Two Droughtmaster bulls have each sold for $100,000 via online selling platform, StockLive, on day one of the Droughtmaster National Sale at Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (CQLX).
Offered by the Laycock family of High Country Droughtmasters, Eskdale, Queensland, both bulls were bought by Steve Daley of Daley Livestock and Property, Glen Innes, NSW, on behalf of a syndicate of predominantly Queensland producers.
The syndicate includes the Yellowstone, Dee Aarnn, Nunkerii, Kross Country, Biarra Glen, Vanguard and Mt Whitestone studs, as well as non-breeder investors, Julie Daley, Steven Daley and Max Wallis.
The first to hit the six-figure price tag was Lot 92, High Country Make My Day (PH) who, at 32 months of age, tipped the scales at 962 kilograms, measured 39 centimetres in the scrotum, and scanned 15 and 10 millimetres, respectively, at the P8 and rib, 143 square centimetres for eye muscle area (EMA) and 5.4 per cent for intramuscular fat (IMF).
The son of record-breaking Rondel Whiskey (PP), who was bought by the High Country and Nindethana Pastoral studs for $160,000 at the 2020 Droughtmaster National Sale, Make My Day was said to have the bone, muscle and sire appeal suited to all buyers’ needs.
The next bull to go under the hammer, High Country Masterpiece (PP), was also sought after for his sire line in Rondel Whiskey (PP).
A standout bull even from a young age, Masterpiece weighed in at 1008 kilograms at 32 months of age, measured 38cm for scrotal circumference and scanned 13mm and 9mm, respectively, for P8 and rib fat, 148sq cm for EMA and 6.2pc for IMF.
Buying agent, Steve Daley, said the syndicate was driven to purchase the two bulls because of their sire line.
“The syndicate has combined to specifically invest in the Rondel Whiskey genetics,” Mr Daley said.
“With High Country Droughtmasters having such good success with their semen sales for Rondel Whiskey at their last sale, there’s a lot of interest in his sons and, going forward, in his genetics, so that’s a big reason for the buyers’ interest.”
The 2024 Droughtmaster National Sale will see almost 400 bulls go through the CQLX sale ring across two jam-packed days, with StockLive on-site to offer producers across the nation the ability to watch the sale in real time and bid.
StockLive general manager, Libby Tyrell, said the two Rondel Whiskey sons had drawn strong interest, both online and from the stands, and were the highest-priced bulls sold via the platform so far this bull sale season.
“We’d like to congratulate the Laycock family of High Country Droughtmasters on such a fantastic result, as well as the syndicate of buyers who have purchased these two standout Rondel Whiskey sons,” Mrs Tyrell said.
“StockLive is proud to be the online selling platform of choice for the Droughtmaster National Sale, broadening the pool of buyers for the vendors who contribute to this annual catalogue of top-quality bulls and giving buyers more choice when it comes to purchasing their new sires.
“This is the first time StockLive has sold two lots worth $100,000 or more in a single sale and these two bulls are in the top five highest priced bulls ever sold via the platform.”
Day one of the Droughtmaster National Sale saw 1004 viewers and 51 registered bidders via StockLive.
