2024 Droughtmaster National Bull Sale recognised as second-most successful multi-vendor event in Australia

5 Mar 2025

As single-vendor sales gain popularity across Australia, the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale holds its ground as the nation’s second-most successful multi-vendor event, offering over 500 bulls across two action-packed days.

Across Australia’s cattle industry, the landscape of bull sales has been shifting dramatically. Traditional multi-vendor sales have diminished as on-property and single-vendor offerings grow in popularity. But as the winds of change blow, the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale has kept its footing, securing Australia’s second-highest average sale price in 2024 as recently highlighted in The Land. 

“The National Bull Sale represents the pinnacle of our breed’s offering each year,” says Simon Gleeson, CEO of Droughtmaster Australia. “The importance of our ranking lies in the fact that we’re accommodating an annual average of 90 vendors, not just three, which makes maintaining consistency more challenging and our success even more rewarding.” 

The National Bull Sale wasn’t the only Droughtmaster event to stand out in the multi-vendor space, however. The breed dominated The Land’s top 20 rankings, securing six spots and making up 25% of Australia’s most successful multi-vendor sales. Queensland remained the stronghold, accounting for 87% of all bulls sold through multi-vendor sales.

“The breed’s dominance in those rankings  highlights the growing popularity of the breed and its promising future,” said Mr Gleeson. “The bulls are clearly performing well in the commercial herds they enter, and there is a strong, increasing demand for Droughtmaster bulls, thanks to their proven capabilities in the market.”

Droughtmaster dominance on display at 2024 National Sale 

The 2024 Droughtmaster National Bull Sale, held on September 15-16 at CQLX Gracemere, showcased more than 500 bulls from over 80 studs across two days. All bulls were scanned, vet checked, semen tested, vaccinated and ready to work – a comprehensive package that gave buyers confidence in their investment.

“There are a lot of quality sales across the country, but to have the number of bulls stand up that the National Sale did is significant for a multi-vendor event,” said Elders Stud Stock Agent, Anthony Ball. 

“It’s a credit to the Society and a strong reflection of both the vendors and the breed as a whole. When you also consider the number of vendors – 60, 70, maybe 80 – it really highlights the breadth of the offering and the dominance of the breed in Queensland.”

The sale saw 327 bulls sold, achieving a top price of $120,000, an 88% clearance rate, and an average of $14,563, grossing $4.76 million – figures indicative of the breed’s resilience in fluctuating market conditions, according to Mr Ball. 

“The Droughtmaster breed has been around a long time and will continue to hold a place in the beef industry,” he said. “We’ve seen expansion into regions like western New South Wales and increasing demand in Western Australia. The breed has performed exceptionally well and proven itself over time, so the future looks very positive.”

King of the Ring concept to expand 

A standout feature of the 2024 sale was the King of the Ring concept, an initiative introduced to bring elite competition and entertainment to the event. Modelled off The Everest horse race, the format pits the very best bulls against each other for top honours.

“It was a new concept that got people talking,” explained Nutrien’s Stud Stock Manager for North Queensland, Dane Pearce. “People were eager to see how it played out. While the top sale price didn’t come from the King of the Ring, it was a strong marketing tool that generated interest both within and outside the breed,” he said. 

Building on the momentum, the 2025 Droughtmaster National Bull Sale will expand the concept further with the introduction of the Queen of the Ring to showcase elite female genetics.

“I think you’ll see people keen to claim that accolade,” said Mr Pearce. “Top-tier females always sell well across all breeds, and this provides an opportunity to showcase elite genetics – especially for those looking to use them in IVF programs.” 

Mr. Pearce believes the National Bull Sale will continue to play a significant role in the future of the Droughtmaster breed, with its second-place ranking reaffirming the breed’s strong commercial value and growing demand across the supply chain.

“It all comes down to quality. While market trends shift, Droughtmasters remain highly relevant, particularly in crossbreeding operations. From docility and adaptability, to fertility and carcass yield, producers know they can rely on Droughtmaster genetics to achieve the cattle they need,” he said.

Droughtmasters claim 25% of Australia’s top multi-vendor sales

Among The Land’s top ranking sales were six of Queensland’s multi-vendor Droughtmaster sales. The Monty Atkinson Genetics Sale (MAGS) achieved an average sale price of $13,036, which ranked them fifth nationally. 

Mac Shann of Cantaur Park, one of the sale’s vendors, attributes this success to the collaboration between breeders. “[The MAGS sale] is the biggest Droughtmaster sale in the northern sector of Queensland, right in the heart of northern cattle country. That location suits the tropical-adapted Bos Indicus breed, which is a major advantage for us” said Mr Shann.

 

 

Vendor Kylie Graham of Mungalla Stud noted that one of the challenges of multi-vendor sales is ensuring everyone is in agreement. However, being a family-run sale means they’re all on the same page, which enables them to offer consistency. 

“Even through tough times – 2017, 2018, and 2019 were challenging years for everyone – we were one of the few sales in North Queensland that kept going,” she said. “We’ve built a strong following because of our commitment, consistency and reliability in the product we offer.”

The Carnarvon Classic Droughtmaster Sale secured eighth place, with Sam and Jane Barton of Huntly Droughtmasters attributing this success to offering a product that is in high demand. “We’ve identified and filled a clear market, which is essential in any business,” explains Mr Barton. “The industry has been getting data back from processors and we now know exactly what they want from our meat.” 

 

 

“These cattle thrive in tough conditions, handle ticks and excel in areas like Central Queensland. And, because we continue to fine-tune our genetics to focus on carcass yield, meat quality, and survivability, Droughtmasters really are the ultimate breed for this part of the country.”

Rounding out the impressive showing, the Artesian Droughtmaster Bull Sale ranked 12th, the Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale 16th, the Cloncurry Droughtmaster Bull Sale 22nd, and the BullZeye Droughtmaster Bull Sale 27th.

While noting that the success of these sales in 2024 was, in part, a reflection of careful strategic planning to meet the market’s demand by reducing numbers and tightening quality, Mr Barton emphasised the obvious enduring appeal of the breed for Queensland cattlemen. 

“The breed is strong in a strong area, given Central Queensland is the beef capital of Australia,” he said. “When you consider the numbers, Droughtmaster is one of the most popular breeds in this region, and that definitely gives us an advantage.”

The success of the 2024 Droughtmaster National Bull Sale and associated multi-vendor sales have cemented the breed’s strong position in Australia’s cattle industry, and the expanding influence of Droughtmaster bulls will likely continue to dominate the market in years to come.