Palgrove Dominates 2025 RNA Paddock to Palate Competition

The major winners of the 2025 RNA and JBS Australia Paddock to Palate Competition and Wagyu Challenge were announced at a dinner at the Royal Queensland Show on Thursday, August 7 — and Palgrove once again made its mark.

Now in its 27th year, the competition is one of Australia’s richest beef supply chain events, offering almost $55,000 in prize money and providing producers with a valuable opportunity to benchmark their cattle. The three-phase competition tests entries across aggregate weight gain, carcase results, and MSA eating quality.

Palgrove Claims Top Honours

In the hotly contested Class 37 – 100 Day HGP Export, Palgrove Pastoral Co. was named the Overall Winner, taking home The Sturrock Trophy with their Charolais cross pen scoring an impressive 718.111 points.

Palgrove also secured the Highest Individual Index Score in Class 37c, with a Charolais cross entry topping at 60.09 points.

This win marks Palgrove’s seventh overall award in the 100-day export category in the past eight years, a remarkable record in the competition’s history.

The depth, consistency, and long-term focus of the Palgrove breeding program was on full display, with Palgrove Genetics claiming 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and 5 of their pens finishing inside the top 12. These results go beyond statistics; they’re proof that elite genetics deliver real-world performance and profitability for commercial producers.

Accepting the Sturrock Trophy, Mr Noller said the competition reflects the core principles of their breeding program.

The competition highlights proof of profit — you can be good at one thing, but for us it’s about breeding for balance, and that’s what this competition is all about,” he said.

Full results

Class 37 results – 100 Day HGP Export

Class 37 overall winners

Palgrove Pastoral Co – Charolais cross – 718.111 pen total points
Daley, Simon and Myriam – Charolais Angus cross – 702.556
Daley, Simon and Myriam – Charolais – 699.667
Devon Court Herefords – Hereford – 699.000
Russell Pastoral Operations Pty Ltd – Angus cross – 697.444
Palgrove Pastoral Co – Charolais cross – 692.333
Juandah Grazing – Charolais cross – 688.333
Coobyanga Pastoral – Droughtmaster – 674.333
Drynan Family, Esk – Charbray – 668.778
Hinz Grazing – Shorthorn Santa cross – 667
Keddstock Pty Ltd – CHAROLAIS cross – 664.556
Palgrove Pastoral Co – Ultrablack – 662.111

Class 37b pen of six carcase competition

Palgrove Pastoral Co – Charolais cross – 514 pen total points
Devon Court Herefords – Hereford – 513
Coobyanga Pastoral Droughtmaster – 511

Class 37b champion carcase

Champion: Russell Pastoral Operations Pty Ltd Angus cross 51D – 95 score

Class 37b reserve champion carcase

Reserve: Condabri Beef Charolais Angus cross 46A – 94 score

Class 37c MSA Eating Quality Competition

Glenisa Cattle Co. Angus – 345.78 score
Minnamurra Pastoral Company – Speckle Park cross Angus – 345.54
Devon Court Herefords – Hereford – 345.01

Class 37c highest individual index score

Palgrove Pastoral Co Charolais cross 64F – 60.09 score
Russell Pastoral Operations Pty Ltd Angus cross 51G – 59.67
Devon Court Herefords – Hereford 42E – 59.59

LISTEN: Ben Mayne from Texas Angus and Ben Noller from Palgrove talk Paddock to Palate on The Week in Beef podcast – click here

In its second year being held at Glen Wilga, Chinchilla, The Palgrove Annual Bull Sale has once again received massive support, clearing a total of 179 bulls to a packed out sales arena on Friday.

The complete clearance was complimented by a very impressive overall average price of $19,765, and sale gross of $3,538,000.

In a breakdown of the sale, 93 Charolais bulls sold to average $20,312 per head, while 82 Ultrablack bulls recorded an average of $19,256, and four Brangus bulls averaged $17,500.

The Charolais draft ensured things were off to a flying start, with five of the first 10 lots selling for $40,000 or more, but the sale’s top price was uncovered 72 lots in, when the homozygous polled, Palgrove Trout, was reeled in for $60,000.

