'Best result for years': clearance rate lifts 27pc at Gold City Brahman Sale

A near-complete clearance and an improved average on 2024 painted a picture of positivity for the 25th Gold City Brahman Sale held at the Dalrymple Saleyards, Charters Towers, on Monday, November 3.

In all 21 studs from across Queensland offered a 78-lot draft of bulls on the day, of which 76 were purchased for a 97 per cent clearance at an average of $6829 for a gross of $519,000 and a top price of $20,000.

This compared favourably with last year's result in which 86 out of 122 bulls sold for a clearance rate of 70pc and an average of $5593.

The grey contingent entered the ring first with 33 out of 34 bulls selling to average $7333 and gross $242,000, while 43 out of 44 red bulls sold to average $6442 and gross $277,000.

Elders Studock sale agent Anthony Ball said it had been the "best result for a number of years" within the history of the Gold City sale.

"The current state of the season and the cattle job was reflected in the result today," Mr Ball said.

"We had a lot of repeat Gold city buyers in attendance. Strong bidding support was ddemonstrated by those who run pure Brahman operations. It was good to see these producers supporting the sale."

The $20,000 top money on the day was outlaid by Robert and Deborah Herrod, Tumutvale Station, Torrens Creek for the last grey offered on the day, lot 45, Cedar Lane Phenom 1039 (IVF) (H), offered by Allan Ford, Cedar Lane Brahmans, Cedar Pocket.

"Phenom held himself well, had good looseness of skin, a nice bull head, and good temperament. He'll go in with our young heifers when we get him home," Mr Herrod said.

The Herrods said they'd bough cattle from the Gold City Sale previously and that they'd performed well for them.

When selecting for the sale Cedar Lane livestock manager Darren Clem said the 24-month-old son of Mr V8 733/7M Polled Phenom (Imp US) (PS) out of Starbra Ava (IVF) (H) was a "well put together bull with great scale and bone structure".

The second top priced bull was offered by XMS stud principal Callan Solari. It was his lot 26 bull, the 26-month-old XMS Slate 355/4 (AI) (PS), which was secured by the Coleman family, Koolyn Brahmans, Broughton, for $19,000.

Mr Solari said he'd considered retaining Slate for herd use.

"He has the combination of phenotype, data and a poll head, which is hard to achieve in a grey," he said.

"His dam is the highly regarded XMS Belle 59/6 (AI) (H). Her last three sons have sold for $14,000, $15,000 and $19,000."

Ken Coleman said Slate had stood out to him as he was a "well rounded bull with very balanced figures".

"We'll have his girlfriends arriving in December at which point he'll be put in for stud duties," Mr Coleman said.

"The entire draft was of excellent quality. They were well prepared cattle. The clearance today reflected that," he said.

Mr Coleman was the underbidder on the top price Belle son in the 2024 XMS Gold City draft, and was please to have secured these genetics this year.

The top price red bull, was offered by Matthew and Anna Slaughter, Eskwood Brahmans, Bowen, with lot 79, Eskwood Makin 9223 (PS) selling for $14,000 to Mick Heading, Toomba Grazing, Charters Towers. He was one of five bulls brought by Mr Heading at an average of $7400.

The volume buyer on the day was the Winsper family, Korong, Cloncurry, who bought seven bulls at an average of $4571.

George and Jenny Bambling, Glenavon, Aramac, purchased six bulls to average $7167, while Raymond Barrett, Barrett Grazing, Charters Towers, took home five bulls to average $5000.

Purchasing five bulls apiece were Brian Moody Square Post Station, Mingela, and the Jones family, Glenlyon Station, Richmond at averages of $5000 and $9600 respectively.

• Sale agents: Elders Studstock