Dunlop dominates: South Burnett Santa Gertrudis sale grosses over $2 million
Bidding was hot and fast at the annual Dunlop sale, with the top-priced bull bringing more than $100,000 - more than doubling the previous year's top-price result.
It was an exceptionally warm day for early spring at the Dunlop family's Santa Gertrudis sale, held at the family property Jingeri, near Proston, on September 5.
The top-price bull - Dunlop Arlington W274 - sold early on for $140,000 to Hewitt Cattle Company representative Warren Miller.
The sale retained momentum throughout, with the second top-price bull - Dunlop Alpheus W226 - selling for $94,000 as lot 111.
All 132 bulls offered sold for a 100pc clearance rate, a sale average of $20,210, and a gross average of $2,688,000.
The sale was split into 121 stud bulls, and 11 herd bulls, with the stud bulls selling for an average of $20,388, and the herd bulls selling for an average of $19,545.
The top-price bull more than doubled the highest price paid at the 2025 Dunlop sale, which saw the top price of $65,000 hit twice, a 100pc clearance, and an overall average of $18,562.
The top-price bull this year, Dunlop Arlington W274, weighed 1002 kilograms, had an average daily weight gain of 1.35kg, rump and rib fat measurements of 15 and 12 millimetres respectively, an eye muscle area of 150 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 5.7pc, a scrotal circumference of 40 centimetres, and semen morphology of 76pc.
He was 20-months-old, sired bDunlop Waverly S206 and out of Dunlop Q255.
The buyers' representative Warren Miller, from Bylong, NSW, works as the bull breeding manager at Hewitt Cattle Company, and said they breed about 500 bulls a year.
"Two-thirds go out to the Northern Territory... we tend to try to operate at the top end and keep the variation of genetics in," he said.
Mr Miller said this was the first Santa Gertrudis bull he has purchased as part of his role at Hewitts, but that the characteristics he looked for remained the same regardless of breed.
"I just loved the amount of thickness and free movement, and clearness through the front end... the amount of softness he carries for the amount of meat he's got in him is something we need for our grass-finishing job," he said.
Mr Miller said Dunlop Arlington W274 will be used in the Hewitt's embryo transfer programs, and will mix with a Droughtmaster herd in the Northern Territory.
The sale was held on vendor Scott Dunlop's birthday, and the day before Fathers' Day, marking a positive start to a special weekend for him and his family.
Mr Dunlop said he was humbled by the sale's result, and felt that the top-price bull's softness was what stood out to bidders.
"He's just a terrific bull - to be a homozygous poll bull with that much power and muscle, yet to be so soft... and he's got extra length, and all that turns into weight," he said.
"To have that much fat on him, and have had no more preparation than any of the others, he's just a standout - the cream has risen to the top."
Mr Dunlop said Hewitt's interest in his cattle, especially after Mr Miller said he has done extensive research, indicated to him that he was on the right path in terms of breeding.
"[Mr Miller] said he's looked at a lot of bulls over the last couple of months, and he's decided to come here and buy one - that's a tick of approval for our program," he said.
Volume buyers included the Phillips family under Jaletto Pty Ltd, and the Earle family under Earle Grazing, who both purchased seven head each.
Nutrien Ag agent Trent McKinlay said the sale reinforced the demand for Santa Gertrudis cattle in the market, and likely was an above-average sale outcome compared to the broader market.
"There is a lot of confidence in the Santa Gertrudis breed at the moment - they're well sought after for the better genetics, and they're well sought after here at Dunlop," he said.
- Selling agents: Nutrien, Shepherdson & Boyd, GDL, interfaced with StockLive
