How a school-loaned bull was the star of the Gold Crest Limousin sale

Light rain throughout the sale did not stop buyers from turning up for the annual Gold Crest Invitational Limousin sale in Crows Nest on August 23.

The sale saw 26 lots offered, and 18 sold for a clearance rate of 69.2 per cent, with a gross of $165,000 achieved, and an average of $9166.67 for the bulls sold.

In comparison, 2025 saw a 62pc clearance and an average of $7769.

The top-price bull, Gold Crest Wilba W7 - a heterozygous black and homozygous polled bull - was bought by the Rockemer family from Rosehill in Brooweena, north of Gympie, who run a bullock operation across 4046ha.

Gold Crest Wilba W7 was sired by Crescent Nine S24, and out of Gold Crest L&L Mimi S46, weighed 736 kilograms, had P8 and rib fat scans of 8 and 6 millimetres respectively, had an eye muscle area of 132 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 5.7pc, a morphology of 95pc, and a scrotal circumference of 35 centimetres.

Hamilton Rockemer, who bid on Gold Crest Wilba W7, said he was exactly the kind of bull the family would usually purchase, and were interested in his type, conformation, and growth for age.

Mr Rockemer said that Gold Crest Wilba W7 will return to their property to breed bullocks.

Gold Crest key principal Darren Hartwig said the top-price bull going to the Rockemers to breed bullocks is exactly what he wants the Gold Crest cattle to do.

"They're just good commercial fellows wanting to buy good bulls to go out and do a job," Mr Hartwig said.

He said the bull's muscle pattern and depth was what made him an attractive pick, and that the bull achieved his good temperament after spending a term at a Wilsonton school, which made him well-accustomed to people.

"[He had] a good head, and strong sort of sirey outlook, so I think he'll definitely do the job for [the Rockemer family]," he said.

The auction included a female sale, which saw 18 females offered and 12 sold, for a clearance rate of 67.67pc, an average of $3541.67, and a gross of $42,500.

The sale also included the sale of cows and calves, of which four were offered, and three sold, for a clearance rate of 75pc, and an average of $4333.

In comparison, 2025 saw a clearance rate of 87pc and an average of $4615.

The top-price female was a black Limousin Gold Crest L&L Pearl, who was sired by Mandayen Lock & Load, and out of Gold Crest Quigley Pearl, sold to Wokingham River Cattle Co through Topx Cloncurry for $5500.

Volume buyers included Otto Grazing, who bought one bull lot for $6000, one cow and calf for $4000 and four female lots for an average of $3125, which comes to a combined total of six lots, and a combined average of $3750.

Otto Grazing - run by father-and-son-duo John and Darryl Otto - run Limousin-cross breeders across their three properties in the Upper Yarraman and Maidenwell districts, and operate a commercial beef enterprise.

John Otto said he loves the Limousin breed, as he finds them favourable for "extra steaks in the rump".

• Selling agents: GDL