The son of Palgrove Queenstown, out of Palgrove Charity Q2212D, is bound for stud duties across the border, having been secured by the Salier family of Minnie-Vale Charolais, Narrabri, NSW.

The 25-month-old weighed in at 890 kilograms, measuring 138 square centimetres in the EMA, 4.8 per cent in the IMF, and 39 centimetres in scrotal circumference, with P8 and rib fat measurements of seven and six millimetres, respectively.

Minnie-Vale stud principal Jason Salier said he had to reach further into his pockets for the sale-topper than he had first anticipated, but said the purchase would undoubtedly pay off when his progeny hit the ground.

“We were after a Homozygous polled bull to join our sire battery here,” Mr Salier said.

“I just liked the length of body on that bull, and he was really soft-skinned, with a sleek hair type. He had a beautiful disposition and was structurally very sound, with strong reproductive traits and a very tidy sheath.

“His bloodlines were an outcross to this herd, and he had a great, even spread of EBVs. We like to see the milk EBVs at least at breed average or above, and both the milk and EMA EBVs were very strong.”

Mr Salier said the bull’s grand-sire, Palgrove Landmark, was a standout sire for him within the Palgrove herd over the past five years, and that he was happy to have secured some of those genetics after missing out on a Landmark son several years prior.

“He ticked all of the boxes for what we’re doing down here, and he was definitely the standout bull. He just had that natural constitution and thickness from behind, which we really like to see.

“I kept in mind that his replacement females should be very good too, for our own cow herd.”

The Minnie-Vale stud have been selling bulls for over 50 years, with a handful heading up to Queensland each year, while most go to producers in New South Wales, with many lending to the vealer production in the south.

“We’re always on the lookout for the best genetics that we can get a hold of for our clients down here as well, so I’m always keeping our clientele front of mind when I’m purchasing these bulls,” Mr Salier said.

Topping the Ultrablack draft was lot 118, Palgrove Tall Timber, who is also headed back to stud duties, this time in Central Queensland, after being knocked down for $52,500 to the McKenzie family of Tannyfoil Brangus, Blackwater.

At 25-months of age, the son of Palgrove Quality Time ET, out of Palgrove Eloxa P1114, weighed in at 964 kg, with an EMA of 143 sq cm, IMF of 7.3 pc, and scrotal circumference of 39 cm, measuring 12 and 9 mm respectively in P8 and rib fat cover.

Buyer Gavin McKenzie, Tannyfoil Brangus, described his purchase as “thick, deep and quiet.”

“Walking around the yard, I thought he was the best bull here, so I’m really happy.”

Mr McKenzie, whose family run a 3000-head breeder herd, said his new sire would go back over the Brangus cows to breed bulls, both to sell on and retain within their own operation.

Finishing the sale on a strong note was the final lot of the day, Palgrove Tailor-Made, who sold for $34,000 to top the Brangus draft.

The 26-month-old son of Palgrove Quick Release ET, out of Palgrove Valley View J1173, was snapped up by DBR Grazing, Augathella.

At 750 kg, he boasted an EMA of 126 sq cm and IMF of 5.5 pc, measuring 36 cm in the scrotal, and 13 and 9 mm respectively, in P8 and rib fat cover.

Palgrove’s Ben Noller said they were “over the moon” with the result, which had exceeded his expectations.

“We knew the Charolais job was pretty strong, as we’d already sold all of our two-year-old paddock bulls, but probably didn’t expect it to be quite that good,” Mr Noller said.

“And then the Ultrablack job was just very solid all the way through. Both breeds were very solid throughout.

“I think the best thing for us was the strong commercial support. There were a lot of repeat buyers, all big, commercial operators who have been supporting us for many years.

“That shows us that we’re on the right track, when those guys keep coming back each year and are continuing to be impressed by the cattle. It shows that we’re moving in the right direction and helping them to improve their operations.

“Our aim is just to keep chasing those genetics that improve profitability for our commercial buyers, and I think that shows in the bulls that we are producing, and for them to return is a real testament to that.”

