Strong demand for older bulls at Carabar's inaugural sale at Clermont

Darren Hegarty's decision to hold a sale for his Carabar Angus stud at Clermont for the first time has paid off in exposure and support from new and existing clients.

The inaugural sale resulted in an average price paid of $9117, a top price of $16,000 and a clearance rate of 50 per cent, or 17 of the 34 bulls offered.

Mr Hegarty, who does have central Queensland clients, said he had been thinking about holding a sale in the region for a while.

"I think it was worth the effort - there were a couple of repeat buyers there, but a couple of new ones as well," he said.

It was one of the stud's regular clients, Greg and Alicia Magee, from St Omer at Capella, who outlaid the top price of $16,000 for lot one, Carabar U432.

The 28-month-old bull weighed 920 kilograms, had an eye muscle area of 135 square centimetres, P8 and rib fat measurements of 9 and 6 millimetres respectively, intramuscular fat of 5.8pc, and a scrotal circumference of 41cm.

Mr Hegarty said his frame, weight and muscle pattern were part of what he liked about the bull, adding that his granddam, Carabar Heather G104, had bred a number of good progeny.

The Magees run their own Angus and Brangus studs and Mr Magee said their new purchase would be put to work with their Angus stud cows.

"We thought he had good weight for age statistics - that's what we were looking for, along with being structurally sound," he said. "Considering it's an out-of-season sale, I thought it was a good sale."

Elders CQ livestock manager and Rockhampton branch manager Chris Todd agreed it was a great result for an out-of-season sale and considering it had only been recently organised.

"For calves born in drought, these bulls have done very well," he said. "Their character has shone through."

Mr Todd said there had been a trend for older bulls, with strong heads and bodies.

The second top priced bull, Carabar Update U471, sold for $12,000 to Tay Glen Land & Cattle Co at Dysart.

They finished the sale with two bulls, while Tay Glen Pastoral Co bought three bulls.

DF & DM Knuth, at Victoria Park, Charters Towers, secured four bulls, Max Baldwin, Marlborough Station, Marlborough bought three, and Lyra Park Investments at Capella also finished with three new bulls.

One bull was bought on AuctionsPlus, going to the Schmidt family at Cunnamulla, and Elders stud stock representative Mark Scholes said there had been 22 online sale viewers.

• Selling agent - Elders, simulcast via AuctionsPlus