Local buyers get top-price bulls at Exton Angus sale, with full clearance
Local bidders got the two top-price bulls at the 2026 Exton Angus bull and female sale, where vendors achieved a full clearance.
About 100 people packed the shed at the Schmaling family's property near Haden for the annual sale on Friday, August 28, including bidders from local areas, north through central Queensland to Richmond and west to Roma.
Bids rolled in consistently throughout the hour allotted under the helmsman system, helping four bulls reach $10,000 or more.
All told, 32 of 32 bulls sold at auction for a 100 per cent clearance, a gross of about $264,000, with pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers included, and an average price of $7500.
By comparison, 31 of 37 bulls sold at the 2025 Exton Angus sale for an 83.7pc clearance, a $248,000 gross, an $8000 average and a top price of $24,000.
The Schmaling family sold Exton Van Gogh to Neil and Katrina McLaughlin, Ironpot, and Exton Viking to Charlie Smoothy, Crows Nest, for the top price of $12,000 each.
Both bulls were typical of what Exton Angus was trying to achieve, stud principal Tim Schmaling said, with thickness and good maternal qualities.
"Both of them are by North American bulls LD Emblazon (Exton Van Gogh) and Merit Investment (Exton Viking), who had plenty of power and maternal strength, and both of them were out of quality homebred cows" he said.
See who caught up at the 2026 Exton Angus bull and female sale`
Pictures by Zac Braxton-Smith
"This is the first year we have had calves from Merit Investment, and we are very pleased."
Exton Van Gogh was 20 months old and weighed 750 kilograms, with an eye muscle area of 110 square centimetres, a scrotal circumference of 37cm, and P8 and rib fat measurements of 9 and 6 millimetres.
He would go on to produce yearlings for the commercial market, buyer Neil McLaughlin said.
"(Van Gogh) is a complete bull, with a great topline, good maternal traits and depth," Mr McLaughlin said.
"He will go out over Angus cows and other breeds from November 1, like all our bulls."
Exton Viking was 20 months old and weighed 684 kilograms, with an EMA of 103sq cm, a scrotal circumference of 37cm, and P8 and rib fat measurements of 8 and 6 millimetres.
Buyer Charlie Smoothy said Viking would go over Droughtmaster Limousin-cross breeders.
"(Viking) is thick as a brick and has Merit Investment behind him, who has great doing ability and plenty of natural sire power," he said.
"The Droughtmasters are good mothers, you get the eating quality from Limousin, and the Angus thickens them up.
"We will sell most of his progeny into the feeder market."
Brisbane and Lockyer Valley producer Mark Gelhaar bought the largest number of lots through the ring, with six bulls for an average price of $6500.
There were many repeat and new buyers in the crowd, Gilliland Livestock Marketing principal Brendan Gilliland said.
"There is plenty of interest in Exton Angus from commercial producers looking for functional, quality bulls, and that came through in the result today," Mr Gilliland said.
"It gives buyers confidence to see them doing well on the Schmalings' hilly country."
All five PTIC heifers sold for an average of $4800 and a top price - achieved three times - of $5000.
- Agents: Gilliland Livestock Marketing interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
