Nebo commercial outfit bucks trend, targets high-end horned bulls at Brahman Week
Bucking the industry trend, Nebo-based commercial operation Lake Elphinstone targeted high-quality horned bulls at this year's Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale.
Lake Elphinstone manager Darren Gillham was among the bulk commercial buyers investing a total of $93,000 to secure seven horned bulls, both grey and red, at an average cost of $13,285.70 per sire.
"We were looking for horned bulls with frame, bone structure, loose flanks and ribs, and plenty of room to grow," Mr Gillham said.
"Good weight for age was also a key factor."
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Their standout purchase was Big River C Trooper, a 24-month-old grey bull sired by NCC Sapporo, which attracted the highest price of $22,000.
Other bulls were secured at prices ranging from $9000 to $18,000, including grey bulls like Moongool Mr 835 ($18,000), Little Creek Spartan ($12,000), and Hazelton Macarthur 6604 (IVF) ($11,000), alongside red bulls Wandilla Quadrille 843/0 ($12,000), Wandilla Quadrate 840/0 ($9000), and Wandilla Qatar 831/0 ($9000).
Asked why Lake Elphinstone focused on horned bulls rather than polled, Mr Gillham said their ability to lay down weight more easily was a big factor.
"I've found that horned bulls still carry plenty of weight. There's more weight in horn cattle than in polled cattle," he said.
"The feeder cattle we market go to other bullock fatteners who get the growth way down quicker. They want to get their weight gains up fast so they can sell off earlier.
"The horned bulls turn over quicker, especially for weight for age."
Mr Gillham said he sometimes paid a premium for top-horned bulls, but it was worth it.
"You just had to pick out the bulls you wanted. There were bulls I wanted but couldn't get because they made good money, which is great for the vendor," he said.
"Some of the younger bulls will be put over our first-calf heifers to start with, and the bigger red bulls will join our red breeder commercial herd."
Lake Elphinstone's commercial operation runs across 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) west of Nebo.
Their herd is Brahman-based, combining Brahman and composite bulls, a strategy that has worked well for them in the central Queensland cattle markets and meatworks.
"We aim for feeder cattle averaging 380 to 400 kilograms liveweight, while our big Charolais cross bullocks target 680 to 740 kilograms liveweight," Mr Gillham said.
Lake Elphinstone has been a regular attendee at Brahman Week, sourcing quality bulls for at least 30 years now.
"I love looking at all the bulls on offer, picking out the structure you want, and catching up with the people who breed them," Mr Gillham said.
