SALE REPORT
Garthowen Xavier 2 Ticks Box By Kelly Butterworth
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IVE years ago the Kinbacher family, Garthowen, Biggenden, purchased a new sire in Jembrae Fenton from the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale for $31,000. This year, the family doubled their previous sale record when one of Fenton’s sons, Garthowen Xavier 2, sold for $78,000. Xavier 2 was purchased by the McCormack family, Clonlara Droughtmasters, Glenmorgan. The 22-month-old bull weighed 804 kilograms with an eye muscle area of 135sq cm and a scrotal circumference of 43cm. The McCormack family purchased the Kinbacher’s top priced bull at last year’s sale for $34,000 and Gus McCormack said he knew he wanted Xavier 2 in his stud herd. “He ticks all our boxes – he’s good underneath, has good bone, a good strong, polled head,” he said. He said while he was hoping to not have to pay $78,000 for the bull, he knew he wanted to take him home. “I liked him and I got beaten on a bull earlier in the sale, so I had my back up a bit,” he laughed. The Kinbacher family operate on 2023 hectares and have 60 Droughtmaster stud breeders. Garthowen co-principal Simon Kinbacher said after purchasing Jembrae Fenton, the small stud had seen a strong turning point.
Brother and sister duo Simon and Lucy Kinbacher, Garthowen, Biggenden with purchaser Gus McCormack, Clonlara Droughtmaster, Glenmorgan and second top priced bull of the sale, Garthowen Xavier 2.
“This is our third drop of sons of his and they have been averaging around $20,000 for about 15 sons,” he said. “He’s sort of clicked with the right cows with a good polled head and tidy sheath on all the bulls.” Mr Kinbacher said Xavier 2 was a personal favourite of his. “He was a good calf, heap of bone and a good sheath and he was polled, which is what they’re all chasing at the moment and he is a very quiet
temperament bull with everything going for him,” he said. “We had a fair bit of interest in him before the sale and we were hopeful that he would go well.” The Kinbacher family had a fantastic sale after selling eight bulls for a solid $25,000 average with Xavier 2 topping the lineup. The family’s second top priced bull was Garthowen Xbow 2 who sold for $44,000 to Telemon Droughtmasters, Hughenden.
Jersey Plains Buys Big Again By Kelly Butterworth
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HE Droughtmaster National Sale wrapped up this year with a familiar ring as Jersey Plains once again topped the list of volume buyers. Jersey Plains’ David Corbett, Chumvale, Cloncurry was busy doing the buying and took home 23 bulls averaging $4652. Last year Mr Corbett was also the volume buyer and took home 27 bulls averaging $5407. He said he liked to buy at the National Sale because it was convenient to have so a large number of bulls from more than 100 studs in one place at the same time each year. He said he had intended to buy about the number of bulls he did and was impressed with the quality of the yarding.
DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST
When selecting bulls, Mr Corbett said he was looking for the same as most people . “We’re wanting a good working animal with a tidy sheath, a bit of bone and a strong masculine head,” he said. The bulls will go back into Mr Corbett’s substantial commercial Droughtmaster herd at home near Cloncurry. He also runs other herds on various blocks around Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Boulia. Also buying big at the sale were Greg and Tammy Sibson, Blue Valley Cattle Co, Collinsville. The Collinsville couple went home with 21 bulls averaging $5380.
Volume buyer David Corbett, Chumvale, Cloncurry with Landmark’s Trent McKinlay with some of the bulls Mr Corbett took home.
December 2017
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