Repeat buyers drive Greenup Eidsvold Station bull sale to complete clearance

From the opening run to the final bull through the ring, sustained competition and a strong return of familiar faces underpinned a consistent result at the Greenup Eidsvold Station bull sale on Thursday, September 17.

The Greenup family's sale at Belvedere, near Eidsvold, achieved a complete clearance, with all 123 bulls offered in the ring selling to gross $1.686 million and averaging $13,707.

The result improved on 2025, with the average lifting 2.2 per cent from $13,408, the gross increasing 15.4pc from $1.461 million, and the clearance rising from 90pc to 100pc.

Bulls dispersed across a broad section of northern and southern Queensland, with purchases heading to Meandarra and St George through to Cloncurry, Nebo and Clermont, alongside strong support from local and returning clients.

AuctionsPlus also generated plenty of activity throughout the sale, complementing competition from a mix of commercial and stud buyers on the ground.

Topping the sale at $45,000 was lot seven, Eidsvold Station Wallace W672, purchased by repeat buyers Collin and Kellie Mitchell, Gradna Pastoral, Talwood.

Sired by Greenup Normandy N130 and out of Eidsvold Station S507, the 24-month-old sire prospect weighed 805 kilograms and scanned a 126 square centimetre eye muscle area, 4.7 per cent intramuscular fat, and rib and rump fat depths of 9mm and 14mm respectively, with a scrotal circumference of 41cm.

The Mitchells' return to the sale typified what Greenup Eidsvold Station stud principal Rick Greenup said was one of the most pleasing aspects of this year's result, with established clients featuring heavily throughout the buying gallery.

"We're really happy," Mr Greenup said.

"It was great to see there was big competition on the top-end bulls without the silly high prices.

"I think we're really happy with the consistency, and particularly the repeat clients.

"It was repeat client after repeat client after repeat client, and that excites us. New people coming in and having a bit of a go is great, but it's when those people keep coming back."

The strength of repeat support was also evident in the day's largest buying account, with Bob Lord, Kilterry Grazing, Julia Creek, securing 13 bulls at an average of $19,000.

A long-term supporter of the Greenup program, Mr Lord said his family's association with the cattle now stretched across three generations.

"We know what they are, we know which bulls suit our country and they're doing well up there," he said.

Mr Lord said the operation was predominantly Santa Gertrudis-based, with the Greenup genetics forming an established part of its breeding program.

"We've always had a stud in the past, but we're really breeding our own bulls to put over our own breeders," he said.

Mr Lord's buying run culminated with the final catalogued bull of the sale, lot 140, which sparked renewed competition to finish the fixture at $40,000 and claim second-top price honours.

Sired by Rosevale Nebraska N102 and out of Greenup R91, the 23-month-old weighed 840kg and scanned a 120sq cm EMA, 4.5pc IMF with rib and rump fat depths of 6mm and 9mm respectively, and measured 43cm in the scrotum.

Mr Lord said the bull had been identified before entering the ring and fitted the type his family knew would perform in their Julia Creek environment.

For Mr Greenup, finishing the sale with one of the strongest results of the day was no accident, with the family having considered bringing the bull forward in the catalogue.

"I'm not surprised because we even thought about bringing that bull forward," he said.

"Nowadays there's a lot of bulls out there and a lot of competition in the genetics job, and having a bull like that at the end keeps people there.

"I know people that wanted to get on a plane and go, but they stayed for that, as a number of people did.

"The last bull sold well and it's great to finish like that on a good note."

Mr Greenup said the consistency of several established bloodlines continued to underpin the sale team, with Greenup Ned Kelly genetics again finding favour with buyers.

"The Ned Kelly lines have been doing a great job... they're just consistent," he said.

"Even on the dam side now, with the Ned Kelly lines, we're keeping that softness and keeping the fertility there, with a bit of shape and plenty of carcase, while still being able to lay down fat."

Of the 600 bulls the Greenup Eidsvold Station stud breeds, only the top 140 were catalogued for the sale, and Mr Greenup said they had to prove themselves in commercial conditions to make the final sale draft.

While proven genetics remained prominent throughout the catalogue, buyers can expect new bloodlines to begin emerging through the Greenup program in coming years.

Mr Greenup said an artificial insemination program conducted in 2025 would begin to influence the bulls offered at next year's sale.

"There's always new stuff coming through," he said.

"We did a good AI program the year before, which is going to produce next year's bulls, so there are some exciting new genetics coming through there.

"We'll keep what genetics they are under our hat for now though."

• Selling agents: Elders, GDL, AuctionsPlus