Border Collie Cabra Glebe Liz sells for record-breaking $40,000
One breed of dog is proving more popular than others when it comes to working, recently fetching a world record breaking $40,000 and appearing at an international event.
Rockhampton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rockhampton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A popular working dog trainer who has been catapulted to fame after winning Muster Dogs Season 2 says farmers are realising the importance of working dogs, after a Border Collie recently fetching a world record-breaking $40,000.
Tricoloured female Border Collie Cabra Glebe Liz sold for $40,000 to James and Helen Parker from Monto at the Ray White Livestock Rockhampton Working Dog Sale at the Gracemere Saleyards on May 5.
The sale surpassed the Guinness World Record for a working Border Collie – UK’s Kim which sold for $38,893 in 2021.
Liz’s owner Joseph Leven celebrated another massive sale that day with Cabra Glebe Jenny selling for $38,000 to Andrew Goodwin from Alpha.
Mr Wendt said the record-breaking sale of Liz was “more than what I ever thought we would achieve”.
He said it was an amazing effort from breeder Joseph Leven.
“He breeds really well dogs, he trains them very well,” he said.
“My hat goes off to Joe.
“Everybody in the sale is starting to step up and put more quality into the sale and get their dogs trained more.”
Muster Dogs Season 2 winner Zoe Miller said the value of working dogs was increasing because people were realising their importance.
“It’s not only what they do in terms of increasing efficiency for the work we do, it’s also the mateship and the companionship they offer for people working on the land,” she said.
“Over the wet season everyone typically has a break and goes away and you will be left there with a smaller crew and the dogs just enable you to be able to get a bit of work done by yourself.
“It’s one of efficiency and one of mateship.”
Zoe and her black and white Border Collie Buddy did meet and greets with the crowd at Beef Australia 2024.
Buddy came under Zoe’s ownership on the ABC TV series, which saw five Border Collie puppies, bred from the same litter by Mick Hudson, handed to five graziers from across Australia, who trained the dogs over 12 months.
Zoe said knowing that she worked predominantly with cattle, Mick wanted a dog that had a fair bit of confidence and would be most suitable for her line of work.
“He was the biggest in the litter and showed a lot of promise as a pup on sheep,” she said.
She said the first step to training a working dog was “getting a good connection with your dog and establishing that relationship”.
“By the 12 month mark the dogs were able to perform and help assist with daily jobs,” she said.
Buddy is now the fifth member of Zoe’s team of working dogs, who are otherwise all Kelpies, and is integral to the work she does with cattle.
“(Buddy) assists to keep cattle settled and makes my job easier, as well as helps to assist in making other people’s job working with livestock more enjoyable as well,” she said.
Zoe grew up on cattle stations and is sixth generation, spending most of her childhood at Rocklands Station near Camooweal, on the Queensland border with the Northern Territory.
Zoe is currently working for Arubial wagyu at Condamine in Queensland’s Western Downs Region.
Before securing work at Condamine in January, she was working in the Northern Territory as a contract weaner educator.
Zoe said being part of Beef Australia 2024 allowed her to network and connect with like-minded individuals.
She said she hoped the crowd at Beef being introduced to working dogs like Buddy would “help to inspire the next generation”.
“A lot of people are really passionate about working with animals,” she said.
“If that is something they can see themselves doing or want to have a go, get themselves off to some working dog schools and have a crack.
“Attitude is everything.
“Just go in with a learning mindset and you can do no wrong.”
The top pup, five-month-old Carrdoon Della, fetched $32,000, and was bought by Westwood’s Rob Grieve.
Ray White Rural Gracemere principal Gary Wendt said the working dog sale went well overall.
“We offered 132 lots to sell 121,” he said.
“The wholesale average was $7720.
“There is more of a demand for it.
“Our catalogue was the best quality catalogue we have ever had.”
Woman killed, girls injured in horror railway crash
A woman has died and two children have been injured after their car crashed on the Bruce Highway and came to a stop on a railway line.
Central Qld footy nursery that’s dominating State of Origin
When Kurt Mann runs out for Queensland in Game 2 of the State of Origin series on Wednesday night, he will continue the incredible legacy of St Brendan’s College graduates. The school’s legendary coach, Scott Minto, reveals what’s behind the success.