Record confidence fuels Queensland Simmental bull sale to historic result
The sixth annual Queensland Simmental bull sale delivered its strongest result to date at CQLX Gracemere on Monday, July 27.
Out of a catalogue of 102 bulls representing 10 studs from Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and NSW, 92 of the 94 bulls offered in the ring sold under the hammer to achieve a 98 per cent clearance rate.
The sale grossed $1,110,000 and averaged $12,065.22, while the top-priced bull realised $50,000, more than doubling last year's sale topper.
The result represented another significant step forward for the annual fixture, eclipsing the 2025 average of $9621 and gross of $914,000, while also improving on last year's 96.8 per cent clearance of 93 bulls from 96 offered.
The top price jumped by an impressive $28,000 from Glenanna U Rockstar's $22,000 result in 2025.
Buying strength remained evident throughout the catalogue, with registered bidders competing both ringside and online through StockLive.
Sale honours belonged to lot 79, Springside Watterson W103, offered by Peter and Toni Rauchle, Springside Simmentals, west of Toowoomba.
The powerful 18-month-old bull, by Springside Neptune and out of Springside Kharma, attracted spirited bidding before being secured by the Skene family, Meldon Park Simmentals, Cecil Plains, for $50,000.
Weighing 870 kilograms, the young potential sire scanned an eye muscle area of 138 square centimetres, recorded fat depths of eight and 11 millimetres over the rib and rump respectively, intramuscular fat of 5.3 per cent and a scrotal circumference of 40 centimetres.
Meldon Park principal Rod Skene said the family had arrived without a specific bull in mind, but the standout youngster quickly became their pick.
"We came completely open-minded," Mr Skene said.
"We'd only really seen him late yesterday afternoon and we were just after a sire. He was the bull for us."
"For his age, he's exceptional," Ms Skene said. "He's only 18 months old, weighs 870 kilograms and he'll be joined over our stud cows."
Running about 300 registered Simmental females, Ms Skene said the purchase introduced valuable new genetics into their long-established stud program.
"He's very different to what we've got in terms of genetics, but he's got a depth of pedigree that will really complement our dam lines."
For vendors Peter and Toni Rauchle, the result marked a major milestone after decades committed to the breed.
Ms Rauchle said she was ecstatic after selling six bulls during the sale.
"It was a fantastic result," she said.
"We've been breeding Simmentals for about 50 years. We took a break for a while before returning to the stud in 2002 and we've been vendors here since 2022."
Ms Rauchle said the drought had almost prevented the bull from making the sale after feed supplies became exhausted at home.
"We're extremely grateful we were able to get Les and Leanne from Leegra to feed them for us because the alternative was the saleyards... he might have been on a plate instead" she said.
"He might never have made the sale otherwise. He was always one of our favourites. He just had something special about him, he's really quiet and he's out of a beautiful cow family.
"Neptune, his sire, left some outstanding cattle and we're very proud of what he's achieved."
The second-highest-priced bull also attracted strong interstate competition.
Lot 61, Mt Mooney Volcano, a double-polled autumn-born bull from South Australian vendors Quentin and Renee Mooney, sold for $30,000 to a syndicate comprising KBV Simmentals, Queensland, and Bandeeka Simmentals, Western Australia.
The 26-month-old, by Barana Nottingham and out of Mt Mooney Ritzy, weighed an impressive 1070kg and scanned an EMA of 150cm squared, with fat depths of 10 and 15mm, IMF of 6.4pc and a 40.5cm scrotal circumference.
Mr Mooney said the bull stemmed from one of the stud's most reliable cow families and had exceeded expectations as he matured.
"He always looked stylish as a calf, but he really surprised us with how much carcase and performance he developed," he said.
"To see him purchased by two long-time stud breeders gives you a real spring in your step.
"We've believed in the traditional Simmental for a long time because of the weight-for-age performance they consistently deliver, and it's exciting to see other breeders recognising that."
Having entered the Queensland sale since its inception, Mr Mooney said the event had become an important avenue to showcase new genetics into northern Australia.
"This sale has continued to grow every year and Queensland producers have really embraced the breed," he said.
Vendor averages:
- Jarravale Simmentales - 4/4 for an average of $16,500
- Glenanna Simmentals - 10/10 for an average of $10,000
- Tullayr - 8/8 for an average of $10,750
- Slatewood Simmentals - 3/3 for an average of $7000
- Daraabah Simmental - 17/17 for an average of $10,824
- Yerwal Estate Simmental Stud - 14/15 for an average of $7714
- Barana Simmentals - 8/9 for an average of $12,250
- Mt Mooney Simmentals - 10/10 for an average of $16,900
- Springside Simmentals - 6/6 for an average of $18,167
- Selling agents: TopX, simulcast on StockLive
