The opening lot at the 2024 Great Northern Brahman Bull and Heifer Sale on October 25, Cambil Polled Emperor 6527 (IVF) (PS). All images Great Northern Brahman Sale
World-class grey genetics have been added to the catalogue of commercially relevant bulls with superior fertility, production, and carcase traits, expanding the offering for buyers at the 2024 Fifth Annual Great Northern Brahman sale.
There will also be an additional vendor this year, resulting in an increased catalogue catering for all producers and markets, and making the sale a premiere fixture on the northern sale calendar.
The heifer and genetics sale will kick off the program on Thursday, October 24 at the Airlie Beach Hotel, Whitsundays, with a simultaneous live and online auction starting at 7.30pm. On offer will be 11 red and grey heifers and three semen packages in red and grey bulls.
This will be backed up with the bull and heifer sale at the Proserpine Showgrounds from 9am on Friday, October 25, featuring a total of 147 live lots comprising 92 bulls (56 grey and 36 red) and 55 heifers (16 red and 39 grey).
Onsite inspections of both bulls and heifers will be available from Wednesday, October 23 at Proserpine showgrounds. On property inspections prior to the sale can be arranged via the sale agents.
The vendors in 2024 are Vella, Cambil, Ooline, Palm Creek, Burdekin, Badilla and Kent Beef studs.
Great Northern Brahman Sale chairman James Kent said the sale had gone from strength to strength since its inception five years ago,
“We have two new exciting additions to the Great Northern Brahman sale this year with grey bulls added to the catalogue and a new vendor joining the group to expand the offering,” Mr Kent said.
Following their purchase of the entire NCC herd, Ray and Leah Vella, Vella Brahmans, of Proserpine, will offer their first sale consignment.
Mr Kent said with the addition of greys, there were now all Brahman products available, including red and grey heifers and bulls.
“There will be quality sires with commercially relevant carcase traits to suit both stud and commercial buyers.”
Grant Daniel Long Rockhampton branch manager Joshua Heck said this year’s sale draft was one of the most exciting catalogues to date.
“With the inclusion of grey bulls into this year’s sale line-up, and Vella Brahmans joining the vendor group off the back of their record NCC herd purchase, the 2024 Great Northern Brahman Sale catalogue now has something for every buyer,” Mr Heck said.
“The sale caters for all markets and producers with grey bulls and heifers, red bulls and heifers, and semen lots available for purchase across two days.
“All seven sale vendors complement each other with similar genetic traits amongst their cattle, and with the combined investment each vendor has made in the Brahman breed this sale ensures leading genetics are on offer at an affordable price.”
In 2023 a total of 29 bulls averaged $10,448 and topped at $70,000 for JK Monte Cristo sold by Kent Beef, Goovigen, to Gavin Scott, Yaccamunda Station, Collinsville, while 27 heifers topped at $26,000 for Cambil Jewel 6559 and averaged $6259.
Last year the heifer and genetics sale topped at $30,000 and averaged $19,600 with semen packages topping at $1300 per straw and IVF aspirations selling for $10,000.
All bulls will have been semen tested, soundness evaluated, passed morphology testing, muscle scanned, and sire verified to be eligible to sell at this sale.
“All vendors have made significant investments in the Brahman breed over the years both domestically and internationally, and these leading genetics are always on offer at this sale providing value for money,” Mr Kent said.
Participating studs have purchased top priced bulls at previous sales, including Carinya Sugarcrata, Nicneil Sugar Daddy, Fairy Springs Royal Flush and Carinya L Torrance, with their genetics represented in the 2024 catalogue.
Mr Kent said sale vendors had invested in invitro fertilisation programs using superior genetics to fast-track genetic gain.
The seven vendors are:
- Cambil Brahmans: The Camm family place significant emphasis on selecting practical, beef type cattle with strong commercial traits of bone, length, muscling, temperament, calving ease, and mothering ability.
- Ooline Brahmans: Darren and Sue Kent focus on fertility, temperament, and strong carcase traits to develop over many decades a herd that is extremely functional and reliable while maintaining market relevance.
- Vella Brahmans: Ray and Leah’s long-term goal is to maintain quality and efficiency in the cattle and ensure longevity while investing in poll genetics and embracing both genomics and carcase traits.
- Burdekin Brahmans: Nick and Kira Brownson operate a commercial and stud herd of grey and red Brahmans, alongside Nick’s family, with an emphasis on breeding type, bone and fertility.
- Palm Creek Brahmans: Peter and Mariah Chiesa breed functional, resilient Brahman cattle exceptionally well suited to the challenging climate of north Queensland and use the latest genetic advancements to produce saleable read meat of the highest quality.
- Badilla Brahmans: Blake and Renee Chiesa produce high quality cattle with an emphasis on temperament and functionality.
- Kent Beef: James and Cassandra Kent invest heavily in large scale IVF programs, working towards their mission of breeding high quality beef cattle to boost the herd performance of large sale beef producers and deliver consistent results for clients.
The Great Northern Brahman Sale aims to establish a secondary red Brahman bull sale post Brahman Week and allow buyers in the north to purchase at a sale closer to home.
Mr Kent said the venue at Airlie Beach and Proserpine Showgrounds was the ideal gateway to the buyers in southern, central, and northern Queensland.
The Great Northern Brahman Sale vendor group has made a significant investment and contribution to not only the longevity of the sale but also the wider Proserpine community by funding and constructing a major upgrade to the cattle yards at Proserpine showgrounds.
There is now a fully functional selling ring and yard complex that is multi-use for the Proserpine annual show and the annual Great Northern Brahman Sale.
“The entire vendor group of the Great Northern Brahman Sale run and operate commercial cattle operations alongside their stud herds,” Mr Kent said.
“This ensures we remain in touch with the commercial relevance of the sale offering. The fundamentals of the sale offering are no different to those applied within our commercial herds.”
The online catalogue is available for viewing now via the Great Northern Brahman Sale website at www.greatnorthernbrahmansale.com
Selling agents are Joshua Heck, GDL Rockhampton, on 0409 732 676 and Anthony Ball, Elders Rockhampton, on 0428 275 499.
The Great Northern Brahman Sale is proudly sponsored by Greater Whitsunday Vet Services, Williams Stock Feeds, Inventia Genetic Technologies, Gener8, GB & AR Willoughby Transport, Paradise Outdoor Advertising, and Pursehouse Rural.