While buyers came from all parts of Queensland and New South Wale to throw up a bid card from the stands, there was also plenty of action online, with bidders also tuning in from South Australia, Western, Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory for the chance at taking home some Palgrove genetics.

Volume buyers on the day were Clermont outfit Bush Holdings who took home a mix of Charolais and Ultrablack bulls totaling 10 bulls for an average spend of $21,800, as well as a water monitoring system package from Farmbot for their buying efforts.

Volume buyers at the sale included long-term supporters of Palgrove, Mt Douglas Pastoral from Clermont, Daley Cattle from Injune and the Arnaboldi Family from Jericho who all purchased nine bulls. Other return buyers included Wells & Sons from Boulia with seven bulls, Warrian Holdings from Injune with eight bulls, and new buyer Vitwood Droughtmasters from Pialba, who acquired seven Charolais bulls. This strong participation highlights the continued support for quality breeding stock in the industry.

In 2023, all 186 lots sold for a 100 per cent clearance, sale average of $17,102 and gross of $3,181,000.

Hunter Valley Sale Results

39/39 Charolais Bulls sold to average $13,154 to a top of $20,000 FIVE times!

13/13 Ultrablack bulls sold to average $12,077, with a top of $28,000 for Lot 64 to Richard and Tracey Hulme, Holbrook.

The five highest-priced Charolais were purchased by repeat buyers, including Simon and Mym Daley from Injune, Ben Avery, Blackall, Ellerston Pty Ltd in Scone, and the Inder Family of Rockwell Charolais in Merriwa.

With the $28,000 top-priced Ultra Black bull are Jess, Richard and Tracey Hulme, Holbrook, Davidson Cameron and Co’s auctioneer, Luke Scicluna, McGrath Upper Hunter’s Stuart Sheldrake and Palgrove’s Ben Noller.

Palgrove’s Hunter Valley Charolais and Ultrablack sale 100% clearance.

Palgrove’s Hunter Valley Charolais and Ultrablack bull sale topped at $28,000 with a 100 per cent clearance at auction, where the 53 bulls sold averaged $12,754.

The gallery in the sale ring mainly was repeat buyers, with bulls destined to work in herds in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania. Bulls heading for parts of Queensland, including Charleville, Longreach, Blackall, Dysart, and Comet, illustrated the value of online bidding, while online purchases were made from Inverell and Casino.

Topping the sale was the last bull in the catalogue, Palgrove Tutor (P), sired by Milwillah Jaal, which Richard, Tracey, and Jess Hulme, Holbrook, bought for $28,000. Tutor is a September 2022 drop calf that weighed 764 kilograms and had an eye muscle area of 126 square centimetres.

Its estimated breeding value was +47 for 200-day growth, +81 for 400-day growth, and +99 for 600-day growth. Its intramuscular fat +0.3, and its estimated red beef yield was +1.3.

Five Charolais bulls sold for the equal top price of $20,000, going to buyers at Longreach and Blackall and locally to Merriwa and Ellerston via Scone.

Richard Hulme said he’d bought his first Palgrove Ultrablack at the Hunter Valley sale four years ago.

“I’ve used a couple of Brangus bulls in our herd of Angus cows, and I’m finding the Ultrablack is giving me a great cross calf,” Mr Hulme said.

“I’ve been receiving some pushback with the Bos indicus content down in the south, but the hybrid vigour more than makes up for any loss,” he said.

“I’ve finished my calves and sold them over the hooks, and they’re grading MSA.

Mr Hulme said some of his cattle had been sent to Caroona Feedlot for finishing.

“The southern feedlots don’t tend to want them,” he said.

Sophie Inder, Rockwell Charolais, Merriwa, was one of the buyers of the five bulls that were sold for $20,000.

Her father, Tony, said the bull would be used in Sophie’s stud herd and probably be joined by commercial Angus females.

Ms Inder is a return buyer who has been buying from Palgrove for more than seven years.

Rockwell Livestock currently runs about 200 Angus commercial females and 10 stud Charolais cows in their operation.

Grace, Sophie and Tony Inder, Rockwell Charolais, Merriwa bought one of the $20,000 equal top-priced Charolais bulls at the Palgrove Hunter Valley sale. With them is Palgrove’s Ben Noller.

