Why visual appraisal still trumps data for this beef producer at Droughtie sale

For a second consecutive year, a Minlacowie bull has taken out top-price honours at the CQ Invitational Droughtmaster sale, with this year's top price 73 per cent more than last year's figure.

This year's average was also higher than last year's figure by 31.96pc.

The multi-vendor sale at CQLX on Monday, October 19, 2026, saw seven studs offer 45 bulls.

The top-price bull, Minlacowie Camelot, was purchased by Josh Perry, Strathfield Droughtmasters, Fletcher's Awl, Clermont, for $45,000.

Weighing 798 kilograms, the 22-month-old Camelot was sired by Minlacowie Salvador and was out of Minlacowie Perfume 9627.

Homozygous poll, he had a scrotal circumference of 36 centimetres, semen motility of 90pc, and P8 and rib fat of 13 and 9 millimetres respectively.

His eye muscle area was 143 square centimetres and his intramuscular fat was 4.7pc.

2026 CQ Invitational Droughtmaster Sale

Monday, October 19

Mr Perry said he chose the bull because of his softness and structural correctness.

"He's got a good-sized head, good sheath, he's got the length and scale to him," he said.

"He's still not finished growing yet, so we haven't seen the best of him yet."

Mr Perry said he also had that bit extra Brahman content, which was probably lacking in the Droughtmaster world at the moment.

"It's not extreme by any means, but probably what the Droughtmaster world needs," he said.

"He's got enough muscling overall, but he's not extreme in any type, and he's got good feet."

Mr Perry said he judged the bull on his looks first.

"I don't look at data at all, I only use it as a tool. It's not my only means of buying.

"I've got to like the bull in front of me before I look at the cheat sheet.

"Then after that, then I'll look in there and make sure there's no massive abnormalities in the cheat sheet or irregularities, and that's the only time I ever use the cheat sheet."

Mr Perry said Camelot would go into his stud herd.

"We've got some cows at home that will work well with him with his traits," he said.

"A few lower content cows that he'll go across and we'll hopefully get a nice medium between him and them."

The Perry family run between 1100 and 1200 Droughtmaster breeders across two properties. This includes their stud operation, Strathfield Droughtmasters.

He said they tried to sell about 80 to 120 stud bulls a year depending on the season, and sold their commercial cattle into the feeder market.

"So our steers and heifers get sold at that 350kg to 450kg mark to feedlot operations.

"We'll keep them longer if the season will allow us and finish some bullocks on crops."

For this year's sale, 40 of 45 bulls sold at auction for a clearance of 89pc, a gross of $472,000 and an average of $11,800.

In 2025, the sale grossed $304,000 with 34 of 43 bulls sold for a 79pc clearance, an average of $8942 and a top of $26,000 for homozygous poll herd bull, Minlacowie Arizona 44.

In past years, Mr Perry has been a vendor at this sale, but did not have enough bulls this year. He hopes to be back selling at the CQ Invitational Sale next year.

He said he had not bought Minlacowie bulls for a while, but believed Camelot would be a good addition to their stud herd.

Nicole Mills, Minlacowie Droughtmasters, Jambin, said they sold 20 of 23 bulls this year.

Ms Mills said she was not surprised at the top price for Camelot as he was a top sire.

"He had stud sire potential for sure, he had heaps of thickness, plenty of scale, very good scans, good semen, everything, " she said.

"He was by a bull that we sold to Hamadra Droughtmasters, Minlacowie Salvador - Salvador did a really good job for Hamadra.

"And he's out of a very good cow line, very good female line, he's just a standout young sire."

Ms Mills said the sale was in its seventh year and this year was as good as their best.

"The first sale was really good and this has been the best sale since," she said.

"It's a sale that we take pride in the quality that we catalogue throughout the draft.

"And it was an exceptional catalogue this year ... there was a really good line of bulls catalogued, and a lot of repeat clients that are very happy with the bulls they've been buying.

"We have bulls with higher Brahman content, bulls with plenty of frame and that's appealing to buyers."

Elders agent Randall Spann said it was a very good sale with the average up $3000 on last year's average.

He said it was probably the best run of bulls they had had in the seven years that the sale has been operating.

"So everyone's pretty happy, and I think a bit of moisture around has certainly helped contribute to that as well," he said.

Mr Spann said he thought between six and eight bulls were going into stud duties.

"The rest will go into commercial operations, which is very pleasing and there were a hell of a lot of repeat buyers," he said.

Averages under the hammer:

Cebella: 2/2 for an average of $9000

Yellowwood: 3/4 for an average of $18,333

Minlacowie: 20/23 for an average of $13,150

Konjuli: 4/4 for an average of $8500

Birch: 3/3 for an average of $11,666

3 Sisters: 3/4 for an average of $11,333

Parawanga: 3/3 for an average of $6667

Faragan: 2/2 for an average of $7000

• Selling agent: Elders, interfaced with StockLive