Elrose principal Rodger Jefferis says Brahman females are making a comeback

One of 10 proven stud sires on offer at the Elrose Grey Brahmans production sale surpassed the second-top bull by $26,000 when it went under the hammer at CQLX Gracemere on Saturday, July 18.

A poll scurr sire, Elrose 23062, was purchased by Casey and Edward McCamley, Palmal Brahmans, Dingo, in partnership with Mr McCamley's parents, David and Julie, for $34,000, half each.

Born in October, 2022, the bull was sired by Elrose 17440, and was out of Elrose18682.

He was described as "a young poll sire with growth around the top 10 per cent, and in the top 5pc for the Central Production Index".

Casey and Edward McCamley, have about 100 stud breeders and 100 commercial breeders while David and Julie McCamley run 600 stud cows and 500 commercial breeders.

Edward McCamley said the bull had a beautiful head, was quiet, had extra length, a clean sheath and good testicles.

"He was hard to fault, he will go out with our (stud) cows this year," he said.

"We'll leave him around the yards for a month ... we join in September."

Mr McCamley said they chose the bull on its looks and not its estimated breeding values.

Mrs McCamley also bought a pregnant cow and calf unit, Elrose 23172 with a heifer calf at foot, for $11,500 which was a top price for cow and calf packages on day two of the sale.

"She's just a very nice correct cow. She was quiet. She had a nice heifer calf and she was seven months pregnant and we didn't think we could go too far wrong with her," she said.

Mr McCamley said they had bought cattle from Rodger Jefferis before.

I think we've bought cattle off all three sales he's had now and we've done pretty well with them," he said.

"They calf every year, their udders have been very good and the fertility's there."

The second top-priced bull, Elrose 23778, whose sire was Elrose 19960 and dam was Elrose Ramona 19931, was bought by Ray Vella, Vella Brahmans, for $8000.

The top price of $18,000 for a cow and calf package was paid by James Salerno, Rose Gum Salerno Pastoral, Beaudesert, on day one of the sale.

Breaking it down, 292 cows and calves grossed $1,531,500 for an average of $5245, a top of $18,000 and a clearance rate of 96pc while 10 proven sires grossed $86,000 for an average of $8600, a top of $34,000 and a clearance of 100pc.

Sixteen stud cows PTIC grossed $50,000 for an average of $3125, a top of $4000 and a clearance of 70pc while 64 unjoined heifers grossed $215,500 for an average $3367, a top of $10,000 and a clearance rate of 62pc.

In total, the two-day sale sold 382 lots for a gross of $1,883,000 and a clearance of 87pc.

Elrose Grey Brahmans principal Rodger Jefferis said overall the sale was very strong for cows and calves.

"There's not a lot of demand for empty females ... the bulls were great ... they're going to good homes," he said.

"The top price bull, he was a poll bull with really good performance figures and he went to Palmal and it's a great home.

"I'm very pleased to see them go where they're going to keep going ahead."

Mr Jefferis said the sale showed that the Brahman female was still a great unit.

"I think she's making a comeback ... you can see it everywhere in the commercial prices," he said.

"I think, in the end, she's a very valuable item, the Brahman cow, she doesn't eat much and she's got longevity and is very easy care.

"And you can put whatever colour bull over her if you don't want a Brahman bull, she's great."

Queensland Rural Charters Towers manager Troy Trevor said there was a good spread of buyers,

"Quite a few are heading back into North Queensland, and then there was a good couple of good bulk buyers in around Biloela and Springsure, areas, and then scattered numbers went everywhere really from Tolga and Mareeba in the north to over the border," he said.

"There's been a bit of interest in northern New South Wales, so they've gone all over Queensland really."

Mr Trevor said the quality of the cattle was very consistent throughout the sale.

"The cows and calves were very even right through over the two days and the competition on them was strong," he said.

Mr Trevor agreed it was a small crowd at CQLX, but there were very active.

"I wouldn't say it's the biggest crowd we've seen here, but there was a good percentage (of buyers) online," he said.

"But, yes, the people that came, they come to buy some cattle. I think everyone should be happy with the result, I believe."

Mr Trevor said it was a big number of stud cattle for one vendor to present and put through the way they had, and it was a big effort by everybody involved.

• Selling agents: Queensland Rural and GDL, simulcast through Stocklive.