Southern Star Rural Senepol stud based at Canowindra, and owned by Clayton and Sarah Maynard achieved a top price of $12,000 for one of their senepol bulls at the 2016 14th Annual 5 Star Senepol and African Hybrid Bull Sale held at Gracemere, Rockhampton on Monday. This bull was sold to the Goodard family who operate from Bollon, Qld.
With 81 lots auctioned, the sale grossed a total of $545,000 with an average of $7,569 and the top lot going for $16,000. Buyers came from right across Queensland and northern NSW. What sets these bulls apart from other Senepol bulls on offer in the country, is that they are selected from over 500 male progeny. Selection is done whilst running on ticky forest country, at ‘Mt. Eugene’, Jambin and Belmont Research Station north of Rockhampton.
They have to perform on grass, adapting to heat, ticks, flies and Lantana, with minimal chemical treatments. With cattle prices at an all time high and good rainfall across the country, Geoff Maynard, stud principal for 5 Star Senepol said that there hasn’t been a better time for the cattle industry with record prices throughout the country.
Quality Bulls underpin any operation so with great seasonal conditions and record beef prices there is some added confidence in the industry. This was displayed in the sale ring on Monday. Together with the purebred Senepol bulls bred at Canowindra, Clayton and Sarah have been producing Senegus Bulls (Senepol Angus cross) which were all sold at the auction for an average of $6,000. The Senegus bulls are small birth weight, and are suited to heifer matings. They also have many more variables that affect ease of calving, namely gestation, length, muscle pattern, and nutrition especially in the third trimester.
By Cheryl Newsom