Strong clearance and quality bulls drive day two of Big Country Brahman sale

Of the 89 greys offered on day two of the Big Country Brahman sale, 84 sold for a clearance rate of 94 per cent, an average of $13,303 and a gross of $1,117,500.

Ahern Galen 1799, a poll scur bull, bred by Paul and Melissa Ahern, Ahern Brahmans, Gayndah, topped day two of the sale fetching $130,000 - nearly twice that of last year's top price of $62,500.

He was purchased by Gavin and Dylan Scott, Yacamunda and Rosetta Station, Mount Coolon.

The Scotts also purchased the third highest-priced bull of the day, FBC T Gusto Manso 301T, a poll scur bull, bred by Fenech Brahmans, for $62,500.

Mr Scott said he had purchased from the Aherns because they had good quality bulls that would help him produce good quality.

"If we want to breed good quality bulls, we have got to buy good quality bulls," he said.

What stood out about the bulls Mr Scott purchased was their high-quality semen.

"Their semen is good, that's got a good start, you have got to go from there," he said. "For me the semen count's got to be up pretty high to buy a bull, his count was up there."

The 26-month-old Ahern Galen 1799 weighed 836kg, was sired by Ahern Beau 1045/0 and was out of Ahern Miss Laura 837/9.

He had an eye muscle area of 143 square centimetres, an IMF of 5 per cent, and a P8 and rib fat measurement of 12mm and 9mm.

His scrotal circumference was 35.5cm and he had a motility semen of 80pc.

Although the price was higher than what Mr Scott would have liked, he said it was worth it for the quality.

"We didn't want to pay that, but that's what you've got to pay to get the good ones," he said.

Overall, Mr Scott was happy with his purchases on Tuesday, February 3.

"We need them, we got the cows so we need to buy the bulls to go with it," he said. "He is just a different type of bull, a bigger bull, a bit more frame, pretty correctable, like you want him to be."

The second highest grey bull buyer, Paul and Debbie Herrod, Ponderosa Brahmans, Katherine, Northern Territory also had their eye on Ahern Galen 1799.

Instead, they were successful in purchasing Moongool MR 1111, a poll scur bull bred by Ivan and Helen Price, Moongool Brahmans, Surat.

The 24-month-old weighed 772kg and was sired by Kendrol Stetson Manso 0539 and out of Moongool Miss 718.

The Herrods are not new to the Big Country Brahman Sale sale taking home the top priced bull, Palmal Ironman 2019 last year.

On day one of the 2026 Big Country Brahman sale, the Herrods bought Lancefield M Atmosphere 8363M, homozygous polled for $45,000.

Despite the Herrods missing out on their first pick on day two, they were happy with the results on Tuesday.

Mr Herrod said Moongool MR 1111 had everything you looked for in cattle these days.

"He's got a nice head on him, a well balanced calf, good bone, plenty of length about him," he said.

"Very smooth in the shoulders which we're looking for in our cattle these days, we get a lot of rough shoulders in our Brahman."

Other vendors who fared well in the grey section were Palmal Brahmans, Dingo, who sold five bulls at a top of $24,000 and an average of $18,800.

Kenilworth Brahmans, Mount Coolon, started the day off strong with two lots hitting $12,000 and a third fetching $24,000.

Cambil Brahmans, Proserpine, sold all five of their bulls for a top of $26,000 and a low of $7000, averaging $15,400.

On the first day of the sale, all 80 red bulls sold for a complete clearance. These bulls averaged $14,043 to gross $1,123,500.

All 80 stud heifers offered on day one sold to gross $433,000 and average $5413.

Over the two days of this year's sale 244 bulls and heifers sold for a gross of $2,674,000,to average $10,959, with a clearance rate of 98pc and a top price of $130,000.

Queensland Rural sale coordinator Shaun Flanagan said he was "very happy with the result, compared to last year".

"The sale was well supported. The price paid for the bulls and heifers this year was in accordance with the high quality of the draft. It was a great way to start the year," Mr Flanagan said.

"Hopefully, this will announce the start of a very strong year for the beef industry."