Top selling Elite Braford Breeders' heifer bound for stud duties in Mackay

The fifth annual 2025 Elite Braford Breeders heifer sale recorded a full clearance of registered and commercial females at the multi-vendor sale at Gayndah on Saturday, March 22, with the top-price female bound for North Queensland.

A total of 38 lots were offered and sold by the 11 vendors within the Braford breeders in the Wide Bay Burnett Braford Promotional Group.

The result represented a 100 per cent clearance rate, with a combined total gross of $130,250 and sale average of $3428, which was on par with last year's $3465 average.

Of those, 32 registered heifers were sold for a total of $113,000, averaging $3531 per head.

The highest-priced registered heifer, lot 21, sold for $7500.

Additionally, six commercial heifers were sold for a total of $17,250, with an average price of $2875.

The top-priced commercial heifer, lot 38, sold for $4500.

Claiming the top price honours was the McNamara Partnership, MCN Brafords, The Glen, Bell, who sold the top registered female, MCN Rainbird, to repeat buyer, Georga Newitt, GKA Braford's, Oakenden, near Mackay, for $7500.

This was Ms Newitt's first time attending the sale, but she'd purchased MCN Braford genetics in the past.

Ms Newitt said she was excited for MCN Rainbird to join her breeding operation, which currently has 12 breeding Braford females and two bull calves on the ground.

"I purchased (MCN Rainbird) as she was the best quality female in the draft and was structurally correct," she said.

Ms Newitt said MCN Rainbird will continue to run with the MCN Braford herd until she picks her up at the Braford Feature Show at Mt Perry during Easter.

"I plan to bring her back to our property at Oakenden to join a bull, but there is also a chance she may get in calf to a herd bull, which is currently running with the MCN herd, Chadwick Downs Prestige.

"In the future, I plan to exhibit her progeny at Queensland ag shows including the Brisbane Royal."

Ms Newitt purchased three females at the Elite sale in total, for an average of $5667.

Sired by Harriett Valley Trader and out of MCN C2952A, the 15-month-old polled unjoined heifer was among the first progeny sold sired by Harriett Valley Trader.

NSW vendors, Cameron and Sarah Bennett, Little Valley Grazing Co, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, sold the second top price heifer, Little Valley Miss Sher 3656, to Peter Schreiterer, Blayney, NSW.

Strathgyle Brafords, sold two heifers for $6000 each, Strathgyle Request to Peter Schreiterer, Blayney, NSW, and Strathgyle Margie 3289, to Little Valley Brafords, Casino.

The McNamara Partnership, MCN Brafords, The Glen, Bell, sold the top price commercial heifer, MCN Etheveal, to Edward Radford, Eureka, for $4500.

Three bulk buyers each purchased four lots at the sale. Peter Schreiterer from Blayney, NSW, bought four lots with an average price of $4312.50, Alpha Agribusiness purchased four lots at an average of $2062.50, while Ian Weir & Son, from Lismore, Valley View, Koonorigan, NSW, bought four lots at an average price of $2375.

Vendor averages

• Donovan Family, Ashby Brafords, Jimbour, sold 2/2 heifers to average $4000.
• LJ and EL Webster, Goomora Brafords, Goomboorian, sold 5/5 heifers to average $2450.
• Cameron and Sarah Bennett, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW, sold 6/6 heifers to average $4250.
• McNamara Partnership, MCN Brafords, Bell, sold 2/2 heifers to average $6000.
• Malcolm and Sandra Kenny, Abernethy Brafords, Gayndah, sold 6/6 heifers to average $2708.
• Peter and Anna Dingle, The Willows, sold 2/2 heifers to average $2875.
• Robert and Lesette Hoffmann, Downfall Creek Brafords, Guluguba, sold 4/4 heifers to average $4187.
• Russell and Donna Kenny, Harriett Valley Brafords, Gayndah, sold 5/5 heifers to average $2300.
• Robert Kliese, Teviot Hills Brafords, Mutdapilly, sold 2/2 heifers to average $2625.00.
• Stuart and Janelle Dingle, Chasewater Brafords, Mt Perry Road, sold 2/2 heifers to average $2500,
• McNamara Family, Strathgyle Brafords, Bell, sold 2/2 heifers to average $6000.

There were 34 registered bidders from Queensland and New South Wales.

• Selling agents: GDL, simulcast on Stocklive