![Sire Shootout competition entry Garthowan Avalanche 3 sold for $30,000 at the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale. Picture: Lucy Kinbacher Sire Shootout competition entry Garthowan Avalanche 3 sold for $30,000 at the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale. Picture: Lucy Kinbacher](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/UdNE97Se3RqCx9C2EmYtgx/d0e35d6f-721f-4975-b345-37a929b8f839.jpg/r0_0_1120_1680_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
If the pandemic has proved anything, it's that the beef industry will always find a way to catch the attention of potential buyers from around the world.
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Back in July, 83 of the country's best stud bulls entered a virtual show ring as part of Australian Community Media's Sire Shootout competition.
Three Droughtmaster bulls that participated in Sire Shootout went on to be sold at the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale at Gracemere last week.
The Kinbacher family, Biggenden, who own and operate Garthowen Brahmans and Droughtmasters, sold bull Garthowan Avalanche 3 to the Needmor Family Trust, Rookwood, Gogango, for $30,000.
Ross Kinbacher said entering 25-month-old Avalanche 3 in the Sire Shootout competition was a good way to get his bull a bit of exposure before the sales.
"He scanned 141sq cm in EMA and is a very well muscled bull, very structurally correct, and has a good head," Mr Kinbacher said.
"We thought he would make around $30,000 - we hoped he'd make it - but you always hope they will make a little bit more."
The Kinbacher family are one of the older Droughtmaster studs, registered at number 37, and they run about 60 stud breeders, 80 commercial breeders and background steers as well.
Garthowen Droughtmasters don't usually show their cattle, but Mr Kinbacher said they would definitely do the online competition again for the exposure.
"We would definitely do it again next year if it is on," Mr Kinbacher said.
"We used to show the Brahmans that we had years ago, but we stopped doing that, so that's the only competition we have entered."
Mr Kinbacher was pleased with the sale and surprised the top priced bull Rondel Whiskey (P) sold for such a high price. Although he hoped to purchase another bull for their stud, he came away empty handed.
Bundy Droughtmasters, owned by the Fleming family at Bundaberg, also participated in Sire Shootout. They went on to sell their 30-month-old Droughtmaster bull, Bundy Ironstone (P), to Roger and Jenny Underwood, Eversleigh and Wallace Vale Droughtmasters, Wallumbilla, for $70,000.
Sonia Flemming said it was a great opportunity to get her family's bull some exposure before the sale.
You've got to get your bulls out there before the sale, so this was the perfect way of doing it from home.
- Sonia Flemming, Bundy Droughtmasters
Bundy Ironstone is out of IVF cow Bundy Crystal, whose sons averaged $36,250 and made up to $55,000 for Bundy Freightliner, until last week's sale.
The Flemming family have been selling droughtmaster bulls for nearly seven years and they normally sell most of their bulls privately out of the paddock, but also sell a few of their best bulls at the Droughtmaster National bull sale at Gracemere each year.
Sire shootout competition entries that sold at the Droughtmaster National sale.
- Lot 147 Bundy Ironstone to Roger and Jenny Underwood for $70,000
- Lot 221 Garthowan Avalanche 3 to Needmor for $30,000
- Lot 229 Bryvonlea Thor to La Shae Droughtmasters for $34,000