New faces littered the stands at the ANC Charolais sale on Friday, as the strong bull market pushes people further afield to find their new sires.
Stud buyers paid big money to take home the new genetics on their wishlists, while commercial cattlemen consistently outlaid solid bids, to see Andrew and Norah Cass' lineup of 109 bulls cleared for an average of $13,284 and top price of $45,000.
The top money came early in the catalogue when Ryan and Rachel Holzwart, Bauhinia Park Charolais, Emerald, secured ANC Q Pac (P) - a bull that the Cass family had originally intended to keep.
Sired by ANC Mac (P) and out of ANC Wilmuri, the 25-month-old tipped the scales at 884 kilograms, with an eye muscle area of 148 square centimetres, P8 and rib fat of 9mm and 7mm respectively, and intramuscular fat of 4.8 per cent.
With a scrotal circumference of 43cm, Q Pac had semen motility of 75pc and morphology of 81pc.
His performance topped that of stablemate ANC Q Electric (P), who had previously held top honours with a bid of $35,000.
True to his name, the sale atmosphere had kicked into gear and become electric as several parties battled it out for the homozygous polled son of ANC Keypad (P).
Wayne and Lesley Davis, Barambah-Dale Charolais, Dalby, were the winning bidders on the 24-month-old out of ANC Jetset's Habitue (P).
Weighing 822kg, Q Electric scanned 144sq cm for EMA, 9mm and 7mm for P8 and rib fat, respectively, and 4.6pc for IMF. He measured 39cm in the scrotum, with semen motility of 75pc and morphology of 83pc.
"We bought this bull because, firstly, he's homozygous polled, we needed one of those bulls this year, and we really liked his temperament," Mr Davis said.
"His temperament is exceptional, sirey head and a very sleek, compact body. He's not a big bull, but he's very correct."
A third-top price of $28,000 was achieved twice, within several lots of the top sellers.
John and Roslyn Mercer, Kandanga Valley stud, accounted for ANC Guinnes's Quart (AI) (P), sired by Guinnes SC FR5111038250 (P/S), while Roger and Roslyn Nobbs, Wingara, Moura, took ANC Quay (AI) (P), from the same sire.
Several volume buyers were active on the day, both on-property and via Elite Livestock Auctions, including the Russell family of Augathella who purchased 10 bulls for an average of $7900.
Serocold Pastoral Company, Rolleston, put together a draft of six bulls for an average of $10,500, Andrew Summerville, Ray White Rural Casino, NSW, also took six to average $11,833, and Perrett Cattle Co, Injune, purchased five for a $13,400 average.
Each taking four, Geoff and Nadine Lucas, Munbilla, paid an average of $11,750, while Campo Santo Grazing Co, Roma, outlaid an average of $14,750.
Of the 109 bulls offered and sold by the Cass family, 38 of those, representing more than a third of the catalogue, sold above the sale average of $13,284.
Grossing almost $1.5 million, stud principal Andrew Cass said they were very happy with the sale result.
"I was happy to get some good prices, but I'm happy there's affordable money there for everybody to buy a bull at the same time," Mr Cass said.
"The commercial buyers are paying more and more; commercial buyers can pay a lot but they're paying a lot more than normal, which is good to see, but I do feel for them having to pay that much.
"You do expect a stud guy to have a crack, but even some of the stud ones got their bulls for less money than what the commercial guys were paying; there's just good money out there to be had and I was honoured to receive some."
The sale attracted buyers from all parts of central and southern Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia.
There were 53 registered bid cards on-property, another 53 bidders registered online through Elite Livestock Auctions, and 109 online viewers.
- Selling agents: GDL, and Nutrien Livestock; simulcast by Elite Livestock Auctions.