Another of the equal top-price bulls was Palgrove Traction, the first son of Palgrove Quidmaker to be sold in the nation. Simon Daley, La Mancha, Longreach, was the buyer.

Ben Avery, through Nick Handley, Elders Blackall, bought two bulls for $20,000. They were Palgrove Teddy, sired by Palgrove Platinum P931E and Palgrove Trademark, sired by LT Vista.

Ellerston Pastoral, repeat buyers of Palgrove Charolais bulls bought another of the $20,000 equal top-priced bulls, Palgrove Throne, sired by Palgrove Nitrogen. It was described as an ‘absolute meat machine’ in the catalogue and had an EMA of 132sq/cm. The 21-month-old weighed 779kg and had an IMF of 4.6pc. Ellerston bought five bulls averaging $14,800.

K and J Whelan, Leongath, Victoria, paid $16,000 for Palgrove Townsville, sired by Palgrove Quidmaker, while Russell Green, Mole Creek, Tasmania, bought Palgrove Take That, sired by Palgrove Queenstown for $12,000.

Volume buyer online was Alister and Kym Day, Blackall, through Frame Rural Agencies, Inverell, who bought five bulls to $12,000, averaging $10,000, while Hayden Garside, Monash, Comet, Queensland, bought three bulls, two at $14,000 and one at $12000.

CA Crozier and TF Rule, Tyrone, Charleville, bought three bulls to $14,000 twice, averaging $12,666, while Gavin Jones, The Circle, Hope Island, Qld, bought two bulls, one at $18,000 and the other at $12,000.

Palgrove’s Ben Noller said local support for the sale was important, but clients from Queensland were also influential buyers.

“In the current market, it was a really good sale today,” Mr Noller said.

He said the market was showing signs of “a lot of positivity”.

“There’s a big flow of cattle coming out of the north, but the way things are moving, the outlook is very positive,” he said.

There were 43 registered bidders in the sale barn and 13 active online bidders, of whom nine were successful. Forty-seven of the 52 lots sold attracted online bids.

Davidson Cameron and Company and McGrath Livestock Upper Hunter were the sale agents. Luke Scicluna was the auctioneer, and AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.

FULL ARTICLE

By Simon Chamberlain

Palgrove’s first annual bull sale held at Chinchilla heralded a success

It was the beginning of a new era for Palgrove on Friday, being the first annual bull sale to be held at Glen Wilga, Chinchilla.

There were plenty of reasons to celebrate after some incredible results, culminating in both a sale and national breed record price, as an Ultrablack bull sold for $80,000.

Overall, all 186 lots sold for a 100 per cent clearance, sale average of $17,102 and gross of $3,181,000.

In a breakdown of the sale; 80 Charolais bulls sold to an average price of $16,613, topping at $50,000 twice, 57 Ultrablack bulls sold for an average of $18,412, reaching a top of $80,000, and 11 Brangus bulls sold to average $23,864, topping at $57,500.

In the yearling bulls; 16 Charolais sold for an average of $10,812, topping at $18,000, and 22 Ultrablacks averaged $16,682, reaching a top of $55,000.

Auctioneers Michael Smith, Brad Passfield and Colby Ede flew through the draft, selling around fifty bulls per hour, and the obvious buzz of excitement within the crowd as they found their seats maintained throughout the near four hours of selling.

The peak of the sale was reached when lot 114, Palgrove Sugar Ray, sold for $80,000 to Hewitt Cattle, Mudgee, New South Wales, surpassing the record $70,000 set at last year’s sale.

The 26-month-old son of Palgrove Patent, out of Palgrove Star, weighed in at 878 kilograms, EMA of 144 square centimetres, IMF of 6.7 per cent, scrotal circumference of 42 centimetres, and P8 and rib fat measurements of 14 and 11 millimetres, respectively.

Buyer Warren Miller, Hewitt Cattle Australia, said he had originally picked out the bull before his sale-topper, but after seeing him in the flesh, knew he was the right sire for their operation.

“We just loved his style, power, and absolute get up and growth – the muscling and fleshing right through him,” he said.

