FarmWorks Annual Fitzroy Bull Sale

Thursday 3rd Spetember 2009

Discussing the assets of the $6250 Droughtmaster bull which topped last week's PGA Kimberley Division Fitzroy Bull Sale conducted by FarmWorks is buyer John Henwood (left), Fossil Downs station, vendor Lee Edwards, Barlyne stud, Queensland, PGA Kimberley division president Jim Motter, Bulka station and vendor and FarmWorks Queensland agent Jim Edwards, Barlyne station.

THE Fitzroy Crossing Rodeo grounds played host to the annual PGA Kimberley Division bos Indicus bull and heifer sale last Friday where prices reached a top of $6250 for a Droughtmaster bull. Conducting agents FarmWorks, with regular and new vendors from Queensland and the Kimberley region, yarded 132 bos Indicus bulls as well as a small yarding of stud and commercial heifers. In total 21 registered buyers from all corners of northern WA, including the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and the Northern Territory, ensured the sale achieved a solid result.

Compared to last year the bidding was a lot more intense which resulted in an improved average and clearance. At the sale's conclusion FarmWorks auctioneer Neil Foale had cleared 122 of 132 lots under the hammer to average $3000 across the board. The sale saw 92 Red and Grey Brahman bulls average $2886, 25 Droughtmaster bulls top the average stakes at $3490, while five Charbray bulls averaged $2650.

In the female section of the sale the four Brahman heifers sold to a top of $1500 and averaged $1250, while the one Droughtmaster heifer sold for $1000. There were also 40 commercial heifers sold in the sale and these averaged $450. FarmWorks livestock auctioneer Neil Foale said the final sale result was much stronger than last year and all the vendors went away very happy with the outcome.
"The quality of the cattle was excellent and it keeps improving every year," Mr Foale said. "Considering the distance the animals had come for the sale they arrived in wonderful condition. "The interest presale was followed through in the bidding with pastoralists bidding strongly on the quality bulls. "They have realised that they have to continue to invest in genetics and improve their herds even though the live export market is struggling."

The Droughtmaster breed led the sale with a run of 26 bulls from eight studs and it wasn't long before the sale's top price of $6250 was set.Leading off the Droughtmaster charge and taking top price honours was the Barlyne Droughtmaster stud when it sold its second bull for the $6250 price tag.

The 21-month-old, red, polled bull attracted plenty of interest from prospective buyers but in the end it was John and Annette Henwood, Fossil Downs station, Fitzroy Crossing, who had the final bid. The top price bull was by Sylvan Springs 517.

Barlyne also sold another two bulls for $3500 and $3000 to Wandagee station, Carnarvon, and Jubilee Downs station, Fitzroy Crossing, respectively. Next up in the Droughtmasters was the Crusader stud, Eidsvold, Queensland, which offered and sold two bulls both for $4000. On both occasions the bulls were secured by the Anderson family, Jubilee Downs station. From there Jubilee Downs went on to secure the top price bull in the Rodlyn team for $3000.

The Rodlyn bull, Rodlyn 07/14, was an April 2007 drop calf by Glenlands 2517. Rodlyn also sold two other bulls for $2500 to SAWA Pastoral Co, Beefwood Park station, Fitzroy Crossing. The Birch Droughtmaster stud was next into the ring and it offered and sold three bulls to a top of $3750.

The stud's top price bull, Birch 298, was a December 2007 drop calf and was purchased by Fossil Downs. Taking home both the Wynwood bulls offered was the Hill Springs station. Hill Springs paid $3250 for Wynwood 080026, and $3000 for Wynwood 080021. Offering and selling three bulls in the sale was the Alma stud, Bell, Queensland. Its top price was $2750, when it sold Alma Caboose 08/1648 to Jubilee Downs station. Offering next in the Droughtmaster section was the Sevenell stud, which offered and sold four bulls to a top of $3500, which was paid by Fossil Downs for Sevenell Deen 638. Deen 638 was a November 2007 drop calf by Sevenell Robin Hood 04/155.

