'We weren't sure this sale was going to happen': Casa Toro triumphs in Roma

There wasn't a dry eye ringside at the Roma Saleyards on Friday, September 11, as Casa Toro Simmentals, Glengyle, Dulacca, achieved an impressive sale result off the back of a challenging year for the York family.

In an emotional address to the crowd before the sale commenced, Casa Toro stud principal Scott York said he wasn't sure he'd be able to host a sale this year after the health challenges his daughter, Zoe, had faced.

He thanked his family, particularly his parents, and the wider community for their efforts supporting Zoe through her recovery journey, and for making this year's sale happen.

In a triumphant result, the stud cleared all 60 bulls offered for a 100 per cent clearance, a $15,600 average, a top of $32,000, which was achieved by three bulls, and an overall sale gross of $936,000.

For comparison, all 50 bulls offered at last year's sale sold for a 100pc clearance, a $14,900 average, a $32,000 top, and a $745,000 gross.

Zoe, who has been out of hospital and back home for the last two months, was in attendance at Roma for her family's sale.

The first of three lots to reach top price, Zoe's bull, Charmarna Viper V2 sold through Stocklive for $32,000 to Natalie Finger, Hillview, Clermont.

The 24-month-old, 996 kilogram bull, sired by Casa Toro Q36 and out of a Charmarna 7/8 Simbrah cow, recorded 11mm of rump fat, 7mm of rib fat, an eye muscle area of 146 square centimetres, and 5.3pc of intramuscular fat.

Shortly after that sale, Casa Toro Verdict V113 sold for $32,000 to Yacamunda investments, Yacamunda Station, Collinsville, who was bidding via phone.

At 23 months old, the 940kg bull recorded 10mm of rump fat, 8mm of rib fat, an EMA of 147sq cm, and an IMF of 5.3pc.

He was sired by Casa Toro Q36 and out of Casa Toro P204.

Rounding out the top price trio, Casa Toro Veigh V36 sold for $32,000 to Dan and Kristie York, Wattle Park, Wallumbilla.

The 23-month-old, 951kg bull, sired by Casa Toro Q36 and out of Casa Toro D4975, recorded 11mm of rump fat, 7mm of rib fat, an EMA of 143sq cm, and an IMF of 5.5pc.

The volume buyer of the sale, the Hudson family, Mitchell, purchased seven bulls for an average of $13,429.

At Wattle Park in Wallumbilla, top price buyers Dan and Kristie York said they ran a 120 to 130-head Simbrah breeder herd over 1335 hectares (3300 acres).

"We grow our cattle out to feeder weights, and sell them off as heavy feeders as much as we can," Mr York said. "We've got Simbrah base cows, and cross Simmental bulls over them. We find that we get excellent weight for age, so that's why we keep buying Simmentals."

Repeat buyers of Casa Toro bulls, the Yorks said they purchased their top price bull for his figures and colour.

"Since our female herd is based on a red Brahman cross, we've got a red type herd, so we try and keep with the red type Simmentals to keep an even colour," he said.

"We find it's easiest to pick lines to sell as a small producer if you bring your cattle to Roma, you've got a line of the same colour cattle, and same style of cattle, instead of having three black ones, two red ones, and five white ones.

"We just find the buyers seem to appreciate it a lot better."

In addition to their top priced bull, the Yorks purchased an additional bull for $26,000.

Upon getting the bulls to Wallumbilla, Mr York said they'd go out with his cows.

"We'll put those bulls in separate paddocks and give them two or three weeks by themselves just to acclimatise and work out how the world works, then we'll put the rest of the bulls back out with them at the end of the month, and it'll be straight to work," he said.

Speaking to Queensland Country Life post-sale, Scott York said the day's result was beyond his expectations.

"Like I said at the start of the sale, we didn't even know if we'd be here today, so to get here and have a result like that is very, very pleasing," he said.

"We've got a few more bulls in the market this year too, because we couldn't cater for the budget buyer last year.

"We've averaged more, but we've had a bigger spread price-wise on our bulls.

"It was great knowing that people could buy them and wouldn't get left out just based on budget."

Beyond the sale result, Mr York said to have Zoe out of hospital and back on her feet was his biggest relief.

"At Easter time she was still in a wheelchair, and by the middle of the year, she was at 95pc, and now I'd say she's 98pc back to original Zoe," he said.

"It's awesome having her at home, one, but seeing her live her life now.

"I was always confident she probably would walk again, but how well was a question.

"If you didn't know what she went through, you wouldn't know that anything had ever happened to her now."

• Selling agents: Nutrien, GDL, interfaced with AuctionsPlus and Stocklive