Article and images courtesy of NIOA Pastoral

From the show ring to the sale ring, 2024 has been a successful year for NIOA Pastoral and their Santa Gertrudis Stud at Talgai, on the Darling Downs of Queensland.

NIOA and RL pastoral companies captured the attention of potential buyers ahead of their annual Santa Gertrudis sale with a dominant display of breeding excellence at the Royal Queensland Show in 2024. 

The two studs, collected 20 ribbons between them at the Ekka’s Beef Week, widely revered as the biggest stud cattle exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere.
NIOA’s haul from its eight-strong draft included Reserve Champion Bull (8 months and under 12 months) for NIOA VIP V70 (AI) (P), the son of former Australian breed record-holder Riverina Roland Sanchez, second for NIOA Special Effects S03 (P) in the hotly contested Senior Cow class and second for the Tookey Creek-sired NIOA Utah U11 (P) in the Senior Bull (under 24 months). The two studs’ success across various categories in a bumper 109-head Ekka Santa Gertrudis field serves as a pointer to some of the elite lots catalogued for their on-property sale. The NIOA RL Sale mantra this year is “industry focused, commercially relevant”.

Sale manager Rob Sinnamon has also announced the return to a physical sale ring after two years of video auctions.
“While video auctions served us well, the physical on-property experience in the magnificent surrounds of Talgai Homestead is unique on the spring bull buying circuit,” he said.

“As well as allowing our clients to inspect the cattle up close, the traditional sale ring format provides a lively experience and fosters a sense of engagement that is integral to the Santa Gertrudis community.

It’s 10 years this year since Rob and Eliza Nioa formed NIOA Santa Gertrudis, stud No. 2122, at Allora on Queensland’s Southern Downs.

Property manager Shannon Gardner said the 2024 sale draft reflected the stud’s continued investment in the best Australian and American bloodlines.

“I’m excited about this year’s lineup,” he said. “It’s an exceptional draft of premium stud beef showcasing the finest genetics and quality in the industry.

“We’ve been working on taking our breeding program to the next level in recent years to ensure our cattle have the perfect blend of performance and commercial relevance.”

The return of a physical sale at the Talgai property took place on Thursday 5th September 2024 in a hangar-turned-all-weather sale barn at NIOA Pastoral Co.’s Talgai Homestead near Allora. 

Buyers came from Queensland’s southeast corner to properties in Cloncurry, Richmond and Hughenden in the northwest, southwest to Cunnamulla, north to Clermont, Nebo, Marlborough, Taroom on the Western Downs, the New South Wales Northern Rivers region and as far as Tasmania.

Repeat buyer Craig Ross of Ross Grazing, Kemmis Creek, Nebo led the charge, snapping up four head – three Riverina bulls and one NIOA bull - for an outlay of $56,500 including the Lot 4 sale topper Riverina Tambo T20 (P) for $22,500. 

The first bull up in the NIOA draft was Lot 9 - the 24-month-old NIOA Utah U11 (P) weighing in at 1095kg with an eye muscle of 134sq cm, IMF of 7.4 per cent, rib scan 20 and scrotal circumference of 41cm. The son of Tookey Creek N24 (P) out of Rosevale Ada N353 (P) is now on his way to Taroom, Queensland, after the Brigadoon Cattle Co. paid $15,000.

NIOA Santa Gertrudis General Manager Shannon Gardner said the success of the event combined with growing industry confidence set a positive tone for future selling seasons including next year with the first sons of Australian breed record breakers Yarrawonga Spartacus S316 (P) and Riverina Roland Sanchez R88 (PP). 

“I think it’s been a great result for a smaller stud within the industry. We were very happy to receive $15,000 for Lot 9 to a repeat buyer in Brigadoon (Cattle Co.),” he said. 

“And that’s one of the things that stood out today – the number of repeat buyers who are back for their third, fourth and fifth year. It shows that we must be doing something right.

“The comments today were around the consistency of our bulls, we had some younger cattle on display here from the genetics of Spartacus and Sanchez and received very positive feedback. I think our line next year will really shine.”

For more from NIOA Pastoral, go to their website at nioapastoral.com.au or find them on social media at www.facebook.com/NIOAPastoral

This article was taken from edition eight of the Your Rural Success Magazine. Check out the full edition at www.pursehouserural.com.au/your-rural-success-magazine