Telpara Hills break Ultrablack bull and female record at 2023 sale

Held at Tolga, the Pearces sold 139 lots of 140 for a 99 per cent clearance rate, sale average of $13,924, and gross of $1,935,500.

Of those, 100 bulls out of 101 sold for an average of $13,545, while all 39 heifers sold and averaged $14,897.

There were 80 Brangus bulls averaging $11,356 and topping at $32,500, while 20 Ultrablack bulls sold for an average of $22,300, reaching a breed record $100,000.

The peak of the sale was reached when lot 5, Telpara Hills New Limit 801S7, sold for $100,000 to Dr Colan and Gail McGree, Shamrock Black Brangus, Bororen, surpassing the record $80,000 set by Palgrove Sugar Ray, on September 8.

Dr McGree said New Limits would be taken to Rocky Repro for semen collection, before joining his 80 head Brangus breeder herd, south of Gladstone.

"When we inspected New Limits, he ticked all the boxes in terms of his phenotype, EBVs, and most of all his ideal tenderness gene score of 10, because that's one of the things we're concentrating in our herd," he said.

"We've got only Brangus at the moment, but New Limit is going to enable us to produce quite a few Ultrablacks."

The 24-month-old Telpara New Limit 801S7 was the son of Chiltern Park Moe M6 and out of Telpara Hills Miss Brickhouse 801Q5.

Weighing in at 854 kilograms, he had P8 and rib fat measurements of 7 and 10 millimetres, an eye muscle area of 130 square centimetres, and IMF of 6.5 pc.

In the heifer section, 23 Brangus heifers sold to average $15,000, topping at $38,000, 15 unjoined Brangus heifers averaged $13,066, while one Ultrablack heifer sold for a breed-record top price of $40,000.

Wayne and Kellie Dobe, CPR Brangus and Ultrablacks stud, Cedar Glen, Ravenshoe secured Ultrablack heifer, Telpara Hills Miss Geddes 468S29.

The 21-month-old was by Varilek Geddes 7068 and out of Telpara Hills Miss Foundation 468Q13.

She was a full sister to Ultrablack bull, Telpara Hills Avalanche 468S12, which also sold for $50,000 to the Dobes.

Miss Geddes was a natural AI calf between ET programs and ranked in the top 1 pc of the breed for all growth, steer indices, and 2pc for EMA.

The Dobes also operate commercial operation, DeSalis Grazing Company, which is based at their breeder property, DeSalis Station, 60 km inland from Gumlu.

DeSalis was among the top volume buyers on the day, outlaying $350,000 to secure 24 bulls at an average of $14,583.

They started using Ultrablacks in their herds over the past 18 months, and Ms Dobe said both Avalanche and Miss Geddes would boost both their commercial and stud herd to the next level.

"Varilek Geddes stats were everything we wanted including huge muscle and clean underline," she said.

"(Miss Geddes) is in the top 1pc of the breed for all growth, 2pc for EMA and her temperament is second to none."

The Dobes plan to collect from Avalanche for their next AI program and have high expectations for Miss Geddes in their IVF program starting soon in Ravenshoe.

Telpara Hills stud principal Stephen Pearce acknowledged their sale presented great value for money.

"Under tough market conditions, this sale really showed that quality still demands and sells," Mr Pearce said.

Last year 107 Brangus bulls averaged $19,122, six Ultrablack bulls averaged $20,000, while 28 Brangus heifers averaged $24,714 and eight Ultrablack heifers averaged $20,125.

Selling agent: Elders, simulcast on Elite Livestock Auctions