Rounding out the Droughtmaster run was the Comanche stud, which cleared its team of five bulls to a top of $4500 on four occasions and for an average of $4450. Purchasing all four bulls at $4500 was Fossil Downs. The sole offering of Charbray bulls came from the Rodlyn stud. Rodlyn cleared its offering of five bulls to a top of $3500 for an average of $2650.

Purchasing the $3500 bull, Rodlyn 957, which was by Advance Zerox (CH), was Jubilee Downs. The Brahman bulls rounded out the bull offering in the sale and there were 101 bulls presented by 13 vendors. Taking top price honours in this section of the sale was Castle Livestock, when it sold a February 2008 drop grey calf, Bar Boot Batman to Jubilee Downs. Bar Boot Batman, was sired by Miandaly Overdrive V8 and was described in the catalogue as an early maturing bull, with heavy muscling and a good temperament.

Castle Livestock sold another four grey sires in the sale to average $3700 over its team of five sold. The Brahman bull run, started with a draft of nine red Brahman bulls from the Barlyne stud. Barlyne cleared all nine bulls for an average of $2972 and to a top of $3750, which was paid by Hill Springs station when it secured a 21-month-old herd bull by Barlyne 768. Securing four bulls from the Barlyne team was Ruby Plains station, Halls Creek, while Camp Cattle Co, Derby and Beef Park station, both secured three Barlyne sires.

Offering eight red Brahman sires and clearing all eight at an average of $2563, was the Rodlyn stud. Topping the Rodlyn Brahman team at $2750 were two April 2007 drop bulls Rodlyn Essex and Rodlyn Boyd, when they were purchased by Bulka Downs station, Fitzroy Crossing. The Alma Park stud offered 10 reds and five greys in the sale and cleared seven of the reds and four greys to a top of $2500 and an average of $2432. It sold four reds for $2500 to Peedamulla station and four greys for $2500 to Ruby Plains station.

Clearing its team of 11 red bulls offered in the sale was the Muan stud, it averaged $3295 over the draft and achieved a top price of $4000 twice. Paying the $4000 for Muan 2766, which was sired by Winchester Magnum 999, was TMG Brahmans, Katherine, while Hill Springs station outlaid $4000 for Muan 2748, which was by Muan Flinders 1599. All three red Brahmans offered by Alma Brahmans sold for $2500 with Yougawalla taking two and Ruby Plains one. Six red sires were trucked in from Innes Brahmans and these averaged $2375 when they all sold. Taking three at $2500 was Peedamulla station.

Rathlyn Brahman stud offered and sold 11 grey and red Brahman sires in the sale. The three reds sold topped at $3000 twice when both bulls were secured by Jubilee Downs, while the greys peaked at $4250 twice when both bulls were secured by Larrawa
Pastoral Co, Fitzroy Crossing.

Buying the two TMG Brahmans offered was Bulka Downs when it paid $3000 for both sires. One of the sale's biggest vendors Elanora Park stud offered and sold 15 grey Brahman sires to a top of $4000 and an average of $3233. Taking home the $4000 bull, Elanora Park Bevendorff, which was a September 2007- drop calf by Brahrock Asset 3085, was Larrawa Pastoral Co.

Clearing seven of its 11 grey bulls offered at an average of $2429 was the Ahern stud. The top price in the Ahern run was $2750 paid by Camp Cattle Co, Derby, which also paid $2500 and $2250 for two more Ahern sires. Selling one grey bull for
$2250 to Camp Cattle Co was the Mt Hastings stud. Rounding out the Brahman bull offering was the Coodardie stud, which sold
three grey bulls all for $2250 to Sophie Downs station. The Droughtmaster and Brahman stud heifers topped at $1500 with the Brahman breed taking the honours.

Selling the top price heifer at $1500 to Camp Cattle Co, plus another three to the same buyer at $1250 twice and $1000 was Alma Brahmans. In the commercial heifers Camp Cattle Co turned from buyer to vendor when it sold 15 unmated red Brahman heifers for $450 to Birdwood Downs. Also turning from buyer to vendor was Jubilee Downs which sold 25 PTIC Droughtmaster heifers for $450 to SAWA Pastoral Co.