Prizewinning beef producers drive strong demand at Lambert bull sale
Industry-relevant was a phrase often used at the Lambert bull sale at Blackall on August 31, and the prizewinners at the morning's cattle sale backing up to buy bulls in the afternoon underlined that.
Over 1200 head of Lambert-featured Charbray and Hereford steers and heifers were yarded at the start of the day, bringing prices that caused at least one participant to say there should be more sales on a Monday.
Lambert clients Clarenden Cattle Co of Blackall and Aramac, and Ballater Pastoral Co of Hughenden, won five of the six classes contested, and went on with winning bids at the sale in the afternoon.
In doing so they helped push the sale to an $18,000 top price, an average price of $8490, and 53 of 55 bulls sold, or a 96 per cent clearance.
Thirty of 31 Charbray bulls sold under the hammer for an average of $7733 and a top of $18,000, while 23 of 24 Hereford bulls sold, bringing a $9478 average and a $14,000 top.
Last year, the overall sale average was $8807.69 for 52 bulls, with 29 of 30 Charbray bulls sold for an average price of $9379.31, and all 23 Hereford bulls sold for an average $8080.
Top prices in 2025 were $22,000 for a Charbray bull and $16,000 for a Hereford bull.
After collecting prizes for heifers between 301-380kg and heifers in the 381-520kg range at the cattle sale this year, Jack and Alex Campbell went to the afternoon bull sale and outlaid $18,000 for Acton Viscount, a 24-month-old cream polled Charbray bull, sired by Trifecta Quambetook and out of Acton Chiela R33.
He weighed 846kg, had semen morphology of 74 per cent, and a scrotal circumference of 45 centimetres.
Alex Campbell said the Clarenden Cattle Co had been using Lambert's Charbray bulls for over 15 years, as much because they handled dry times well as anything.
"With the top one, we liked his temperament - he was very quiet, and he had good bone - that's the type we go for," he said.
Lambert stud principal Scott Bredhauer he had been the draft's most correct bull.
"He always stood like a sire from a calf, he has a sirey head and he's tidy underneath," he said. "We've kept his half-brother for our own breeding purposes."
The Campbells finished with eight Charbray bulls for an average price of $9500, and will be dividing them between their young heifers at Blackall and their breeders at Aramac.
After securing the top-priced Hereford bull at the sale, Lambert Virgo, Hughenden's Alastair Anderson said he concentrated on length when making purchases.
"It seems to be paying off," he said, with three prizes, for heifers over and under 300kg, and for steers under 300kg, at the morning's cattle sale, in his car for the trip north back home.
His father bred with Hereford bulls many years ago but Mr Anderson said when he "ran into eye trouble", he began breeding them with Droughtmasters to correct that.
Mr Anderson's still putting Hereford bulls over Droughtmaster cows and says it pays off for the market at Blackall, which is where he sends his progeny.
"We sold six decks today for $220,000 and have another four decks to come down at the end of the month," he said.
His cashed-up Ballater Pastoral Co finished with four Hereford bulls at the afternoon sale for an average $10,250.
It outlaid $14,000 for Lambert Virgo, 24.5 months and weighing 760kg, with a scrotal circumference of 39cm and semen morphology of 90pc.
"We look at breeding values, the 600-day figures and we like a good top and bottom line," Mr Anderson said.
Scott Bredhauer said it was evident that buyers love breeding Hereford bulls for crossbreeding purposes.
"Some here today bought a few years ago to give them a crack, and they've seen it's a good move," he said.
"I was a bit surprised to see the Hereford price went up but I think buyers here today want to buy bulls that are acclimatised to our conditions.
"And the blokes up north are happy - they're getting more kilograms and more cents per kilogram."
Mr Bredhauer agreed that if it hadn't been for the cattle market kicking recently, the bull sale may have been tougher, noting that it was drier in some places where their usual clients were from, and so some had to hold off buying.
The Angus family from Glenariff at Prairie bought four bulls, one Charbray and three Herefords, while Western Head Trading at Tambo bought six Charbray bulls for an average $8166.
Familiar faces included Blackall's Danny and Murray Allan, who secured five Charbray bulls for an average $7000, and Jeff and Anne-Maree Lloyd from Yaraka, purchasing four Hereford bulls for an average $10,750.
- Selling agents: GDL, Nutrien, interfaced with AuctionsPlus
Cattle sale results
Steers under 300kg - Ballater Pastoral Co, Ballater, Hughenden 1st, Hereford/Droughtmaster, 546.2c/kg weighing 237kg, returning $1296 per head; Juanita Pastoral Co, Westfield, Longreach 2nd, Charolais-cross, 542.2c/kg, weighing 339kg, returning $1838/hd.
Heifers under 300kg - Ballater Pastoral Co 1st, Hereford/Droughtmaster, 466.2c/kg, weighing 285kg, $1327/hd; Sanderson Family Trust, Wyanga, Tambo 2nd, Hereford-cross, 456.2c/kg, weighing 239kg, returning $1089/hd.
Steers 301-380kg - Ballater Pastoral Co 1st, Hereford/Droughtmaster-cross, 520.2c/kg, weighing 352kg, returning $1828/hd; CA Hauff & Sons, Colart, Blackall 2nd, Hereford-cross, 532.2c/kg, weighing 330kg, returning $1756/hd.
Heifers 301-380kg - Clarenden Cattle Co, Clarenden, Blackall 1st, Charbray-cross, 480.2c/kg, weighing 353kg, returning $1693/hd; HWC Rural, Home Creek, Barcaldine 2nd, Charolais-cross, 490.2c/kg, weighing 358kg, retunring $1754/hd.
Steers 381-520kg - CA Hauff & Sons,1st, Hereford, 528.2c/kg, weighing 439kg, returning $2318/hd; CA Hauff & Sons 2nd, Hereford-cross, 524.2c/kg, weighing 462kg, returning $2423/hd.
Heifers 381-520kg - Clarenden Cattle Co 1st, Charbray, 488.2c/kg, weighing 401kg, returning $1959/hd; HWC Rural, Charolais-cross, 494.2c/kg, weighing 442kg, returning $2184.
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