The supporter’s who attended the Galloway’s annual on-property bull sale this year will have odometers that read into the thousands. The three top priced bulls grossed $33,000, were all by Neimen XPO and have found homes as far from each other as possible – in the Northern Territory, New South Wales and western Queensland.
Ascot Neimen Braford Studs sold 37 of the 41 bulls offered on Friday 6 September to average $4,270. The 20 registered bulls sold averaged $5375.
David and Liz Bird of Indiana Station, Alice Springs, NT inspected the draft in August and bought top priced Lot 2 Ascot Congo for $12,000 over the phone. It was 1979 that the Bird family began buying the Ascot bulls and have continued to, every few years.
Jack Meek of Cargara Cattle Company, Augathella took home Lot 3 Ascot Carbonic for $11,000, specifically to mate with his maiden heifers.
After their own successful bull sale just days before, Doug and Susie Barnett of Baroma Downs, Croppa Creek trekked to Banana to purchase Lot 5 Ascot Cocoa for $10,000.
Special mention goes to repeat and bulk buyers of the day, Lance and Jenny Muller of Orchid Vale, Rolleston who selected five bulls.
Ascot Neimen prides themselves on its repeat buyers and 2013 was no exception. Tigrigie Cattle Company of Moorabinda, Taroom returned to buy three bulls to average $5,500. Brian and Trinket Anderson of Glenovon, Theodore and Ray Kidd of Old Cashmere, St George both bought stud bulls for $5,500 each. The Webster family from Gympie were also back in the stands and bought one stud bull for $7,000.
Technology savvy Mark Peagham from Charters Towers relied on the colour photographs on the studs’ website to purchase his two bulls over the phone. This is the fourth time he’s bought bulls without seeing them in the flesh first.
While the next generation of Galloways played underneath the grandstands, James and Karla Galloway of Cootharaba, Monto bought one bull and Scott Galloway of Barrain, Blackwater selected three. Other regulars, the Schottelius family, snapped up the lead bull Lot 1 Ascot Cobra for stud duties at Merion, Dingo for $6500.
It’s been a few years between drinks, probably a decade or more, but Merv and Heather McBride with son Kevin of Wycarbah had returned to purchase three bulls.
First time buyers of Ascot Neimen bulls included Kieran and Annika Ward of Benson Pastoral Company, Biloela, near neighbour Des and Jenny Coupe of Brookleigh, Banana, the Bennett family of Little Valley Brafords, Casino and also the Robson family from Morven.
Other buyers on the day included Shane Olsen from Rosedale, Robert Hamilton from Baralaba, Mark and Belinda Wilson from Banana Station, Doug and Amanda Burnett from Bendemeer Clermont, Darren Wyatte from Biloela, Kyle Muirhead from Moura and Keith Smoothy from Theodore.
In 2014 the Ascot Neimen bull sale will be held at midday on Friday 5 September and more information will be available at www.ascot-neimenbrafords.com.au