'A real sire': Charolais prices challenge Angus at $2.5m Ascot bull sale
The Charolais bull prices gave the Angus sire prospects a run for their money at the annual Ascot bull sale, which saw the overall top-priced bull sold to Victoria, and the sale gross more than $2.5 million.
The annual on-property sale at North Toolburra, Warwick, saw its largest-ever crowd enjoying the warmer weather and overflowing the grandstands on September 18.
The sale offered 202 lots - 89 Angus bulls, 53 Charolais bulls, 39 Angus heifers, 19 Charolais heifers, and one pen of six Angus heifers.
Eighty-one of the 89 Angus bulls sold, for a clearance rate of 91.01 per cent, an average of $13,666.67, and a gross of $1,107,000.
Fifty-two of the 53 Charolais bulls sold, for a clearance rate of 98.11pc, an average of $18,596.15, and a gross of $967,000.
Thirty-seven of the 39 Angus heifers sold, for a clearance rate of 94.87pc, a top price of $15,500, an average of $6381.58, and a gross of $242,500.
All 19 Charolais heifers sold, for a clearance rate of 100pc, a top price of $11,500, an average of $7125, and a gross of $242,000.
The pen of six Angus heifers sold for $3750 per head, for a total of $22,500.
Two Charolais semen straw packages from Palgrove Rockafella R825E, each consisting of five straws, were also offered, with the straws selling for $700 in the first package and $750 in the second, compared to a $400 average in 2025.
The top-priced bull overall was Ascot Vagabond V387, an Angus bull by Millah Murrah Sugar Ray S76, and out of Millah Murrah Flower R118.
He was purchased by Hamish and Noeleen Branson, from Banquet Angus, at Mortlake in Victoria, for $85,000.
Ascot Vagabond V387 was 26-and-a-half months old and weighed 980 kilograms, had rump and rib fat scans of 18 and 14 millimetres respectively, an eye muscle area of 144 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 7.1pc, and a scrotal circumference of 42 centimetres.
The Branson family run a seedstock operation of predominantly Angus bulls on 1300ha of both their own and leased land, and sell more than 200 bulls annually to buyers across Australia.
Ascot vendor Jim Wedge said the top-priced Angus bull was his pick of the sale, and was pleased to be recognised for their genetics by the Victorian stud.
"He was my favourite... It's really pleasing for us for him to go to a major stud like Banquet in Victoria, and it's pleasing to see that people recognised what we're doing here is pretty good," he said.
The top-priced Charolais bull, Ascot Watermark W124E, sold to a syndicate consisting of Loid and Zabby Appleton from Appleton Cattle Company near Charters Towers, Palgrove Charolais, and Elridge Charolais, for $70,000.
Comparatively, an equal top price of $42,000 was received for two Ascot Charolais bulls in 2025.
Ascot Watermark W124E was 18 months old and weighed 766 kilograms, had rump and rib fat scans of 7 and 5 mm respectively, an EMA of 131sq cm, IMF of 5pc, and a scrotal circumference of 38 cm.
He was by American bull LT Governor 1560 PLD M963060, and out of Gobongo Rebby D205E.
Livestock agent Kevin Graham bid on the bull on the syndicate's behalf, and said the bull will go to the Appleton property at Charters Towers, while Palgrove and Elridge retain semen shares.
"They always buy a good stud bull every few years, and they've bought bulls [from Ascot] in the past... this was a particularly good bull that the group liked," Mr Graham said.
"He's got wonderful muscling, he's as broad as a church, has beautiful bone in him, lovely head, good temperament, good working gear, and he's one of those bulls that is a real sire - he's got it stamped all over him, and he'll grow into a wonderful bull."
Pictures by Milly Buck
September 18, 2026.
Mr Wedge said he felt the Charolais bulls sold particularly well, and that the dry conditions were probably what impacted the Angus demand.
"It was good to see a lot of the Angus bulls went to studs, [and] that was a very strong part of the sale... it was a little bit tough in the middle but I think that's due to the tough season that everyone has got, but the Charolais were very strong, so we're pleased with that," he said.
In the heifer section the top-priced Angus heifer was bought by the Bennett family from Western Australia, and the top-priced Charolais heifer was bought by Michael Burns from NSW.
More than 230 bid cards were registered, and buyers ranged from five states - Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
The largest volume buyer was Samuel Holdings, who bought 13 head across two bid cards for an average of $14,769.23, and was also the 2025 top price bull buyer.
- Selling agents Elders, Nutrien, Kellco and Colin Say and Co, Glen Innes, NSW, interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
