National Braford Sale hits $50,000 top price twice at Gracemere

High prices were aplenty at the 2026 National Braford Sale at CQLX Gracemere, on Monday, September 14.

But the absence of some regular and large orders from commercial buyers, who were preparing for drought or still recovering from flood, did affect the overall clearance and average.

The sale saw 161 of 192 bulls sold for an 84 per cent clearance (90pc in 2025) and $11,593 average ($13,477 in 2025).

It grossed $1,866,500.

Australian Braford Society president Steve Donovan said the dry weather had a slight impact on the clearance but overall it was a strong sale and lineup.

"We did pick up new buyers into new areas that haven't bought bulls out of Rocky for some time, including Julia Creek, a good number of bulls to Mitchell and more went back into NSW," he said.

"We did have a very strong show at Dubbo in May this year and a well supported female sale down there, which generated a huge lot of interest for the breed and a bit more buying support out of NSW."

The top price of $50,000, just shy of last year's breed record of $60,000, was hit twice by Carinya and Harriett Valley studs.

First to secure the honour was Carinya Fitzroy, a 23-month-old son of Carinya Atherton, offered by the Amor family, Dulacca.

He was knocked down to repeat buyer Jack Meek, Cargara Grazing, Augathella, as part of his draft of five purchases that averaged $30,500.

Carinya Atherton had a morphology score of 91pc, 140 square centimetre eye muscle area, 23 and 16 millimetre P8 and rib fat depths and 6.2 per cent of intramuscular fat.

He weighed 956 kilograms.

Mr Meek said he could hardly fault the sire prospect and intended to use his purchases to breed bulls for his clients in western Queensland.

"They all ask for good poll bulls and that's what he is," Mr Meek said.

"I've been buying Carinya bulls for years and years and their weight for age and temperament - you can't fault it, so why change.

"I intend to breed a lot of good bulls out of them to sell out there.

"I'll keep the tops for myself to put back into the herd and the others to sell to my clients."

Mr Meek runs a pure Braford herd of around 1000 cows and sells varying categories of stock through the Roma saleyards.

While his property had a body of dry feed, he was hoping for some rain soon.

Speaking on behalf of Carinya, which averaged $19,441 for a full clearance of 17 bulls, Todd Amor credited his parents' many years of hard work for their consistent success.

"We stick to bulls that are our type of Braford," he said.

"We wait for the bull that suits us best and we are just carrying on Mum and Dad's genetics and what they've done for generations."

The Amor family was not in the market for a bull but couldn't resist securing Harriett Valley Yardley from Russell and Donna Kenny and family, Gayndah, for the equal top of $50,000.

The 31-month-old son of the $50,000 Carinya Yenda boasted a 136sq cm EMA, 14 and 10mm P8 and rib fat depths and 5.7 intramuscular fat.

He was 74 per cent for morphology and weighed 1025 kilograms.

It marked the highest price the Kennys have ever received for a bull after paying top money themselves for many years.

"It is good to get to the top of the sale for once," Mr Kenny said. "We invested heavily so it is good to get some back."

While they had sold one Yenda son last year, 2026 marked their first major release of bulls, which Mr Kenny said were impressing with their growth and maturity.

The family sold all but one of their draft of 12 bulls for an average of $15,227, which Mr Kenny was up by about $2455 on the previous year.

"The genetics are coming through in the herd now and in the future we have got Yenda over Little Valley Richard ($40,000 bull purchase) heifers and they are crossing nicely," he said.

Mr Amor said they decided to pursue Harriett Valley Yardley because he displayed tremendous length, depth and was a smooth type.

At the conclusion of the sale, 24 bulls sold for $20,000 or more.

MCN Lieutenant sold for $45,000 to Helen Hunt, Coonamble, NSW while Ashby Maverick was knocked down for the same money to Glynnelly Brafords, Casino, NSW.

Not far behind at $40,000 was Chadwick Downs Alanbuki which sold to Eureka Grazing, Alpha.

Eldon Court sold their single entry, Big Ben, for $35,000 to Taroela Brafords, Taroom.

The bulk buyer was Allambee Cattle Company, Rolleston, with 10 head averaging $6300.

When results were calculated by QCL, the median price (middle value) at the fall of the hammer was $8000.

• Selling agents: GDL, Elders, Nutrien

Vendor averages (for individual prefixes that sold at least two bulls under the hammer)

Uplands - 9/11, average $6111

Goomora - 4/4, average $12,250

Abernethy - 3/4, average $8333

MCN - 11/11, to average $17,090

Strathgyle - 11/11, average $8181

Nungil - 2/2, average $14,000

Glynnelly - 4/5, average $7750

Chasewater - 4/5, average $9250

Kioma - 4/5, average $7000

Linlora - 5/5, average $10,800

Alderside - 2/2, average $8000.

Ashby - 8/8, average $14,500

Harriett Valley - 11/12, average $15,227

Taroela - 6/10, average $8333

Beacon - 4/7, average $6500

Chadwick Downs - 9/11, average $11,555

Ascot - 10/11, average $8600

Neimen - 5/5, average $6600

Carinya - 17/17, average $19,441

Baroma Downs - 6/7, average $7333

Little Valley - 12/13, average $14,125

Downfall Creek - 3/4, to average $8333

Sunny Lawn - 6/9, to average $7166