Brahman visionary receives life membership at 50th anniversary sale
The Australian Brahman Breeders Association awarded life membership to a pioneer in genetics on the same day that his top-priced heifer set a new all-time record at the Gympie Brahman Female Sale.
Brahrock stud principal Royce Sommerfeld accepted the life membership from ABBA president Reade Radel before bidding started at the Gympie Saleyards on Saturday, June 7 in the sale's 50th anniversary.
Brahrock has been a powerhouse of the seedstock world for the past 50 years, according to Mr Radel, pioneering artificial insemination and embryo transfers in the 1970s and 1980s before winning grand champion Brahman bull at Beef Australia in the 1991.
Mr Sommerfeld said he and his wife Beryl started their Brahman herd at a time when other producers around Maryborough were growing sugarcane to sell at record prices, and a market downturn saw cattle prices plummet.
"We went north in the early days [the 1970s] to buy cows from operations such as Cherokee, Pioneer Park, and Lancefield," Mr Sommerfeld said.
"But there are so many people that Beryl and I are grateful to for our success:... Bill and Sue Blackeney, Ken and Wendy Cole, and Ken Roche among others.
"Semen was cheap when we started artificial insemination, meaning you could try different bulls without spending a lot of money.
"We started to flush cattle [for reproductive cells] in 1989, and... we had help from DPI and Queensland Agricultural College staff in our breeding program.
"Some of the highlights were winning grand champion Brahman bull with Brahrock Magic Man at Beef Australia in 1991, and selling Brahrock Wise Guy for $50,000."
Brahrock even experimented with cloning cattle in the 2000s to extend the use of proven cows and match them with different sires.
Mr Radel said the Sommerfelds had stayed strong on the Brahman breed since registering their stud in 1977.
"Mr Sommerfeld has supported the Gympie Brahman Female Sale since the beginning, including as chairman of the organising committee, and has contributed in no small part to its success," Mr Radel said.
"The Brahrock draft at Brahman Week has become a must-inspect on all the catalogues of both red and grey breeders.
"[And the Sommerfelds] are always keen to help young breeders, often providing donor cows to get them started."
Mr Sommerfeld became the ABBA's 45th life member.
Looking to the future, Mr Sommerfeld said selecting for polled cattle and British traits would become more important for Brahman breeders seeking to meet market specifications.
In a generous act, the Sommerfelds raised $10,000 for LifeFlight at the 2025 Gympie Brahman Female Sale by selling their heifer Brahrock Appollo Power 7652 to Gary and Katrina Lynch of Gracemere Brahmans in a charity auction.
