UPDATED: The prolonged dry played a significant part in ensuring buyers at the Gold City Brahman sale held at the Dalrymple Saleyard in Charters Towers were able to purchase high quality bulls for a very reasonable price.
Australian Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) general manager John Croaker said the sale played out close to how he though it would.
“Because this dry spell has stretched out for so long, it’s really restricting how vendors are able to prepare their cattle for stud sales,” Mr Croaker said.
“As was seen today, conditions are still working in the buyers favour,” he said.
In total 73 bulls sold for a sale gross of $306,000 averaging $4192 with a clearance of 73 per cent.
The high point of the sale was reached when a fierce flurry of bidding culminated in Lance and Karen Pope’s 28-month-old grey Glenborough Rocky Manso (H) topping the sale at $13,000.
The Full Hudgins son of FBC D Roper Manso 959D (IVF) (H) out of homegrown dam Glenborough Crimson Manso (ET) (H) was purchased by Dave Roberts,Swans Lagoon, Millaroo, who said he was impressed with the bulls length; bone structure; temperament and excellent EBV’s.
“He’s a good all round bull who will significantly help the breeding program I’m building at home,” Mr Roberts said.
“He’ll go straight into the females after we get rain,” he said.
Mr Roberts was the top volume buyer of the sale taking home a draft of eight superb bulls for $46,500.
The Pope’s had one of the more successful runs at the sale selling five bulls for $27,500.
The second top price sale of the day came about in Lot 93, when Carawah Resistol Manso 968/4 (D) was snapped up by Johnny Walker, Charters Towers for $11,000.
Mr Walker said he liked the look of 26-month-old-son of TMB Alpha De Manso (IVF) (H) as soon as he saw him.
He’s got great length and a great temperament. I’ll be using him over high grade Brahman cows at home,” Mr Walker said.
The bulls vendors Neil and Travis Harling, Carawah, Springsure, sold five bulls under the hammer for $29,500 in total.
Kelvin Harriman; GI Brahman, Muttaburra, sold seven bulls for $26,000 including the top price red GI Victory 2614 (P) for $7500.
One of the last sons of the magnificent GI Hozae (P), Victory was purchased by Tom and Karen Murphy, Tabletop, Collinsville, who said they thought he was the best bull at the sale.
“He’s a good little poll bull, with a great pedigree. He’ll work in well with our Droughtmaster cows,” Mr Murphy said.
Other vendors who fared well at Gold City this year included: Ion Jackson, Jaffra Brahman, Gracemere, sold nine head for $41,500; John and Betty Atkinson, Laguna Brahman, Proserpine, sold six head for $34,000; Peter and Sue Hammer, Annavale Brahman, Charters Towers sold six bulls for $24,500 and Bon Wall, Wallton Downs Brahman, also sold six head for $24,500.
Other volume buyers at the sale included: EN & S Johnson, Mt Pleasant, Hughenden who bought seven bulls for $25,000; Wolverton Pastoral Co, Coen, purchased six head for $18,500 and Dave Nicholas, PYL Cattle Co, Charters Towers, snapped up six bulls for $20,000.
