THE 2025 bull selling season is off to a strong start, with scheduled autumn sales taking place across both southern and northern Australia in coming months.

Traditionally, autumn has been seen as a peak time for southern states sales, however some significant sales in northern regions are also planned for the coming weeks, reflecting an evolving trend towards an expanding bull selling calendar.

In recent years, as noted by Beef Central, the autumn bull selling calendar has extended from now outside the traditional Autumn cutoff of April, until closer to mid-year. This change has been driven by the increasingly competitive nature of the market, where producers aim to attract buyers and stand out from the crowd.

This year’s autumn sales, however, are set against a particularly challenging backdrop of ongoing drought conditions and herd reductions, particularly in South Australia and western Victoria.

The effects of the recent extensive flooding in North Queensland remain unclear, especially when it comes to high-profile sales like the Big Country Brahman Sale in Charters Towers this week and the February All Breeds Sale in Rockhampton next week.

What is certain, however, is that these extreme weather events will influence producers’ purchasing decisions as they navigate the uncertainty surrounding seasonal conditions.

While many southern producers are grappling with dry conditions, the Bureau of Meteorology has stated that the northern wet season is significantly delayed, with the Northern Territory experiencing its latest wet season on record. This delay in seasonal rainfall will inevitably play a role in the decision-making processes of producers across both northern and southern regions.

Despite the challenging conditions, there is a growing sense of optimism in the industry, particularly due to the strong demand seen at recent weaner sales and positive interest in sale yards. Large areas of the country are still enjoying good to reasonable conditions, and many producers are seeking to expand their herds through the retention of more heifers or the purchase of draft heifers from dedicated sales.

This trend, particularly evident in 2025, suggests that producers are confident in the longer-term prospects of the industry and are taking steps to capitalise on those opportunities.

Positive prospects for the year ahead for Australian beef on the world stage – at a time when many major beef producing nations are seeing decline in herd size and production – provides further source of confidence for bull demand this year.

Within the seedstock sector, there is quiet optimism that these positive trends will translate into buyer demand that will achieve, if not exceed, last year’s autumn sale averages. For many, a strong clearance rate will be the benchmark for success.

130 sales listed over next five months

As reported by Beef Central last week, there are 130 autumn sales scheduled for bulls and registered heifers over the next five months, with more sales yet to be listed. Bull breeders can lodge any omissions from the list with beef Central via this link 

Notably, the Angus breed has 65 sales listed across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, with 4184 bulls offered. This illustrates the strong confidence felt by many seedstock producers who are now offering bulls that have reached marketable age.

In the Hereford breed, 1263 bulls are listed for 24 sales scheduled between now and April. In the north, where autumn sales are much less common, the February All Breeds Sale will offer 661 head from 21 breeds, which represents a smaller listing than the 2024 event.

However, the impact of seasonal conditions in southern Australia may have a significant effect on many southern sales. Herd reductions and the costs of drought management may lead to a lower demand for bulls, and most industry commentators suggest that a significant increase in average prices is unlikely, despite the broader optimism.

Historical trends from past droughts suggest that producers seeking new sires tend to become more discerning in their purchasing decisions. Recent reports from Southern Beef Weeks show that producers are once again shifting their approach to bull buying, reflecting patterns seen during the Millennium Drought and earlier.

Many are moving away from the traditional practice of attending sales in person to assess bulls before bidding. Instead, they are increasingly using open weeks to visit multiple breeders, building a list of potential purchases across different breeders, which then forms the basis for online bidding. This shift helps to reduce both travel and time costs associated with purchasing bulls.

For producers facing the pressures of limited time and income due to seasonal challenges, this approach offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency and cost savings. As seen during past droughts, producers are now more willing to purchase bulls that meet the specific needs of their breeding programs, rather than sticking to long-established relationships with familiar breeders.

Weather factor

While the overall market sentiment is positive, producers are also proceeding with caution, keeping a close eye on weather conditions, herd numbers, the cattle market and financial viability. The ability to access a range of sale options, both in person and online, means producers have more control over their buying decisions, which is crucial in a market shaped by such volatility.

In summary, the 2025 bull selling season is shaping up to be an interesting one, marked by a mix of optimism, cautious decision-making, and evolving trends in buying behaviour.

As producers navigate the challenges posed by ongoing droughts, delayed wet seasons, and fluctuating herd sizes, the flexibility to adapt and make informed purchasing decisions will be key to their success. For many in the seedstock sector, this season’s sales will be a crucial test of market resilience, with high clearance rates and stable or slightly stronger averages being the key targets for many producers.

Alastair Rayner is the General Manager of Extension & Operations with Cibo Labs and Principal of RaynerAg.  Alastair has over 28 years’ experience advising beef producers & graziers across Australia.   He can be contacted here or through his website www.raynerag.com.au