastic."

He acknowledged there was still excellent value throughout the catalogue.

"There was plenty of good buying to be had between $4000 and $10,000; they weren't all making over $20,000," Mr Smith said.

The overall sale high was set on day one, Monday, September 7, when Tony and Kathryn Mortimer's Token Playboy sold for $120,000 to Peter and Joy Newman, Rathlyn Brahman stud, owned by Laglan Pastoral Company Pty Ltd, Emerald and Clermont.

He was a son of the $210,000 Clukan Baobab and out of the $30,000 NCC Jusitfied daughter Elrose Bling and boasted a 90 per cent morphology test.

Underbidder on the bull was Northern Vet Services, Goolalingo, NT.

On day two, prices peaked at $70,000.

Selling agents: GDL, Elders and Nutrien, simulcast on Stocklive.

Full sale wrap-up in next week's Queensland Country Life newspaper.