New Santa stud makes its mark with top price at Roma's Heartland sale

A new invited vendor hopes to be back at the Heartland Santa Gertrudis bull sale in Roma next year, if results from this year's sale are anything to go by.

Inverell, NSW-based stud, Riverslea Santa Gertrudis, owned and operated by the Martin family, topped the September 9 sale both for the individual bull price and for stud average price paid, in its first year at the multi-vendor Maranoa event.

And it was new Tambo-based Santa Gertrudis stud, Killarney Park Santas that helped them to that distinction, buying the top bull, Riverslea VB for $32,500.

The 23-month-old PP bull weighed 820kg, had an average daily weight gain of 1.1kg, P8 and rib fat measurements of 15 and 8 millimetres respectively, an eye muscle area of 125 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 5.9 per cent, a scrotal circumference of 39cm, and semen morphology of 82pc.

Buyers Peter and Pam Pullos have built their stud herd on central west Queensland's well-known studs - Drensmaine, Strathmore and Forest Park - and were in the Maranoa to source some new bloodlines.

Ms Pullos said Riverslea VB had all the things they looked for in their own herd and would be a good fit for them.

"He's structurally a very solid bull, the type we want to present," she said. "Having a Dangarfield sire is a help too."

They also bought a heifer, Beefwood Wilma W5, and said with the strong start to Santa Gertrudis sales this season, they'd been discussing the advantages of finding a PTIC heifer with the breeding they needed.

That's what they saw in Wilma, who was sired by Diamond H X156 and out of Glenn Oaks R209, and who is in calf to Jamar Uber U114, paying $3500 for her.

Both their purchases helped contribute to a strong sale result where 49 of 53 bulls and females, 90pc, were sold for an average $10,469.

This was an improvement on last year when 50 of 60 bulls and females sold for an 83pc clearance, a $9520 average, and a $28,000 top price.

Breaking this year's sale down, 44 of 48 bulls were sold for an average $11,011, and all five heifers were sold for an average $5700.

In 2025, 47 of 57 bulls sold to a $9191 average, and all three females offered were sold, for an average of $7500.

PJH Livestock & Property was in charge of the sale and principal Steve Goodhew said they were very happy with the result.

"There's an awesome spread on the bulls, and a lot of new buyers," he said.

"The Santa breed is on fire and people want to buy.

"I think they maybe want to attend as many sales as they can to cover their needs."

Lachie Martin, speaking on behalf of Riverslea, said they'd been very keen to sell at Roma, to be in the heart of cattle country.

They run 60 stud Santa Gertrudis cows on 285ha, and supply trade and feedlot markets commercially, as well as operating a fitting service, and Mr Martin said they loved the adaptability of the breed.

"I had a soft spot for our top bull, because of his nature, his maturity pattern, his structural soundness and the length of his body," he said. "His dam line is a proven one for us."

Riverslea's sale average was $21,625, which Mr Martin said was "very cool", matching their average last year when they sold as part of the Dangarfield sale.

The stud's purchase of the charity heifer offered by Jazmaree Santas at Injune, for $10,000, cemented their welcome to the sale.

Proceeds from the sale of the 32-month-old heifer, Jazmaree V587, will be donated by her breeders, Seawright Investments, to the RFDS to support rural mental health services in honour of the late Sharon Seawright.

Speaking after the sale, Heidi Seawright said that while studs had been taking it in turns to donate the charity heifer, Jazmaree was going to do it every year in future, in Sharon's honour.

"The heifer today was a beautiful dark red colour - Shaz liked that," she said. "Peter was thinking of what she'd want."

She was sired by Yarrawonga S38 and was in calf to a Bullamakinka bull.

There was no strong standout bulk buyer at the sale, but Campbell Pastoral Holdings from Mitchell bought three bulls for an average $8666, while St George's KEG and RM Burey also bought three for an average $8000.

Travelling down from Winton, Landsborough Santas will be taking three bulls home after outlaying an average $10,666.

• Selling agents: PJH Livestock, interfaced with StockLive

Vendor averages

Darr Creek Santas - 7/7, $12,000 average

Beefwood - 2/2, $8000 average

Murgo - 2/2, $8000 average

Chilgerrie Hill Santa stud - 5/7, $9200 average

Oakdale - 1/2, $18,000 average

Spring Creek - 12/12, $10,500 average

Riverslea Santas - 4/4, $21,625 average

Walmona - 3/3, $8666 average

Ribbleton - 2/2, $14,000 average