Rocky Brahman Sale day one: two bulls exceeded $100k - this is where they're headed

There was plenty of action ringside on day one of the 2026 Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale, with two bulls making more than $100,000 at CQLX on Monday, October 5.

Of the 145 bulls through the ring, 144 sold for a 99 per cent clearance, a $12,781 average, a $160,000 top, and an overall gross of $3,142,000.

For comparison, on day one of the 2025 sale, 240 out of 250 bulls sold, a 96pc clearance, for an average of $11,622, a top of $120,000, and a gross of $2,785,500.

The top-price bull of the day, JRL Blockout 775, offered by Jason and Rachel Leitch, JRL stud, Springsure, sold to Shane and Sandra Bishop, Garglen Brahmans, Moura.

The 26-month-old, 883 kilogram horned bull, sired by JRL Detroit Manso and out of JRL 520, recorded 15 millimetres of rump fat, 10mm of rib fat, an eye muscle area of 146 square centimetres, 4.6pc of intramuscular fat, and a scrotal circumference of 37cm.

He'll join a herd of 300 stud cows at Garglen Brahmans, Moura.

Brahman Week regulars, the Bishops said they attend every year looking to buy.

"We're a family operation...our stud started in 1962," Mr Bishop said.

"That was when it was registered - the first Brahmans were bought in 1955," Ms Bishop added.

JRL Blockout was the first bull the Bishops had purchased from JRL, and they said he stood out to them for his phenotypical correctness.

"Their genetics are very familiar to us," Mr Bishop said.

"We like the way that they perform on grass. They've got plenty of growth, but maintain the sustainability on grass.

"That's what attracted us to the bull - moderate frame, but very heavy.

"Great weight for age, thick and structurally very correct - that's what really got us.

"Our cattle, we felt they need squaring up again, and he's got structure, bone, and an amazing head.

"We like to see a good head on a bull, whether it's horned or polled."

Upon getting their top-priced purchase home, the Bishops said he'd be sent out for stud duties.

"He'll end up in our IVF program," Mr Bishop said.

"We have a donor set that are proven cows. We don't ever do heifers - only proven cows that have had plenty of calves.

"Once we collect semen, he'll go into that IVF program as well as natural service."

Vendors Jason and Rachel Leitch said they were elated with the result, which was a record top price for them.

"We're stoked; it's a pretty surreal feeling," Ms Leitch said.

"We weren't expecting it. We knew he was a good bull, but you don't ever expect those results, you just hope they sell well.

"We're extremely proud that he went to such a good stable at Garglen.

"We sourced his old great-grandmother and outsourced her when we were starting the stud. We IVFed her to breed his grandmother, and then we bred his mother, and we bred his father as well.

"It's pretty satisfying that we've bred up a lot of his genetics, and that's probably made the moment more proud to share."

The other bull making more than $100,000 was Viva JB, offered by Heidi Davison operating under her parents, Alistair and Pam Davison, Viva Brahmans, Lumeah, Middlemount.

The 26-month-old, 883kg polled bull was purchased for $110,000 by Roger and Roslyn Nobbs, Garwin Brahman Stud, Wingarra, Bauhinia Downs.

Sired by Rockstar Mr Mint 153 and out of Viva Laurea 2440F, he recorded 16mm of rump fat, 14mm of rib fat, an EMA of 144 sq cm, an IMF of 6.6pc, and a scrotal circumference of 39cm.

Mr Nobbs said he felt the bull would do well in his couple of hundred head stud herd.

"He's just a standout. Plus he had a bit of pollness in him, which I don't have a lot of polled cattle in my herd," he said.

"I have a lot of horny cattle, so I want to put a bit of polled genetics in."

Rounding out the podium of top-priced bulls of the day, Hazelton Holyfield 7254, offered by Hazelton Brahmans, Blackwood, Middlemount, sold for $80,000 to Kelvin and Ronnie Cochrane, Brothers Three Brahmans, Gympie.

Sired by Mr H Pride of Maddox Manso and out of NCC Lady Florida 5821, the 33-month-old, 1020kg horned bull, recorded 17mm of rump fat, 10mm of rib fat, an EMA of 155 sq cm, an IMF of 5.9pc, and a scrotal circumference of 44cm.

Read the vendor averages from the day here.

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