Coolabunia sale results reveal market mood for Belmont Red females

While heifers outnumbered people at the inaugural Belmont Red Female and Infused sale on July 25, buyers didn't let that or the cold weather stop strong bidding.

Two vendors offered a total of 33 females at the Coolabunia saleyards, and a few strong bidders took home the majority of the females, with a top price of $2900, average price of $1695, and clearance of 30 out of the 33 lots - a 90.9 per cent clearance.

The sale's gross was $50,850.

The top price heifer was offered by Robert and Jane Sherry of Wahroonga Belmont Reds, and purchased by Peter Ilett from Childers, near Bundaberg.

Mr Ilett said he did not usually attend sales, and when he does, he goes to Rockhampton but was intrigued by the breed and said the event was a convenient distance.

"I've only got a couple of hundred acres running coastal crossbreds... we've been Brahman-based, but we've crossbred with Belmonts and Santa Gertrudis polls before," Mr Ilett said. "Belmont cattle I've been interested in for a while."

The Belmont Red Association typically hosts a combined bull and female sale in Gracemere annually, but Across Country Livestock agent Alex Haig said they were approached about running an additional event.

"The Belmont Red Society approached us to run a sale in the area - they have an annual sale in Gracemere, but wanted to start off doing one for their females, just to get the numbers out there and to generate a bit of interest and drive commercial demand," Mr Haig said.

Mr Ilett said the top price heifer - RJS250336 Wahroonga 250336 - caught his eye, adding that the general figures made her seem like a "nice type of cow".

The top price heifer was sired by RJS230083 Wahroonga 230083, and out of RJS23021 Wahroonga 230218, and Mr Ilett said he plans to use the heifer in his breeding program.

The stud sale was followed by a commercial sale of 16 lots offered by Jack and Michelle Winson of Somerset Pastoral Company, which included Belmont Red heifers and Belmont Red steers, and had 100pc clearance, an average price of $980, and a top price of $1400.

Across Country Livestock agent Alex Haig, Aussie Land & Livestock agent Midge Thompson, and GDL agent Corey Evans spoke positively of the sale, and said they were happy with the results even if the event was slightly quieter.

"Solid result for the cattle - met good demand and there's plenty of people here interested in the Belmont Reds," Mr Evans said.

"Today generated plenty of interest for the Belmont Reds and their society, the cattle presented were good quality," Mr Haig said.

"Our commercial cattlemen in and around the area saw a great opportunity here today to invest into some great genetics of the Belmont breed, and to enhance the herd they already have," Mr Thompson said. "We are looking forward to 2027."

Vendor averages

Greenhills Belmont Reds, Paul and Julie Watson, offered 11 head, of which 11 sold for a 100pc clearance, and an average of $1413.6.

Wahroonga Belmont Reds, Robert and Jane Sherry, offered 22 head, of which 19 sold for an 86pc clearance, and an average of $1857.9.

• Selling agents: Across Country Livestock, Aussie Land & Livestock, GDL.