2010 Billabong sell to record $60,000

There were price highlights galore in the Stud Sire section of the Annual Billabong Droughtmaster Sale at Moura with a new Sale Record of $60,000 paid for the Hicks Family's Sale topper, Billabong Toshi, sale average prices recording a very healthy 11% rise on 2009 figures, and continuing double digit growth on average in bull prices at the Sale for the last four years.  Studmasters and bull breeders from Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and North, South, West and Central Queensland supported the Sale showing a very strong endorsement of the positive influence the Billabong bloodlines are currently exerting across the Droughtmaster industry.

"We are delighted with the strong Stud buying support," John Hicks of Billabong said, "we had more bulls sell into the five figure range than ever before so it is pleasing to see more breeders recognise the Billabong genetics as most suitable to take their herds forward."

The Sale was held in extremely muddy conditions at the On-Property selling complex following a day and night of very heavy rainfall across much of the Central Highlands, and Dawson Callide areas.  "Following Sale eve falls of between 75 to 150mm and subsequent  highway and road closures, it was fifty/fifty whether to proceed with the Sale," John Hicks said.  "Many people from further away had already arrived the afternoon before so we had to balance that up with the fact that we knew a lot of the local Central commercial cattle producers would be rained-in and not be able to come."  The Hicks' assessment of the situation on a wet and worrying Sale morning proved correct with little bullock breeder buying support arriving at the Sale from the local areas of Springsure, Rolleston, Taroom, Bauhinia or Moura who traditionally provide solid competition for the Sale's herd bulls.  "The rain is great for the industry however on this occasion it certainly impacted the clearance rate of our Sale," John Hicks said.

$60,000 Sale Topper, Billabong Toshi, an 858kg, 2yo son of Calioran Reynold was backed by outstanding carcase sans, Breedplan figures and fertility evaluation.  Bidding started low on the bull but the commitment to buy him became obvious when a spirited, rapid fire bidding battle took place from opposite sides of the Sale ring.  The two parties most determined to secure this exciting sire prospect were David & Anita Torrisi of Vitwood Droughtmasters, Hervey Bay and a partnership of the
Salter's Glen Fosslyn Stud, Glen Morgan and Wayne and Grant Veivers of Talgai Droughtmaster Stud, Rolleston.  After a flurry of $2,000 bids rising to $60,000, the Torrisi's declined to advance further.  Cameron Salter of Glen Fosslyn and Wayne & Grant Veivers of Talgai had set their sights on Toshi and were delighted buyers.

Two bulls made $22,000 at the Sale including Billabong Sambuca, an 1,152kg successful Show son of Trafalgar Palestine.  This well balanced, muscular, long bodied, poll sire was purchased by Greg Edwards & Family of Wolfang Stud, Clermont, who have enjoyed great success with previous sire purchases from Billabong.  Another at $22,000 came out of the 2yo section.  Billabong Tolkein, a strong carcase quality son of Billabong Odyssey made that money selling to the Eddington Droughtmaster Stud of Julia Creek.

Lot 1 of the Sale Billabong Tron, a near one tonne son of Billabong Kenwood and the equal heaviest 2 tooth bull of the Sale made $20,000 selling to Kevin McClintock, Stanmore Stud, Gympie.  Lex Mesner, Yagobie Stud, Glenmorgan was at the Sale and invested in 3 sires including, at $20,000, Billabong Seamus, an impressive, heavyweight sire with excellent length.  $20,000 was also needed by Len & Sue Bode, Percol Plains, McKinlay who were bidding on the phone for Billabong Thurston, an excellent quality, rising 2yo son of the highly credentialed sire Billabong Godfrey.  The Bodes, through Ed Chambers of Elders, also selected another young Godfrey son, Billabong Tate from the Sale for $11,000.  John & Tracey Tincknell of Mundubbera bid to $16,000 for Billabong Tarantino, a young son of Billabong Mitch, with outstanding sire potential.  Sam Becker, Jarrah Cattle Company, Banana selected Billabong Titan at 30 months and 954kg from the Sale team.  He paid $16,000 for this well bred sire, a brother to Billabong Noble, a sire breeding with great success for the Rondel Stud.

The heaviest milk tooth bull of the Sale, Billabong Tequila scaled 920kg at 25 months, and also had one of the best IMF scans of the Sale draft.  This big volume, eye catching, poll son of Billabong Optima was purchased for $14,000 by Fortrus Droughtmasters of Gympie.  Stewart & Stephanie Nobbs, Yoman, Moura selected a rising 2yo, long bodied Godfrey son for $14,000, while early in the Sale, the 990kg Eddington Awesome son Billabong Trumph made $12,000 selling to Westcor Pty Ltd of Blackbutt.  One of the Sale's youngest bulls, Billabong Thaiman at 21 months, and bred out of one of the Stud's best damlines, also made $12,000, selling to repeat buyers, Craiglea Droughtmaster Stud, Kenilworth.

Brett & Leanne Warne, Jembrae Droughtmasters, Arcadia Valley selected Billabong Texas, a 924kg heavy muscled, high content son of Billabong Hi-Roller for $11,000.  This bull shows strong sire appeal and masculinity.  Medway Grazing Co, Boguntungan invested in two poll sires at $8,500 and $7,000 while Denis & Tanya Cook, Kandanga Stud, Gympie outlaid $9,000 for a stylish young son of Billabong Godfrey.

Mt Wilga Pastoral Company, Alpha, repeat buyers of Billabong bulls, returned to the Sale to invest in 5 bulls averaging $4,600.  Their top purchase, at $10,000 was a rising 2yo son of Calioran Reynold.

Other repeat buyers supporting the Sale included the Skelton Family of St George 6 bulls av. $4,915; Lawrie Holdings, Westwood 8 bulls av. $3,185; CF & EJ Counsell, Barcaldine 9 bulls av. $3,835; and Granville Pastoral Company, Quilpie 5 bulls av. $3,000.  Western Australian buyer John Henwood of Fossil Downs, Fitzroy Crossing took home 3 impressive sires at an average of $4,835, the same number purchased by Cameron Hicks of Rubyvale for a $5,335 average.  First time buyers Peter Hindmarch & Family of Boynedale shopped well at the Sale selecting 7 bulls averaging $2,570.

Agents:  Elders, Landmark & McCaffrey's Australian Livestock Marketing.

SALE RESULTS

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