Inaugural Dalby multi-breed sale tops at $11,000 as new stud takes shape

After purchasing the top-price bull at the February All Breeds sale, and the supreme interbreed champion of the Royal Queensland Show, a Wandoan enterprise added more quality genetics with the top-price bull at the inaugural Cattlemen's Choice sale in Dalby.

NSW vendors took on the south east at the inaugural multi-vendor and multi-breed sale, where large rocks and strong pegs kept the paperwork and gazebos from flying away at the Dalby saleyard on October 16.

The sale brought together three like-minded studs from NSW to the Darling Downs market, offering 77 head across three breeds - 25 Charolais bulls with Alpine Charolais, 35 black composite bulls with Bluestone Beef, and 17 Simmental bulls with Daraabah Simmental.

The Simmental bulls proved most popular at the sale, with 12 of the 17 Simmental bulls sold for a clearance rate of 70.59 per cent, an average of $7666.67, and a gross of $92,000.

Six of the 25 Charolais bulls sold, for a clearance rate of 24pc, an average of $6000, and a gross of $36,000.

Ten of the 35 black composite bulls sold, for a clearance rate of 28.57pc, an average of $6000 and a gross of $60,000.

The top-price bull was a Simmental bull, Daraabah Wolfy W550, who sold for $11,000 to Greg and Bridgette Ehrlich from Wandoan.

Daraabah Wolfy W550 was 18 months old and weighed 786kg, had P8 and rib fat scans of 9 and 7 millimetres respectively, an eye muscle area of 130 square centimetres, intramuscular fat of 5.2pc, a scrotal circumference of 41 centimetres, semen motility of 90pc, and morphology of 89pc.

He was sired by Daraabah Houston H253, and out of Daraabah Treasure.

The Ehrlich family said they were interested in Daraabah Wolfy for the physical presence he displayed despite his young age.

"We thought he would suit our operation - for a young bull he had a lot of frame about him, and good growth," Mr Ehrlich said.

The Ehrlichs said they were in the process of establishing two of their own studs - a Simmental and a Charolais stud - after deciding to breed their own bulls on their 3000ha property.

"We used to just have commercial breeders and then we thought 'well, we're paying a lot of money for bulls,' so we thought we'd get a few stud cows, and breed our own bulls, but then we thought we might have an overflow, so we might have a few extra to sell," Mr Ehrlich said.

"We've got a ball in each court... we're only just starting out and we're going around and paying some money for some really high quality genetics."

The Ehrlichs' high-quality genetics include the purchase of the top-price Simmental bull at the February All Breeds sale earlier in the year, and purchasing Moongool Victory for $130,000, when he was crowned the supreme champion interbreed bull at this year's Ekka.

Daraabah Simmental vendors Melanie and Bruce McColl said they saw the top-price bull as a standout for his overall type, and said his sire, Daraabah Houston, was the first bull they ever bred.

"Calving ease and just his presence is what they [saw] in him... he's got presence [and] he's just a pretty boy," Mr McColl said.

"The lady who bought him fell in love with him, and they bought another one of ours, so we're very happy with where he's gone... he'll be looked after, I'm sure," Ms McColl said.

The Ehrlichs said they wouldn't put Daraabah Wolfy in with the females for another four to six months, as they feel he is still too young.

"We'll wrap him up in cotton wool and kid gloves... keep him safe," Mr Ehrlich said.

Pictures by Milly Buck

Oct 16, 2026.

While the vendors described the sale as tough, they said they were not discouraged by the results, and noticed a strong online presence.

"This [sale] is something new for us, so it did the job - I knew it was going to be tough, [and] the sale was a bit late in the season... we're happy we got the bulls to new areas and new people," Mr McColl said.

"[Dalby] is the gateway - we've got a lot of clients in the west, and north of here as well, and it's a good facility to do it - very central," Alpine Charolais principal Justin Sanderson said.

Volume buyers dominated the online space, with Sumin McKitterick from Logical Livestock & Property, headquartered in central NSW, purchasing 10 of Bluestone Beef's black composite bulls.

The vendors said they will return to the Dalby saleyards again next year with bulls on offer, with plans to host the sale earlier in the season.

"We'll be back next year," Mr Sanderson said.

• Selling agents - Ray White, Linc'D, interfaced with AuctionsPlus