Summary: 15 bulls av $6167, top price $17,000, 100pc clearance.
A last-minute decision to offer 15 bulls for sale at the Longreach Show paid dividends for the Job family’s Royalla Shorthorn stud, when it recorded its best ever top price in 17 years of selling at Longreach.
The Appleton Pastoral Co, Islay Plains, Alpha, paid $17,000 for an 820kg bull whose genetics closely mirrored those of the Royalla bull named breed grand champion at Beef Australia 2018 a fortnight earlier.
Nick Job described him as easy doing with softness and muscle.
Islay Plains, a repeat buyer, purchased four bulls for an average of $10,750, while Keough, Wirth & Pedley, Boonamerrie, Longreach also bought four bulls, for a top price of $9000, averaging $6250.
Isisford graziers had their eyes on the lots for auction at the show on Saturday afternoon, with Sunbury Pastoral Co, Lumley, Isisford taking home four bulls for an average of $3500, while MJ and HF Meppem, Tamar, Isisford selected one bull for $4500.
The two remaining bulls are heading east to Saltmarsh Pocket Grazing, Koolaire, Rockhampton, who averaged $3000 for their two purchases.
“It’s a fantastic result, especially given how patchy the season is,” Nick said.
“We’ve been part of the Longreach all-breeds sale since 2001 but this is one of the best sales we’ve had here.
“We’ve never sold a bull here for $17,000.”
The decision was made in early February to call off the Elders Longreach Outback bull sale, which the Royalla bulls were to have been a part of.
Nick said he looked at the sale as sticking by clients who’d stuck by him over the years.
“They would be travelling a long way to get their sires otherwise,” he said.
Landholders from Tambo through to Boulia have purchased Royalla bulls over the years, according to Nick, and all buyers on Saturday were repeat clients.
“That shows they wanted to invest in the genetics despite the season,” Nick said.
“They know our cattle can put condition on and cycle in hard conditions and their eating quality is second to none.
“I was pleased to hear one buyer tell me the calves from a bull he’d bought last year were the quietest he’d ever had.”