[PRESS RELEASE] Bull sale season looms: Charters Towers vets take the guesswork out of reading BULLCHECK certificates

Charters Towers, 20 October 2026 - North Queensland cattle producers heading to November bull sales are being urged to interpret BULLCHECK certificates carefully, not just look for the tick, with Gener8 Reproduction warning that useful information on a sale bull can often be overlooked.

"There's a lot of information on a BULLCHECK certificate and buyers can get overwhelmed," Dr Callan Solari said. "If you need a hand understanding what's in front of you, reach out and we'll talk you through it."

Bulls offered at major northern sales have already undergone a BULLCHECK breeding soundness examination. Gener8 Reproduction's accredited vets have completed the lion's share of semen testing for this year's sales on stud clients' properties. Most clients also opted for a sperm morphology assessment by the clinic's in-house morphologist, a recommended but non-compulsory step of the exam, which can provide important insight into a bull's fertility.

"It's a risk assessment," Dr Solari said. "It's not about finding the best bull all the time. It's about finding the ones that are at high risk of not performing."

With most northern herds putting bulls out between December and February, Dr Solari said commercial producers should also test their own bulls every year before the start of the breeding season. 

"Then you'll know how many bulls you actually need to replace before you go to the sale, and which of your bulls are low risk," he said.

Sound, tested bulls also allow lower joining rates, freeing up the budget for better genetics. [END]. 

Gener8 Reproduction provides comprehensive on-property bovine veterinary services across northern Australia, and from their Charters Towers clinic location.