Kilcoy stud breeders reach five figure price in National Braford Sale debut
Kilcoy-based stud breeders Lewis and Emily Cammack made a strong debut at the National Braford Sale, held at CQLX, Gracemere on Monday, September 8.
Operating under their stud prefix Camdun Brafords, the young couple offered Camdun Tornado, a move they say marks the beginning of their long-term commitment to the breed and the national sale.
The 37-month-old horned bull, sired by Harriett Valley Trader and out of MCN Margaret, attracted strong interest thanks to his showring success and growth data.
He was knocked down for $14,000 to buyers John and Judy Acton of Brackloon Grazing, Blackwater, secured the sire for their central Queensland operation.
"We're definitely proud to sell to such a big commercial operation," Mr Cammack said.
"This is exactly the direction we want to take our stud in."
Camdun Tornado was previously crowned grand champion Braford bull and supreme breed exhibit at the 2024 Royal Queensland Show, and won senior champion at the 2025 Royal Queensland Show.
Camdun Tornado weighed in at 930 kilograms, with a 32 centimetre scrotal size, 80 per cent semen motility, and 93pc morphology.
He also measured 13mm for P8 fat, 9mm for rib fat, had an intramuscular fat score of 6.1pc, and an EMA of 131 square centimetre.
"He was out of one of the first PTIC cows I bought," Mr Cammack said.
"Temperament and fertility were two big things with this bull."
Lewis, 22, founded Camdun Brafords in 2022 at 19 years of age, after working as a head stockman at Nudgee College and later in his family's award-winning Brisbane butcher shop.
Following the sale of that business in 2024, Lewis and Emily shifted their focus to their own operation, launching Camdun Farm Paddock to Plate, selling Braford-cross beef directly to consumers in whole or half sides, as well as cuts, mince, and specialty sausages.
"We use Braford bulls over Limousin cows for our paddock-to-plate steers, and temperament and meat quality are a big part of what we love about the breed," he said.
"We started the paddock-to-plate business in October last year, and it's been going really well."
With just 10 registered stud cows and a growing commercial herd of 120 Braford-cross breeders, the Cammacks are already looking ahead to their next draft of sale bulls.
"There's definitely at least one or two stud bulls in the works for next year's national sale," Mr Cammack said.
"We came up last year just to watch, and this year we wanted to jump in, see how it all works, and get involved."
