From spinifex to sire power: 25yo's $30,000 Brahman bull buy at Rocky

From the spinifex country west of Alice Springs to the bright lights of Rockhampton, Will Weir travelled more than 2000 kilometres with a single goal in mind - to find the next sire for his young Brahman stud.

At just 25 years old, Mr Weir runs WTW Brahmans, a 120-cow stud program that sits inside the family's vast Ammaroo Station - a 12,000 square kilometre operation under Sandover Pastoral Company.

While his family's commercial herd numbers stretch across country bigger than some European nations, Mr Weir's stud is still in its growth phase.

"I've always had a love of Brahman cattle," he said.

"I started small, bought my first heifers in 2016, and registered the stud in 2020. It's just grown bigger and bigger, and I enjoy the challenge of trying to improve my cattle and take them to the next level."

Brahman Week was not unfamiliar territory. This was his fourth year buying at the sale, but this time the stakes were higher.

Mr Weir was in search of a stud sire to lift his program, and he had narrowed his focus to a handful of bulls.

Sale day came, and one stood out.

Lot 14, Raglan Mr Brooks, an IVF calf by Clukan Baobab and out of Raglan Ms Madalyn, carried himself with the presence Weir had been waiting for.

"He was the one I really wanted, and I was lucky to secure him for a lot less than what I thought I would have to pay to bring him home," he said.

"He was structurally sound with really good feet and legs, which is essential for my country.

"The bulls I sell have to walk long distances and cover big areas.

"He had a strong, polled head that was very appealing, but most importantly, he had that sire appeal.

"Being by Clukan Baobab was a real bonus, because he's bred very well.

"And the other big thing I noticed was his tidy underline, which is often very hard to find.

"To me, he was the complete package."

By the time the hammer fell at $30,000, Mr Weir had secured the bull that could become the next cornerstone of WTW Brahmans.

But the bidding didn't end there.

Acting on behalf of Sandover Pastoral Company, he also signed off on 10 grey Brahman bulls for $57,000, averaging $5700 apiece.

It marked the first time the family's station had purchased at Brahman Week, having previously supported Katherine-based sales or bought bulls out of the paddock.

"This was the station's first year buying here," Mr Weir said.

"I was already coming over to buy one for my stud, so it made sense to have a look through the catalogue.

"There's always good value here, and I think we've come away with a really good line."

The bulls purchased for Sandover Pastoral Company were destined for Hamilton Downs, a station situated three hours west of Alice Springs that runs predominantly crossbred cows, with grey Brahman bulls put over them to produce high-content Brahman progeny suitable for live export or to grow out.

It's harsh country, and Mr Weir said structural soundness was a non-negotiable.

"Our breeders are running mostly on spinifex country, with buffel on the fattening country," he said.

"They have to be able to walk long distances, so I select heavily for cattle that are functional and durable."

Temperament, he said, was equally important, but more considered for his stud buys.

"Temperament is huge," he said.

"All it takes is one silly one to give you a bad reputation, and that's not something I stand for.

"My cows are in paddocks close to the house, so I spend a lot of time with them.

"They see me regularly, and they're just naturally quiet because of that.

Mr Weir said he can pat the majority of his stud herd by hand.

"If anything is silly, it doesn't get retained.

"Over time, that definitely makes your herd quieter."

The philosophy has already set his herd apart, with buyers from outside the Alice Springs district beginning to take notice.

"There's not a lot of Brahmans around Alice Springs, so most of my bulls go north into Katherine or further west," he said.

"For now, I'm just focused on building numbers.

"In the next few years, I'd like to be able to offer larger lines so people have more choice."

For a stud that began with nine heifers ten years ago, the purchase of Raglan Mr Brooks was another major milestone for WTW Brahmans.

"This bull is the kind that can fast-track progress," Weir said.

"It's exciting to think about what the next few years will bring."