IN a sale representing arguably the best Charolais genetics on offer in Australia, David and Prue Bondfield's Palgrove Charolais stud cracked the million dollar mark with the help of WA buyers.
In summary the sale averaged $7612 for 138 bulls sold for a gross of $1.05 million and a 100 per cent clearance.
The 118 Charolais bulls averaged $8255, while the 20 Charolais-Angus hybrid bulls averaged $4725.
Bulls sold to the three eastern seaboard states as well as WA and the Northern Territory.
Some 32 of the 69 buyers who operated at the sale bought two or more bulls.
The sale-topper at $40,000 was the outstanding 1080kg, 23.5-month-old red factor bull Palgrove Foreman, an ET son of Palgrove Charm and from Palgrove Panache 99.
Bought by the Bode family, Percol Plains, McKinlay, Queensland, Foreman had an impressive EMA of 144cm2 and was rated in the top five per cent of the Charolais breed for both 200 and 400-day weight gain, top 5pc for eye muscle area, and top 10pc for 600-day weight gain.
Palgrove retained a one-eighth share in the bull.
Denise Lynch (left) with her parents Barry and Dot Bell travelled from Capel, to buy bulls at the Palgrove sale recently.
A long time client of Palgrove, the Bodes bought a further three Charolais bulls to finish with an average of $18,750.
The second top price of $36,000 was paid by the Avery family, Blackall, Queensland, for the 1002kg poll sire Palgrove Fable by Palgrove Benchmark.
Fable had an EMA of 145cm2, rump fat of 10mm, rib fat of 8mm and was ranked in the top 5pc of the breed for 200 and 400-day weight and the top 10pc for EMA.
Consolidated Pastoral Co paid $24,000 for Palgrove Fanfare (P) by Palgrove Centurion.
It was in the yearling bulls offering where WA buyer Barry Bell, Bardoo stud, Capel, made his presence felt securing the top yearling Charolais bull at $16,000, Palgrove Gunsmoke (P).
Gunsmoke was by High Bluff Hank (P) and was ranked in the top 15pc for 600-day weight gain and milk, and the top 20pc for 200-day weight gain.
The 656kg 12-and-a-half month old stud sire had an EMA of 113cm2, rump 7mm, rib 5mm, and a scrotal circumference of 39cm.
Mr Bell said Gunsmoke was an industry bull and was meaty with good carcase traits.
"We also liked that he was polled as we need to start heading in this direction with our herd," Mr Bell said.
"We also liked his pedigree - he is by a Canadian sire and out of a very good female."
The Bells earlier paid $12,000 for the two-year-old sire Palgrove Future by Palgrove Crackerjack.
This soft young sire had an EMA of 134cm2, a 12mm rump, a 8mm rib and a scrotal circumference of 41cm.
The top Charolais-Angus hybrid bull sold for $11,000 to the Greenup Family, Rosevale, Jandowae. Queensland.
Weighing 688kg at 12-and-a-half months, it had an EMA of 110cm2, a rump of 9mm, a rib of 7mm, and a scrotal of 38cm.