The 9th annual Blue Ribbon Limousin Show and Sale was host to the dispersal of the Stephens family’s Greenslopes Limousin stud on Saturday, 21st November at the Allora Showgrounds, Queensland.

The show section of the sale was judged by Ben Passmore, Benjarra Limousins, Ellangowan, who selected Greenslopes Fudge and her heifer calf at foot, Greenslopes Fudge L1 as his Champion exhibit, with Reserve Champion going to Greenslopes Native Queen with her bull calf at foot, Greenslopes Blueprint L2.

With 80 percent of the bid cards as new buyers and a record number of bid cards (105 registered bidders) the sale set off at a cracking pace, with Lot 1, Premier Cauliflower D102 selling to Michael and Toni Dwan, Elwanvale Limousins for $11,000. Michael and Toni plan to flush D102 in the next few weeks in an embryo program they are running. Toni said she chose Cauliflower D102 because of her moderateness, softness, femininity and unflappable temperament.

A total clearance of all cattle included the sale of 7 led cows and calves, selling to a top of $12,000 for Lot 7, Greenslopes Fairy Princess H1 and her heifer calf at foot, Fairy Princess H1L3, purchased by Mr and Mrs Peters, Paradise Creek Pastoral Company, Ebor, NSW. They described H1 as an outstanding young cow who took their eye as soon as they saw her. The Peters also purchased Lot 4, Oakvale Fiona and her bull calf at foot, Greenslopes Expression L46 for $9,000. One of the major ribbon and championship winning cows in her show career as a junior was Lot 6, Greenslopes Native Queen who sold with her Greenslopes Blueprint bull calf at foot to the Devine Family Partnership of Willow Tree, NSW for $10,000. Mr and Mrs Devine described her as a simply perfect female with an outstanding temperament. The Devine family also purchased Lot 22, Kandu Angel for $5,000.

The unled cows were also in hot demand, with the show champion, Lot 26 Greenslopes Fudge and heifer calf, topping the unleds at $10,500, being purchased by Kel and Janelle Graham, Wyrallah, NSW. The Graham family also purchased Lot 2, Greenslopes Fairy Princess for $5,000 and Lot 33, Greenslopes Aries K21 for $4,250. Grant Shedden from Greenridge, Qld purchased Lot 27, Greenslopes Beauty Queen H5 for the dry cow top price of $8,000.

Young Limousin breeder, Cooper Rafton of Mt Marshall, Qld, was an astute genetics buyer at the sale, purchasing two Greenslopes females, Lot 5, Greenslopes Fifi and her bull calf at foot for $9,000 and Lot 30, Greenslopes Mimi J18 for $5,000. Both females are black, polled daughters of the renowned Premier Mimi Y48.

Another Queenslander purchasing some outstanding young females for his family’s new Limousin herd was Darren Hartwig, of Crows Nest who purchased three quality heifers including the young unjoined led heifers, Lot 10 Greenslopes Kristy for $5,500, Lot 14 Greenslopes Fifi K99 for $4,500 and the PTIC heifer Lot 29 Greenslopes Fookie Monster J17 for $6,500.

Top priced heifer of the sale was Lot 12 black, polled Wyalla Kandy Kisses that sold for $10,000 to R Cooper, Wulkaraka, Qld. The heifer was presented for sale by A & A Riley, Wyalla, Duri, NSW. Another high priced heifer was offered by Greenslopes Limousins, Lot 31 Oakwood Polled Kristy who sold to Luke Cox, from Glamorganvale, Qld for $7,250.

Top priced bull of the sale was 15-month-old The Downfall Grants Kokoda bull which sold for $4000 to G & K Harris, Harnsville. The bull was offered for sale by Peter and Pauline Grant, The Downfall Limousin Stud, Willsons Downfall, NSW.

The led steer section of the sale attracted strong buyer interest and the top priced led steer of the sale was Oakvale Leo which sold for $5800 to R Cooper. The led steer was an early maturing Limousin steer born May 2014.

A number of straw packages were offered, with the Dauphin straws topping at $300 each and purchased by Andrew Harries, Loomberah, NSW.

The Stephens family will continue to breed just a few commercial led steers each year for the sale and sold one purebred Limousin steer this year to David Bartley of Warwick for $2800.

Greenslopes Limousins principals, Trevor and Debbie Stephens were happy with the sale and were overwhelmed with the inquiry leading up to and also the attendance of bidders on the day.

The auction was conducted by Goetsch and Sons, Kalbar with Neil Goetsch as auctioneer.

Averages for the dispersal sale of Greenslopes females were cows and calves $8,500, dry cows $5590, PTIC heifers $4,670 and baby heifers $3,940.

Overall, averages achieved were cows and calves $7705, cows $5429, heifers $3147, bulls $3125, and led steers $2034.