Red Brahman tops Clermont sale, an increase of 35 per cent on 2025's top
The top-selling Brahman at this year's Clermont Beef Bull Sale was 35 per cent higher in price than last year's top-seller.
The sale at the Clermont saleyard on Tuesday, September 22, had 54 grey and red bulls on offer from five studs: Palmal, 2AM, Apis Creek, Lindley Park and newcomer, Skyview.
Andrew Dyer, Cressbank Cattle, Alpha, paid $44,000 for the top-priced bull, a red Brahman from 2AM.
The 22-month-old poll scurred bull, 2AM 9835, was sired by 2AM Idaho 7920 and was out of 2AM Emerald 5706.
It hit the scales at 774 kilograms, had P8 and rib fat measurements of 13 and 10 millimetres respectively, an eye muscle area of 130 square centimetres, a scrotal circumference of 41cm and an intramuscular fat reading of 5.6pc.
Cressbank Cattle is a commercial organic beef operation, joining 1600 cows a year and turning off 1000 bullocks a year direct to the meatworks.
It has a Brahman-based herd, crossbred with Charolais or Angus.
The enterprise consists of two adjoining properties at Alpha and country at Biloela where they fatten bullocks.
Mr Dyer said the bull he purchased would go out with some of his good cows and hopefully breed some bulls as replacements.
2026 Clermont Beef Bull Sale
Tuesday, September 22
He said he picked him on type and then looked at this EBVs.
"Type-wise, he was a nice little bull, his birth weight was pretty low and his days to calving were good," he said.
"There's just a couple of things that we want to address (in our herd) and he ticked those boxes and he was a good bull to go with it."
Mr Dyer said as they had concentrated on growth in Brahmans for so long their birth weights had crept up and fertility had suffered.
"He's only average for growth, but ... birth weight was pretty good and return to calving was good as well," he said.
A first-time buyer to the sale and the 2AM stud, Mr Dyer said the bull was over his budget.
"I wasn't expecting to pay that much today, but, as I said, he ticks quite a few boxes," he said.
Topping the grey Brahmans this year was a 33-month-old poll scurred bull, Palmal 2878, offered by Palmal Brahmans.
It was purchased by Stephen Lund, Talki Station, Clermont, for $28,000.
Weighing 938kg, Palmal 2878's sire was Palmal Diplomat 9349 and he was out of Palmal Isabella 9413.
It had P8 and rib fat scans of 14 and 9mm respectively, an EMA of 158 sq cm, a scrotal circumference of 38cm and an IMF reading of 5.2pc.
As well as the top-priced bull, Mr Lund bought two other lots for an average of $14,333.
Mr Lund said the top-priced grey was attractive because he was polled, a good big bull and had a big eye muscle.
"We just figured he'd do our herd some good, so we grabbed him," he said.
The Lunds have a commercial operation, breeding and fattening bullocks for the EU market and sending them straight to the meatworks. They have a Brahman herd, crossbreeding with Speckle Parks.
On their 16,187 hectare (40,000 acre) property, the Lunds run 4000 head which includes 1200 breeders
Mr Lund said he thought the quality of the bulls was excellent at this year's sale.
All up this year, the sale had a 100pc clearance to gross $615,500 and average $11,398.
The 35 greys grossed $344,500 for an average of $9842 while 19 reds grossed $271,000 to average $14,263.
By way of comparison, the 2025 sale resulted in 52 of 53 bulls selling for a 99pc clearance. The top price last year was $32,500, again for a bull offered by Andrew and Anna McCamley, 2AM Brahmans, Dingo.
The gross was $602,500 for a sale average of $11,586. In a further breakdown of the 2025 results, 36 of the 37 grey Brahman bulls offered sold, averaging $11,805.55, while all 16 red Brahman bulls sold for an average of $9562.
Bulk buyer Joe Atkinson, Albinia, Clermont, who has a breeding and fattening operation, bought five bulls - four grey and one red - for a top of $24,000 and an average of $14,600.
Mr Atkinson said he would put the Brahman bulls over his Santa Gertrudis cows to put more Brahman content back into them.
Nutrien Ag Rockhampton's Dane Pearce said it was a really strong sale compared to last year and was mostly due to the quality of the cattle.
"A 100pc clearance is definitely positive for the Brahman breed, but more importantly, a really good average," he said.
"The average reflected the quality of the cattle and producers who were trying to buy a better end bull.
"They really competed hard for the $8000 to $14,000 range, there was a lot of competition through there."
Vendor averages:
2AM - 25/25 for an average of $13,540
Skyview - 9/9 for an average of $9444
Lindley Park - 3/3 for an average of $8333
Apis Creek - 7/7 for an average of $5571
Palmal - 10/10 for an average of $12,800
- Selling agents: Nutrien Ag Solutions and Hoch & Wilkinson, interfaced with Stocklive