“He’s just a big, proud calf that moves well and he’ll make a good sire to go over our Ultrablack cows.”

Mr Miller said the sire would do well breeding bulls for their operation, including their properties near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, whilst maintaining around 80pc Angus in the progeny.

Hewitt Cattle bought the Burenda Ultrablack herd two years ago and will join 1200 cows in their Ultrablack program this year.

High prices were also seen early on in the sale, as lot 2, Palgrove Statement, was the first of the Charolais bulls to reach the top price of $50,000, selling to the Bode family of McKinlay.

The 25-month-old son of Palgrove Platinum, out of Palgrove Helena M629C, weighed 930kg, with a 140sq cm EMA, 5.5pc IMF, 42cm scrotal circumference, and P8 and rib fat measurements of 8 and 5mm, respectively.

The Bode family also secured the other Charolais sale-topper at lot 10, Palgrove Schooner, a 24-month-old son of Palgrove Naturalism, out of Palgrove Digna L339E.

He weighed 928kg, with an EMA of 150sq cm, IMF of 3.8pc, scrotal circumference of 43 centimetres, and P8 and rib fat measurements of 6 and 5mm, respectively,

Reaching a top price of $57,500 for the Brangus draft was lot 137, Palgrove Simply Dreaming, who was purchased by Parshot Pty Ltd, Anderleigh.

A 25-month-old son of DMR Investment, out of Castle Felicity N1383, the top Brangus sire weighed 850kg, with a 130sq cm EMA, 4.6pc IMF, 42cm scrotal, and P8 and rib fat measurements of 13 and 8mm, respectively.

Palgrove’s Ben Noller said he was very pleased with the result of their first Glen Wilga sale, noting the support from both long-term, returning clientele, and new customers.

“It was very strong, across the board, and there was a big spread on the cattle too.

“I’m very grateful that people could still buy affordable bulls in the middle of the sale, but we also we had guys picking those cream of the crop bulls, for either stud or bull breeding programs.

“It’s a good one to get behind us with the amount of work that’s been done here over the last five months.”

There were a number of volume buyers who took home larger drafts, including Clermont outfit, TVF Pastoral, who secured ten bulls at an average price of $13,500 and the Arnaboldi family, Jericho, who outlaid an average of $22,500 for ten bulls.

Palgrove Pastoral Company have once again proven their prowess in the RNA Paddock to Palate competition, taking out the overall award for class 37, 100 Day HGP export, for the sixth year in a row.

Impressively, their Charolais-cross cattle filled three of the top four spots in the overall class 37 award, with the Morgan family of The Grove Shorthorns coming in second place.

Their winning pen of seven had an average carcase weight of 374.36 kilograms, with an average dressing percentage of 55.59 per cent, and average P8 and rib fat measurements of 14 and 8mm respectively.

They also placed second and third in class 37A for weight gain, as well second and third in class 37B, for carcase, before winning both champion and reserve champion carcase.

Gemma Noller said she and Ben were very pleased to continue their winning streak, and it was a great lead into their bull sale on September 8, the first to be held at their new property, Glen Wilga at Chinchilla.

“I think it just shows the consistency in our genetics and our program, the relevance to the everyday market, and how productive our genetics are,” she said.

“It’s a hard class to win, so we’re very excited about it.”

Ms Noller said their consistent results in the competition were a credit to the commercial relevance of their herd.

“When you’re at the top, you’re always being chased, so you’ve got to keep improving, and we look to do that with the sires we use,” she said.

“We’re forever trying to improve our genetics and make sure we’re producing the best cattle to offer to our clients.

“It’s the commercial relevance of that competition which draws us to it each year, and the feedback we get from it really helps our program.

“It’s a nice way to prove to our clients that we are producing genetics which will get that extra value for money at the other end of the supply chain.”

By Clare Adcock

Read Story Online

The highly acclaimed Palgrove Pastoral continued its dominance in the winner’s circle at the 2023 RNA Paddock to Palate weigh-in phase of the competition. In the 100 day HGP free class, Palgrove were placed first with a pen of six Charolais and Charolais cross steers who recorded an average daily weight gain of 2.46kg/day. They also collected the highest award individual weight gain of 2.87kg/day.

