Rockhampton Brahman Week: Million-dollar sales and improved genetics in the livestock industry

Rockhampton’s annual Brahman Week sales event set new records with Clukan Boabab auctioning for $210,000, surpassing the previous mark of $180,000 for NicNeil Sugar Daddy. This gray bull, bred by Steve and Theresa Taylor, attracted attention for his improved genetics from years of work in the pedigree cattle industry.

With 860 bulls sold under the hammer at the Gracemere corrals, this auction, considered the largest in the world in the category, achieved a clearance rate of 97% and an average price of $12,406, totaling $9,615,000. Gavin Scott, the owner of Collinsville Rosetta Grazing, highlighted Clukan Boabab’s polled breeding as his main draw and spontaneously acquired the bull along with his family.

Born through an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program, Clukan Boabab will be used at a breeding center to produce calves through IVF and artificial insemination before being released into the field. Breeding expert Dr Sophia Edwards explained that this strategy is popular with ranchers as it allows them to quickly realize a return on investment in high-value bulls.