Agents Watkins & Co with the support of the Australian Braford Society conducted the 3rd Annual Roma Braford and Braford Infused Store Sale on the 3rd April, held in conjunction with the weekly store sale. After a lengthy period of wet conditions, Braford breeders took advantage to sell at this special sale with quality lines boosting numbers to over 900 head. Consignments were drawn from Winton, Morven, Mitchell, Roma, Taroom, Guluguba, Dulacca, and St George.
Brafords sold to the top of the market on several occasions with keen interest from restockers and feedlot operators. Long established commercial Braford breeders, the Stewart family, Wycombe, St George sold a total of 203 head including 295kg steers for $628 and 270kg heifers to return $543.
A large consignment of 289 head, offered by the Ashman family, Escombe Downs, Winton, included a top line of 285kg feeder steers to reach 210c/kg to return $599, while heifers averaging 227kg returned $443.
Braford Society President, Warren Wilson & family, Redbank, Mitchell, offered a total of 220 head from their Taroom property, to include a quality line of 530kg steers at 196.2c/kg to return $1041 and heifers to 174c/kg to return $625.
The McQueen family, Weston, Winton sold 148 head, with weaner steers averaging 246kg at 223c/kg to return $549 and the heifer portion to 195c/kg to return $498. Robert & Lesette Hoffmann, Siloa, Guluguba sold a quality line of Braford/Brahman cross vealer steers to achieve top cents/kg on the day at 224.2c/kg for 288kg to return $647.
The Purcell family, Bridgeman Downs, Roma sold Braford Cows to 148c/kg to return $745.
Dave & Josephine Robson, Mt View, Morven offered an even line of feeder steers to 202.2c/kg for 342kg to return $692.
John & Jackie Amor, Carinya, Dulacca sold 385kg heifers for 185c/kg to return $712.
The Braford competition was very competitive with well-known commercial Braford breeders, Henry, Donna and John Stewart, Wycombe, St George taking out the champion pen of steers and champion pen of heifers. The Stewart family received a $1000 bull credit donated by the Australian Braford Society, to be redeemed at the National Braford Sale on the 10th of September 2012 at Gracemere.
Results of classes included:
1st and Reserve Champion – Ashman Grazing, Winton
2nd – Wilson Grazing, Taroom
1st and Champion – Stewart family, St George
2nd – Ashman Grazing, Winton
1st and Reserve Champion – John & Jackie Amor, Dulacca
2nd – Wilson Grazing, Taroom
1st and Champion – Stewart family, St George
2nd – Ashman Grazing, Winton.