A plethora of first-class prospective sire options will await interested parties who make the journey to CQLX Gracemere for the 2023 Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale (RBWS) being held from Monday, October 2 through Wednesday, October 4, from 8am each day.
First held in 1977, the RBWS has since become the preeminent multi-vendor seedstock sale at which to buy and sell the best of the best Brahman bulls.
For its 46th iteration, an extraordinary 931 bulls will be offered by 205 vendors from throughout Queensland and New South Wales, including 29 who'll be making their debut at the sale.
Australian Brahman Breeders' Association (ABBA) president Reade Radel said bulls included in the RBWS catalogue each year are put through the most rigorous selection process of any sale and any breed in Australia.
"All bulls have scrotal circumference and semen quality requirements above Australian Cattle Vets (ACV) standards, and they have all been ACV breeding soundness evaluated. All bulls have tested Pompes free," Mr Radel said.
"All bulls drafted for the RBWS are from breed-leading bloodlines produced by the best Brahman stud breeders from across Australia and internationally."
He said the quality of the bulls offered at the RBWS improves yearly creating an opportunity for buyers to invest in proven genetics and to continue with the improvement of their respective herds.
"No other sale is able to offer this quantity of bulls and certainly not with the diversity of breedings that are made available each year at the RBWS."
The 2023 draft will consist of 487 grey bulls and 444 reds, with the greys to kick off the sale proceedings and the reds to follow partway through the sales' second day, proving ample reasons for the traditionally predominantly northern and central Australian buying panel to attend.
If the results of the 2022 sale hold firm then buyers with budgets both large and small will be able to find bulls fit for their requirements, as 380 of the 790 bulls that entered the ring last year sold for $10,000 or less, a figure which accounted for 48 per cent of the combined draft offered.
In all 779 bulls found new homes last year, for a 99pc clearance rate, an average of $16,843 and a total sale gross of $13,121,000, with two red bulls sharing the top price honours at $200,000, while two grey bulls reached $130,000 apiece to top the section.
Those who are unable to make the trip to Gracemere for this year's sale will have the capacity to bid from home via the Elite Livestock Auctions, Stocklive online platform, through which all three days of the sale will be livestreamed.
Freight rebates will be offered to purchasers of five or more bulls at the sale, with those travelling more than 500km to attend the sale to receive a $50 rebate per bull, while interstate buyers will receive a rebate of $100 per bull. Bulk buyers of 10 or more bulls will be eligible for a rebate of $50 per bull, with no requirement on distance needed.
Pre-sale inspections will be occurring daily, from 3-5pm on Sunday, October 1, and then from 6am until selling gets underway at 8am each day from October 2-4.
After the inspections on Sunday October 1, from 5pm the Judo Bank RBWS Gathering will be held at CQLX with a complimentary barbecue buffet and refreshments to be offered.
The sale catalogue is now online and can be viewed on the RBWS home page.
For any additional information regarding the 47th annual Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale please contact your preferred selling agent at Elders, GDL or Nutrien.
