Records smashed: Elstow top price buyer returns to pay more for genetics

Records were smashed at the Elstow Charolais bull sale at Baradine on Wednesday, September 9.

Bruce, Margaret and Shannon McConnaughty saw a 100 per cent clearance for their 28 bulls that went on to average $7749, up $1000 on the previous year.

The biggest success was realised when Elstow Villeroy sold for a record high price of $19,000 and found a home with the same top price buyer from last year.

The Palgrove Privilege son was 21 months, weighed 918 kilograms, with a 40 centimetre scrotal circumference, a 132 centimetre square eye muscle area and was in the top 10 per cent for intramuscular fat estimated breeding value.

Successful purchasers Dennis and Jacqui Fitzgerald, Carmel, Baradine, bought the bull as a terminal sire to join over black baldy cows, with the progeny being sold into the feeder market.

Mr Fitzgerald's agent, Peter O'Connor from AJF Brien and Sons, Coonamble, said the couple had been buying Elstow bulls for more than 15 years, specifically aiming for the red factor gene.

"The Charolais cross gives you the option to target the feedlots or grow out into bullocks at an earlier age, if the season permits," he said.

Mr Fitzgerald also purchased another Palgrove Privilege son, Elstow Very Good, for $9000.

Not far behind at $12,000 and the second top price of the day was the Baradine Show senior champion bull, Elstow Valiant.

He was secured by long-standing client, Steve Boland and his family from Casino.

The bull was an Elstow Rolls Royce son and topped the scales at 1060kg, had a scrotal circumference of 42cm, an EMA of 145sq cm and was in the top 9pc for the retail beef yield EBV.

Mr Boland said the Boland family had been sourcing Elstow genetics for more than 20 years.

"The bull's size and retail beef yield is what made him stand out of the draft," he said.

"Elstow always has good genetics, which keeps us coming back."

Speaking on behalf of Elstow, Shannon McConnaughty said the top price bull was an outstanding sire.

"He's got eye appeal and is very well put together," she said.

"Palgrove Privilege has done a tremendous job here at Elstow and the progeny have proved themselves time and time again."

The 2026 draft of bulls were predominantly grass-finished with minimal supplementation.

"Normally, our bulls are finished on a forage oat crop, however due to the season we were unable to," she said.

"Overall, we are happy with how the bulls have presented themselves, considering the season they have just come through."

Nutrien Narrabri agent Bruce Evans said it was probably one of the best draft of bulls he had seen the stud present and they sold accordingly.

"The bulls have really hit their straps in the last six to eight weeks with the green pick around," he said.

"It's been dry up until May over this way."

The bulk of the buyers were from Casino, while the rest of the bulls were sold locally to Narrabri, Nyngan, Bourke, and into Queensland.

Next year will mark the stud's 40th year of breeding and there will be some new and exciting genetics on offer, the family said.

The selling agents were Hamilton Mortimer Agency, Narrabri and Nutrien Ag Solutions. The auction was conducted by Bruce Evans.