General manager at Palgrove, Ben Noller, said they were very happy to come away with some amazing results.

“The commercial relevance of this competition is what draws us to this event each year, as a way to benchmark our genetics,” he said.

He said the steers represented a mix of Charolais/Angus commercial cattle and some from the Charolais Stud, and they were bred on their northern NSW properties at Ben Lomond and Inverell.

“We selected a group of steers for phenotype believing they would meet the weight specification, to take us into the next phase of the competition, and fit the grid for MSA and carcase attributes,” he said. “This competition is ideal to see where our cattle sit against our peers, as they all go into the feedlot at the same time and are fed the same.”

He said the results were proof that the Palgrove bred cattle have the ability to meet the weight gain component along the supply chain.

“That is proof of profit that our genetics contribute to the supply chain, which is good for all parts of the industry,” he said.

Palgrove will offer 110 Charolais and 100 Ultrablack bulls at their new Queensland location, Glen Wilga, near Chinchilla, in spring.

Class 37A – Rabobank Best Weight Gain for Pen of 6, 100 Day Grain-Fed Steers

Palgrove genetics were in hot demand at the stud’s Hunter Valley Bull sale in Scone on Friday. Support from interstate and local buyers assisted in a total clearance of 61 combined Charolais and Ultrablack bulls.

An overall average of $11,754 was achieved across the sale to a top of $38,000 with a strong presence of online bidding throughout.

In the sale breakdown, 47 Charolais bulls averaged $11,765 to a top of $38,000, while 14 Ultrablack bulls averaged $11,714 and topped at $22,000. The top priced Charolais bull Palgrove Sheriff S139E is the first son of Palgrove Platinum to be offered, who sold for $48,000 back in 2020.

Top priced bull Palgrove Sheriff S1395E sold for $38,000, to Ben Avery, Blackall.

Ben Avery, Blackall Qld was the successful top priced Charolais buyer for the day at $38,000 and completed his sale draft with 3 Charolais bulls and 1 Ultrablack to average $24,000. Among his purchases, Mr Avery also bought the top priced Ultrablack bull at $22,000.

Palgrove Strike It Rich S786 is a homozygous polled and homozygous black bull measured 7.4% Intra Muscular Fat, 128cm EMA and a 42 centimeter scrotal.

Return buyer Ingrid O’Neill, Charters Towers Qld purchased 4 Charolais and 1 Ultrablack bull to an $10,600 average and top of $12,000.

Christine Parker, Jericho Qld purchased 3 Charolais and 2 Ultra Black bulls to an $12,000 average and top of $16,000.

AC & K Day, Blackall Qld purchased 4 Charolais bulls to an average of $9500 and a top of $12,000.

Second highest Charolais bull on the day Palgrove Southern Style PKS1584E sold to local hunter valley buyer Sophie Inder from Rockwell Charolais, Merriwa for $24,000.

Return buyer Mrs Inder has been buying from Palgrove for over 6 years and “has never been disappointed” with her purchases.

“We have always used Palgrove bulls in our stud and commercial programs, we don’t base our selections off EBV’S {Estimated Breeding Values} as we inspect all of our bull purchases in person and decide on structure and appearance.” she said.

The Merriwa based buyer currently runs 200 angus commercial females and 10 stud Charolais bulls in their operation.

Palgrove have upheld its annual sale in the Hunter Valley for many years providing their southern cliental it’s studs genetics at their doorsteps.

At the conclusion of the sale, Palgrove stud principal Ben Noller reflected on the connection the stud has with the Hunter Valley region

“The Hunter Valley sale has been a long term sale for the Palgrove business and we have a lot of return buyers who have supported us year in-year out, while our cliental keep supporting us we will continue to bring bulls down here” he said.

“Considering the seasonal conditions in around the Hunter Valley region at the moment we are very happy with the sale result today and the total clearance.”

“We had some long term supporters of ours in the north bidding online which helped the sale along and were very grateful for their support shown.” said Mr Noller.

