In its second year being held at Glen Wilga, Chinchilla, The Palgrove Annual Bull Sale has once again received massive support, clearing a total of 179 bulls to a packed out sales arena on Friday.
The complete clearance was complimented by a very impressive overall average price of $19,765, and sale gross of $3,538,000.
In a breakdown of the sale, 93 Charolais bulls sold to average $20,312 per head, while 82 Ultrablack bulls recorded an average of $19,256, and four Brangus bulls averaged $17,500.
The Charolais draft ensured things were off to a flying start, with five of the first 10 lots selling for $40,000 or more, but the sale’s top price was uncovered 72 lots in, when the homozygous polled, Palgrove Trout, was reeled in for $60,000.
The son of Palgrove Queenstown, out of Palgrove Charity Q2212D, is bound for stud duties across the border, having been secured by the Salier family of Minnie-Vale Charolais, Narrabri, NSW.
The 25-month-old weighed in at 890 kilograms, measuring 138 square centimetres in the EMA, 4.8 per cent in the IMF, and 39 centimetres in scrotal circumference, with P8 and rib fat measurements of seven and six millimetres, respectively.
Minnie-Vale stud principal Jason Salier said he had to reach further into his pockets for the sale-topper than he had first anticipated, but said the purchase would undoubtedly pay off when his progeny hit the ground.
“We were after a Homozygous polled bull to join our sire battery here,” Mr Salier said.
“I just liked the length of body on that bull, and he was really soft-skinned, with a sleek hair type. He had a beautiful disposition and was structurally very sound, with strong reproductive traits and a very tidy sheath.
“His bloodlines were an outcross to this herd, and he had a great, even spread of EBVs. We like to see the milk EBVs at least at breed average or above, and both the milk and EMA EBVs were very strong.”
Mr Salier said the bull’s grand-sire, Palgrove Landmark, was a standout sire for him within the Palgrove herd over the past five years, and that he was happy to have secured some of those genetics after missing out on a Landmark son several years prior.
“He ticked all of the boxes for what we’re doing down here, and he was definitely the standout bull. He just had that natural constitution and thickness from behind, which we really like to see.
“I kept in mind that his replacement females should be very good too, for our own cow herd.”
The Minnie-Vale stud have been selling bulls for over 50 years, with a handful heading up to Queensland each year, while most go to producers in New South Wales, with many lending to the vealer production in the south.
“We’re always on the lookout for the best genetics that we can get a hold of for our clients down here as well, so I’m always keeping our clientele front of mind when I’m purchasing these bulls,” Mr Salier said.
Top Priced Ultrablack buyer Gavin McKenzie, Tannyfoil Brangus with Nutriens Colby Ede and Ben Noller, Palgrove.
Topping the Ultrablack draft was lot 118, Palgrove Tall Timber, who is also headed back to stud duties, this time in Central Queensland, after being knocked down for $52,500 to the McKenzie family of Tannyfoil Brangus, Blackwater.
At 25-months of age, the son of Palgrove Quality Time ET, out of Palgrove Eloxa P1114, weighed in at 964 kg, with an EMA of 143 sq cm, IMF of 7.3 pc, and scrotal circumference of 39 cm, measuring 12 and 9 mm respectively in P8 and rib fat cover.
Buyer Gavin McKenzie, Tannyfoil Brangus, described his purchase as “thick, deep and quiet.”
“He scanned up really well too,” Mr McKenzie said.
“Walking around the yard, I thought he was the best bull here, so I’m really happy.”
Mr McKenzie, whose family run a 3000-head breeder herd, said his new sire would go back over the Brangus cows to breed bulls, both to sell on and retain within their own operation.
Finishing the sale on a strong note was the final lot of the day, Palgrove Tailor-Made, who sold for $34,000 to top the Brangus draft.
The 26-month-old son of Palgrove Quick Release ET, out of Palgrove Valley View J1173, was snapped up by DBR Grazing, Augathella.
At 750 kg, he boasted an EMA of 126 sq cm and IMF of 5.5 pc, measuring 36 cm in the scrotal, and 13 and 9 mm respectively, in P8 and rib fat cover.
Palgrove’s Ben Noller said they were “over the moon” with the result, which had exceeded his expectations.
“We knew the Charolais job was pretty strong, as we’d already sold all of our two-year-old paddock bulls, but probably didn’t expect it to be quite that good,” Mr Noller said.
“And then the Ultrablack job was just very solid all the way through. Both breeds were very solid throughout.
“I think the best thing for us was the strong commercial support. There were a lot of repeat buyers, all big, commercial operators who have been supporting us for many years.
“That shows us that we’re on the right track, when those guys keep coming back each year and are continuing to be impressed by the cattle. It shows that we’re moving in the right direction and helping them to improve their operations.
“Our aim is just to keep chasing those genetics that improve profitability for our commercial buyers, and I think that shows in the bulls that we are producing, and for them to return is a real testament to that.”
While buyers came from all parts of Queensland and New South Wale to throw up a bid card from the stands, there was also plenty of action online, with bidders also tuning in from South Australia, Western, Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory for the chance at taking home some Palgrove genetics.
Volume buyers on the day were Clermont outfit Bush Holdings who took home a mix of Charolais and Ultrablack bulls totaling 10 bulls for an average spend of $21,800, as well as a water monitoring system package from Farmbot for their buying efforts.
Volume buyers at the sale included long-term supporters of Palgrove, Mt Douglas Pastoral from Clermont, Daley Cattle from Injune and the Arnaboldi Family from Jericho who all purchased nine bulls. Other return buyers included Wells & Sons from Boulia with seven bulls, Warrian Holdings from Injune with eight bulls, and new buyer Vitwood Droughtmasters from Pialba, who acquired seven Charolais bulls. This strong participation highlights the continued support for quality breeding stock in the industry.
In 2023, all 186 lots sold for a 100 per cent clearance, sale average of $17,102 and gross of $3,181,000.
- Agents: Nutrien, Elders, Hourn & Bishop, and George & Fuhrmann, and simulcast on AuctionsPlus.
By Clare Adcock
NSW Charolais stud reels in top bull at Palgrove Annual Bull Sale | Queensland Country Life | QLD