'Standout' Weebollabolla bull matches breed record at annual bull sale
A Grove Witness son has risen up the ranks to match an Australian breed record, after competitive bids pushed prices up at the Weebollabolla Shorthorn bull sale at Moree.
The record held by Outback Sprys Foreman U218, who sold to Dougal Armstrong, Maroubra, Carinda, NSW in July 2025 for $120,000 was matched by Weebollabolla Vegas V271.
All 55 bulls sold to an average $17,101. In the yearlings, 10 bulls averaged $14,500 and reached a top of $30,000, while the 44 two-year-old bulls averaged $17,693 and sold to a top of $120,000.
Weebollabolla Vegas V271 was purchased by repeat buyers, Andrea, Peter and Lachlan Falls, Malton Shorthorns, Finley, NSW.
A son by The Grove Witness S0813 and from Weebollabolla Dawn S46, the August 2024-drop roan bull, was described by the vendor as a "standout" in the paddock, and the "complete package."
Stud principal Jen Jeffreys said she was "speechless", and was thrilled to see the result boosting confidence in the breed.
Recommended for his consistency and with a score of 7 for phenotype by IBMS Breeding Services, the bull was lauded as the "complete package," and recorded estimated breeding values of +2.6 for birth weight, +1.9 for calving ease, and a docility score of 11.
Weeabolla Bull Sale 2026 gallery
Pictures by Lara Webster.
The Falls family purchased the previous record holder, Ronelle Park Slurpie S29, for $106,000 in 2023. At the time, the bull was the highest-priced Shorthorn bull in the country, in 2023.
The 850 kilogram Ronelle Park Slurpie S29, by Ronelle Park Quantum Q73 out of Ronelle Park Wisteria N30, was a descendent of Spry's Global Demand G001.
Andrea Falls, Malton Shorthorns, Finley said this purchase was ironic given legendary stockman Sandy Munro was the underbidder on that bull.
The bull recorded fat scans of 18 and 10 millimetres on the rump and rib and a 130 square centimetre eye muscle area.
Ms Falls said the family had looked for a new sire for the past 12 months, and Vegas V271 bull ticked all the boxes across phenotype and data.
"It's really his shape, the performance, his homozygous poll, he's the right amount of fat cover for us and he's everything that we want in a bull," she said.
"Data's important but it's not everything and he delivers both phenotype and data."
The bull will join a stud and commercial herd on the Hay Plains, were he will continue to strengthen genetics.
Across the first ten lots, prices averaged $31,500, and bulls sold to buyers from Queensland, Tasmania, and across the district.
Another notable sale of the day was Weebollabolla Vautin V301, secured for $45,000 by Futurity Pastoral, Kenebri.
It ranked in the top 1pc for rib with -0.3, top 10pc for IMF, docility and gestational length, with +1.2, +11.7 and -2.8 respectively.
At $37,500 Weebollabolla Vector Prime V19 went to Morgan and Co, Condamine, Qld.
Longreach buyers Keough, Wirth and Pedly were among the main volume buyers of the day, and secured Weebollabolla Volkswagen V70 for $48,000.
They secured another six bulls, to average $15,600.
Another volume buyer, Nebrean Pty Ltd, Goondiwindi, Qld, secured nine bulls to a top of $10,000 and averaged $6800.
Jen Jeffreys, Weebollabolla principal, said the results of the day were outstanding.
In fact, she said, she was "on cloud nine."
"I was blown away, I didn't even register it was over $100,000 until it was on $115,000," she said.
"There was fierce bidding and it's confidence boosting and I'm excited to see what he does for Malton Falls."
While the big price tag was happy news, Ms Jeffreys said buyers were able to secure bulls across a range of prices, with top quality.
"There were plenty for $6000, and with quality right throughout the bulls so I felt confident everybody got what they wanted and I haven't heard anyone miss out, which is pleasing."
The sale was conducted by Elders and BJA Stock and Station Agents, with auctioneer Lincoln McKinlay, Linc'D Pty Ltd, Esk, Qld, taking the bids. The online interface was provided by AuctionsPlus.
