Commercial buyer takes home top female at 2025 New Dimension Braford sale
Commercial buyers took home the top female and equal top bulls at the 2025 New Dimension Braford sale, where significant interest from new and returning bidders delivered a good result for vendors.
About 100 people packed the stands at the Bell Showgrounds on a bright and windy Saturday, August 30, for the sale's 21st edition.
Bidders joined in person and online from local areas around the Darling Downs and Burnett, central Queensland, as far north as Mackay, and central and northern New South Wales.
Vendors grossed $304,500 for both females and bulls.
A total of 36 females from 40 sold through the ring for a clearance of 90 per cent and an average price of $4013; while nine of 12 bulls sold through the ring for a 75pc clearance, and an average of $12,000.
The result was up on 2024, when 43 of 44 females sold for a 97pc clearance, average of $3953 and top of $6500 twice, while 10 of 13 bulls sold for a 77pc clearance, $6800 average, and top of $12,000.
The McNamara family, based near Bell, sold Strathygyle Rhani for the top price for a female of $7500 to Kim and Richard Edwards of Casino, NSW.
She was a polled heifer, 17 months old, by Strathgyle Mario and out of Strathgyle Roma.
Winston McNamara said she was the first heifer by Strathgyle Mario to be offered for sale.
"We are very excited about the kind of progeny her sire is breeding," Mr McNamara said.
"He is a very easy doing bull with a moderate frame and tremendous bone.
"We are breeding almost exclusively polled bulls and females at the moment to meet market demand.
"And you will likely see his progeny on the show circuit from 2026 onwards."
Ms Edwards said she had been trying to buy a Strathgyle female at auction for three or four years before placing the winning bid in 2025.
"We liked her depth, softness, and length; these are the traits we target in our commercial operation," Ms Edwards said.
"We have a herd of about 25 Brafords at home, alongside a herd of crossbreds.
"She will be joined naturally to our only bull, Little Valley Puma, and we may look to register a stud in the future."
The good season in local areas and the northern half of NSW helped deliver the firm result, according to Elders Mackay agent Anthony Ball.
"It was great to see returning bidders out in force, alongside new faces," Mr Ball said.
"There was more interest and there were more bids from people registered online this year."
Two bulls sold for the top price of $20,000: the Lill family's Chadwick Downs Brigadier to the Anderson family of Clermont; and the McNamara Partnership's MCN Dunaden to John and Judy Acton of Blackwater.
Chadwick Downs Brigadier was polled, 19 months old, and weighed 641 kilograms.
He had an eye muscle area of 127 square centimetres, scrotal circumference of 39 centimetres, intramuscular fat of 4.7 per cent, as well as P8 and rib fat measurements of 11 and eight millimetres.
Chadwick Downs Cattle Co principal Martin Lill, based at Coonabarabran, said he was the first calf by the top-price bull at the 2023 National Braford Sale, Carinya Antonio.
"We are pretty happy with the result today," Mr Lill said.
"Chadwick Downs Brigadier's sire has the stamina, constitution and feed conversion ability that we breed for.
"His dam, Chadwick Downs Kerry, has these traits too.
"She is one of the matrons of our herd at 12 years old."
Mr Anderson said he had bought bulls from Chadwick Downs in previous years for his family's breeding, backgrounding and finishing operation.
"Brigadier is a well-rounded bull, and his structure, coat and sheath stood out," Mr Anderson said.
"We will join him naturally in our herd of 450 females in late December or early January.
"And we will likely be in the market for one more bull this season."
MCN Dunaden was 25 months old and weighed 1050kg.
He had an eye muscle area of 141 sq cm, scrotal circumference of 39.5cm, intramuscular fat of 5.9pc, as well as P8 and rib fat measurements of 14 and 11 millimetres.
MCN Brafords principal Amy McNamara said it was an exciting result for the family and the Braford breed.
"MCN Dunaden was an incredible doer," Ms McNamara said.
"He was among the first of our 'B-registered' bulls, produced by crossing a Braford with a purebred, in this case a Hereford.
"He got his feet, structure and sheath from his sire, Mountain Valley Roma; while his dam, Strathgyle 2688, was a lovely, easy doing female."
GDL Dalby agent Mark Duthie, representing Mr and Mrs Acton, said they were looking for an article with higher Hereford content.
"The Actons have bought bulls from the McNamaras for many years," Mr Duthie said.
"MCN Dunaden had a bit of extra punch and bone about him.
"He will go into a grass-fed commercial operation to produce bullocks for the meatworks."
Vendor averages - females
Double C: 3/3 average $3833
Chadwick Downs Cattle Co: 2/2 average $6000
Ashby: 5/5 average $4300
Glynelly: 3/3 average $3000
Carinya: 7/7 average $4857
Nungil: three head for an average $3167
Strathgyle: 4/4 average $4875
MCN: 4/4 average $4500
Sunny Lawn: 5/6 average $2600
Rarcamba: 4/7 average $3125
Vendor averages - bulls
Double C: 2/2 average $6000
Carinya: 2/2 average $13,500
Strathgyle: 2/2 average $12,500
MCN: 2/2 average $19,500
- Agents: Elders and StockLive.