The sale was covered by Davidson Cameron & Co and Mcgrath, Scone with Luke Scicluna the auctioneer.

AS LEADERS in the Australian beef industry for more than 50 years, Palgrove Pastoral Company is forging ahead with a new bull selling complex in readiness for their annual sale in September.
General manager Ben Noller said Palgrove had invested in a new bull depot and selling centre at Glen Wilga, Chinchilla, on Queensland’s Western Downs, where they would be conducting their sale on Friday, September 8.

Mr Noller said it was a change in venue from Strathgarve, Warwick, where their sale had traditionally been held. He said the decision to purchase a property at Chinchilla went hand in hand with their core business of selling bulls into Queensland, which represented 80 to 90 per cent of their annual sales, including paddock and on-property. They will also continue to operate their Hunter Valley bull sale at Scone in early June for their southern clients.

“The new block at Chinchilla, where we will establish a bull depot and selling centre, is an exciting move for us,” he said. “The strategy behind the move was to have a central location for our clients and also to our current assets. The property is 8km off the Warrego Highway (16 kilometres from Chinchilla) and in conjunction with our Drillham property will assist in distributing more than 1000 bulls annually across every state and territory in Australia.

“Mr Noller said, logistically, the decision made sense, with another paddock bull depot on their 2024ha Drillham property, Killaloo, located 80km west of Chinchilla.

He said Palgrove would offer 100 Charolais and 100 Ultrablack and Brangus bulls at the new sale venue in September, which would be their largest offering for many years. “We have increased the number of Ultrablack bulls in this year’s catalogue, off the back of the record sale last year coupled with strong demand.”

Palgrove holds two auction sales annually, with its Hunter Valley sale being conducted at the Scone Saleyards on June 2, where 60 Charolais and 20 Ultrablack sires will be on offer.

Palgrove’s southern operations are based at the 9508ha Inverell property, Macintyre Station, where Mr Noller and wife Gemma reside, and managed by James Thibault. “We run our Ultrablack, Angus and Brangus programs on Macintyre Station, where we currently have 2000 registered females plus weaner bull development and a commercial herd,” Mr Noller said.
“Our other holding in New South Wales is our 3198ha Ben Lomond aggregation, which is the base for our Charolais herd,” he said. “We run 1800 registered females over a seven-property aggregation, and both NSW holdings are utilised as weaner bull development areas, before our bulls head north to both our bull depots in Queensland.”

In the wake of Palgrove’s 2022 record-breaking bull sales for both the Charolais and Ultrablack breeds, Mr Noller believes it was a “very special and unique year” that marked their final sale at Strathgarve. He also believes the sale result was due to a combination of factors, including cattle prices, bumper season, herd rebuild and producer confidence. “I guess everything just lined up at once, with our sale breaking the Ultrablack record top price 12 times, and breaking the Charolais top price three times – however was broken again a week later – with Charolais bulls hitting the $100,000 mark on three occasions,” he said. “The whole sale averaged just over $28,000, but we may not see these highs again for a long time.”

“I would expect a correction this year, as the cattle market has reduced off the record levels, however things are still looking very positive. It’s a good thing to see producers doing well, with confidence to invest back in quality genetics to rebuild their herds.”

Mr Noller has now been with Palgrove for six years, and said the Palgrove brand had a long history in the beef industry. “We have loyal clientele and our main focus is to keep supporting them, while building new relationships in the industry,” he said. “Our clients are our business; it’s about understanding what they need to achieve in their commercial operations, and we pride ourselves on being a company that’s dedicated to improving the profitability and efficiency of beef cattle production. “We have also always prided ourselves on having bulls available all year round. Although we have two auctions each year, our main business is still our paddock sales.

“We are trying to keep up with the growth of Palgrove, along with the demand for our genetics, and the new selling centre and bull depot is aimed to scale up the business, improve quality and remain central to our clientele. The two bull depots in Queensland will work in closely with each other.”

