The Big Country Brahman Sale concluded earlier this afternoon in what turned out to be a day for the history books.
After the success of the Red Brahman draft on Monday, the Grey’s sold on day two met with an equally impressive gallery of buyers with the sale reaching adrenaline-pulsing heights when a bidding war broke out over Lot 205 Kenilworth 4899 (P) which propelled the bull to a winning bid of $96,000.
Sale co-coordinators Ken McCaffrey, McCaffrey’s ALM, and Jim Geaney, Geaney’s Real Estate and Livestock, announced that the sale had set a new Australian record for the purchase price of a commercial herd bull and guessed that it was probably also likely a world record.
“The price that bull reached shows that the demand for polled Brahmans is increasing significantly each year,” Mr McCaffrey said.
The bulls vendors Kelvin and Margaret Maloney, Kenilworth Brahmans, Mt Coolon, said while they knew he was a handy bull they didn’t expect him to reach the heights he did.
“I don’t think it has sunken in yet that we’ll now be in the record book, it was a huge but pleasant surprise,” Mrs Maloney said.
Purchaser Brian Hughes, Lanes Creek Brahmans, Georgetown, said he was happy that he ended up with the winning bid.
“He has excellent bone,volume and sire appeal, I only saw him for the first time this week but he stood out with his highly desirable poll traits,” Mr Hughes said.
In total 113 Grey Brahman registered sires sold for $825,500 to average $7,305 reaching a top price of $48,000, while the 10 Grey Brahman herd bulls offered grossed $148,500 with the before mentioned top of $96,000 for an amazing average of $14,850.
Brian and Cindy Hughes, Lanes Creek Brahmans, sold the top price registered bull in Lot 178 Willtony Tandem 703 (P) to Clayton Curley, Gipsy Plains Brahmans, Cloncurry, for $48,000.
Mr Curley listed Tandem’s muscle, quiet temperament, clean sheath,poll appeal and overall style as the being the reasons behind his purchase.
“He just has great overall Brahman characteristics, I’ll be using him for A.I work and I’ll be putting him in with the stud heifers straight away,” he said.
All up 123 Grey Brahmans sold for $974,000 to average $7920, the combined gross of the sale across both days reached $1,707,300 with 232 lots sold to average $7680.
Mr McCaffrey was ecstatic about the sale result after bidding came to a close.
“Having bulls average close to $8000 each is a reflection on the excellent quality of the bulls selected for the sale,” he said.
“We sold 30 more bulls than we did at the 2015 sale which produced a very good result itself. But this year the sale average was better and we had a 100 per cent clearance.
“The frequency of bidding across both days of the sale was excellent and it was pleasing to see many long-term repeat buyers in the crowd.
“The repeat buyer turnout was matched by a strong representation of first time bidders at the sale who were attracted to the quality of the cattle catalogued.
Mr McCaffrey is now looking to the 25th anniversary Big Country sale being held in a couple of years with a lot of positivity.
“I’ve spoken to several vendors who are already forward planning for the 25th sale which should be a tremendous event, I’m hoping we’ll catalogue close to 330 bulls.
He said for the last five years the sale gross has been nowhere near what was achieved this year, and that vendors where just as happy with the outcome as buyers.
“I spoke to a number of bidders who are all very happy with the quality of the bulls they bought for what was a comparatively higher price than usual in recent years.
“I think their is a lot more positivity in the stud cattle industry here now, and I think we have plenty more scope to grow the sale to accommodate the demand for high quality Brahman bulls in the north.
A detailed report of the sale will appear in the February 11 edition of the North Queensland Register.
