First to hit the $26,000 top price was Vale View Denzel 2, a polled bull by Oasis A Mr Mint (H), which was offered by Dave and Colleen Smith at Manumbar.  The 27-mounth-old bull weighed in at 815 kilograms, measured 40 centimeters in the scrotum, and scanned 127 square centimetres at the eye muscle area. Denzel was knocked down to Paul Dingle, Waringle Partnership, Conondale, over the phone.

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Vale View sold four bulls on their Highlands debut, with a strong average of $19,000, which Mr Smith said was a pleasant result.  “The bulls that we sold were our later calves, than what we usually send to the national sale,” he said. “It’s good to be able to bring our bulls to the clients in Central Queensland, rather than our clients having to come to us in Manumbar.”

 

Towards the end of the sale, the Philp family of Lynsey Park stud paid $26,000 for Oasis Ollie, a 23-month-old heterozygous polled bull, which was offered by Noel Geddes, Oasis Droughtmasters, Emerald.  A son of Oasis Magnum, Ollie weighed in at 725kg, measured 36.5cm in the scrotum, and tested 85 per cent for semen motility.

 

The Geddes family also sold the third equal $26,000 top price bull Oasis Domino, to Matt and Rebecca Brooks of Major Droughtmasters, Wivenhoe Pocket, who travelled over 1000km to purchase him. This was their first time at the Highlands sale, and Mr Brooks said they’re very impressed with their new stud sire to their herd. “We feel privileged to be adding these outstanding Oasis genetics into our herd, thank you to the Geddes family for this opportunity,” he said. “We will be anxiously awaiting his first calves.”

The 24-month-old was another son of Magnum and tipped the scales at 775kg, with a 130 sq cm EMA, P8 fat of 10 and rib fat of 6mm. Oasis stud principle Noel Geddes sold three bulls for a strong average of $22,334. Mr Geddes said the Highlands sale had always been a great market for his Droughtmaster bulls, reaching many of his clients in central and northern Queensland. “It’s a great selling facility in Clermont, and I’d say that was one of the best sales we’ve had here in eight years,” he said.

 

Bulk buying honours of the day went to four operations; Mark Anger and Jennifer Hochmuth purchased nine bulls with a top of $21,000 and average of $9334 while Jumba Holdings, Charters Towers, bought seven bulls, with a top of $11,000 and average of $8715. Carmel Downs Pastoral Company purchased four bulls, with a top of $12,000, averaging $11,000, and the O’Sullivan family, purchased four bulls as well, with a top of $11,000, averaging $8500.

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Article credit: Ben Hardon, Queensland Country Life Rockhampton