With Palgrove currently employing 25 staff, Mr Noller said there was a plan f0r further growth in their commercial business. “We still run a lot of commercial cattle in and around our stud business. The property, Palgrove, near Warwick, continues to run a commercial herd and is where we conduct the majority of our embryo programs,” he said.
“Our aim is to provide well-researched, high performing genetics, backed by science that consistently improves profitability, efficiency and sustainability in commercial beef production.”
And they must be doing something right, as the Palgrove prefix is in demand as much today, as ever.

Records were broken all around, however the most pleasing thing for us was the mix of Stud and Commercial buyers, both new and repeat.

We can not thank all the buyers, underbidders, supporters, staff, friends and Family for making it such a special day.

75/75 2yr old Charolais Bulls sold to average $28,587 with a top of $115,000 (Australian Charolais & Palgrove Record) for Lot 10 Palgrove Ringo purchased by Len and Sue Bode.

19/19 yearling Charolais Bulls sold to average $26,526 with a top of $90,000 for Lot 57 purchased by Rosedale Charolais.

Overall 66/66 Ultrablack bulls sold to av. $26,939 and 9/9 Brangus bulls sold to av. $34,889

51/51 2yr old Ultrablack Bulls sold to average $27,137. Lot 106 – Palgrove Revolution was knocked down for an Australian Ultrablack record of $70,000 to Eric and Lyn Slack-Smith, Richmond QLD.

14/14 yearling Ultrablack Bulls sold to average $26,571 with a top of $44,000.
9/9 Brangus Bulls sold to average $34,889 with a top of $74,000 for Lot 120. Palgrove Ribeye who sold to Adrian and Megan Forrest, Augathella QLD.

Palgrove held its Hunter Valley Bull Sale at Scone on Friday, 3rd, June and once again has proved to be a success after a total clearance was achieved, along with a sale top of $44,000.

All up, a total of 49 Charolais and 14 Ultrablack bulls were offered, with an overall average of $15,555 across the total offering of 63 bulls.

The Scone sale attracted over 47 registered bidders who all were eager to take away the Palgrove genetics back their respected herds.

In the breakdown, the 49 Charolais sold to an average of $15,448 and a top of $44,000 across the board.

Mathew Collins, Kenmere Charolais, Holbrook, bought the top-priced Palgrove Ravine. The 21-month-old weighed 850kg, with a 39 centimetre scrotal circumference and a 141 square centimetre eye muscle area.

Robert Teague, Ellerston, was the volume buyer for the Charolais with an impressive draft of nine bulls to an average of $16,222, followed closely by Cody Scott, Goondiwindi, Qld, with six bulls to average $12,333.

Mr Teague of Ellerston who manage’s a 14,000 cattle operation in Scone has been buying Palgrove bull’s for over 16 years and input’s the bull’s into their crossbreeding program.

“We use the charolais bull and cross it over a black baldy cow to get a terminal calf and then trade on the market” said Mr Teague.

“The bull’s are very sound, we get good pregnancy results and they suit the our properties steep terrain throughout the hill’s”.

“We have had great result’s from the charolais bull in our cross breeding program” said Mr Teague.

The second-top priced Charolais, Palgrove Ryder, went for $30,000 to the underbidder of the top-priced bull, Maureen Jackson, Forbes.

Mrs Jackson was also Palgrove’s top-priced at the Scone sale in 2017 when she paid $24,000 for her her pick that year.

“I missed out on Ravine (the top-priced bull) today who was the original bull we wanted, but I’m very happy with my purchase of Ryder,” said Mrs Jackson.

“He’s got a lot of meat on him, an easy calving bull and I think he’ll fit in nicely with our females”

This was for Palgrove Rebel, which weighed 748kg with a 130sq cm EMA and a 42cm scrotal circumference.

The volume buyer for the Ultrablacks was Allan Richardson, Parramatta, taking three bulls to an average of $16,666.

“Their was a fair spread on the bull’s which show’s the way the season has been and where the market currently is at,” said Mr Noller.

“It was good to see Ravine (top-priced bull) sell for $44,000. We always knew he was a pretty special bull and he will go down to Kenmere Charolais and offer his stud duties.

“We now go back to preparation for our annual sale on the 9th of September in Dalveen, Qld, where we will have a good solid draft of bulls which we will offer over 100 Charolais and 80 Ultrablacks” .