Jamally and Annabranch studs share top price honours at Dawson Valley Santa sale

It was a strong start to a big day of Santa Gertrudis bull buying on Tuesday, September 8, with a large crowd congregating ringside at the Taroom Showgrounds for the 2026 Dawson Valley Santa Sale.

Regular vendors Jamie and Alison Becker, Jamally Santa Gertrudis, Alkoomie, Taroom, Luke and Carly Baker, Annabranch Santa Stud, Wandoan, Trent Ciesiolka, Valleyview, Oakey, and Alan and Jocelyn Nock, Red Mile Santas, Deepbank, Mundubbera returned to this year's sale.

There were 66 bulls on offer, of which 49 sold for a 74 per cent clearance, a $15,142 average, and an overall sale gross of $742,000.

Four lots sold post-sale to bring the clearance to 80pc for a $14,453 average and a $766,000 gross.

Two lots reached an equal top price of $40,000.

For comparison, at last year's sale, 59 of 64 bulls sold for a 92 per cent clearance, a $13,711 average, a $809,000 gross, and a $50,000 top.

The first bull to hit the top-price of $40,000, Jamally Winchester W16, was offered by vendors Jamie and Alison Becker, Jamally Santa Gertrudis, Alkoomie, Taroom, and sold to Scott Dunlop, Dunlop Santas, Jingeri, Proston.

The 23-month-old, 932 kilogram bull was sired by Rosevale Shanghai S598 and out of Jamally Tahlia T9.

He recorded 11 millimetres of rump fat, 8mm of rib fat, had an eye muscle area of 137 square centimetres, and 5.7pc of intramuscular fat.

Buyer Scott Dunlop, said he was a longtime frequenter of the Dawson Valley sale, but that it was the first time he had purchased a Jamally bull.

"He's just a well-balanced bull. He's got a good head on him - a strong head but a kind head, a long body, and a long tail," he said.

"He's clean underneath, and the supp sheet backs all that up. He's one of the heaviest bulls here with one of the better weight gains. He's been run the same as his contemporaries, and he's risen to the top."

Mr Dunlop said he planned to use his new bull to join maiden heifers later in the year.

The second bull to reach $40,000 was Annabranch Wally W50, offered by vendors Luke and Carly Baker, Annabranch Santa Stud, Wandoan, and purchased by Wilson Barlow, Wilamba Santa Gertrudis, Jambin.

The 25-month-old, 821kg bull had 10mm of rump fat, 8mm of rib fat, an EMA of 122 sq cm, and IMF of 4.8pc.

He was sired by Glenn Oaks Sterling S314 and out of Annabranch T27.

On his stud just outside of Biloela, Mr Barlow said he ran 150 to 200 cows on 1214 hectares (3000 acres).

Like Mr Dunlop, Mr Barlow said he was a regular at the Dawson Valley Sale, but that it was the first time he had purchased an Annabranch bull.

"His stretch, and how long he is, and how tight he is. He's got great bone on him," he said when asked what stood out most to him about the bull.

"He's got nice squareness right over the top and he's got a really sirey sort of head on him.

"We're just chasing that bloodline. We saw that Sterling bull when he was sold, and we thought we'd come and have a look of his bloodlines.

"That's what drew us in."

Mr Barlow said he would turn Annabranch Wally W50 out for stud duties when he got him home.

Four separate buyers - Ben and Petra Mason, Mitchell, Kenmor Grazing, Ross Stiller Family Trust, Taroom, and Palm Tree Grazing, Palm tree, Taroom - each purchased four lots for an average of $7500, $13,000, $7750, and $7750, respectively.

One of the top-priced vendors, Jamie Becker, Jamally Santa Gertrudis, Alkoomie, Taroom, said he was pleased with how well his bull sold at this year's sale.

"It's a positive sale and positive for the whole breed at the moment," he said. "Reaching $40,000 is up there [as a top price] for us. We've had a couple go a bit better, but he was a good bull, and he's gone into a good herd, a big herd, that has been breeding Santas for a long time."

Luke Baker, Annabranch Santa Stud, Wandoan, said this year's result was the second-top price they had achieved, behind last year's $48,000 record.

"We're very pleased with the result and how the Sterling sons have performed," he said.

"He paid for himself with his first couple of bulls through the ring, which is always good, and we're very pleased with how they went, and the homes they went to."

• Selling agents: Nutrien and TopX, interfaced with AuctionsPlus.