The powerful display of the 97 stud Brahman cattle formed the backbone of the Rockhampton Show's stud cattle judging. This display re-enforced the region's title as the reigning "Beef Capital of Australia".
Breed judge Glen Waldron, Elite Cattle Co, Meandarra, judged consistently throughout the day staying with type, conformation, and practical cattle attributes. He was assisted by his associate James Fenech, PBF Brahmans, Sarina.
Mr Waldron told the crowd while driving to Rockhampton on Tuesday, he envisaged what his champions may represent, but nothing prepared him for the quality that paraded before him, and James Fenech.
Mr Waldron, who previously formed a panel of three judges at the World Brahman Congress held in Rockhampton three years ago, said it was a wonderful line-up on cattle.
"I was really stoked to find such quality grand champions, and every exhibitor should be praised as the Brahman breed is in safe hands," Mr Waldron said.
However, at the end of the judging day honours were shared with Lawson and Sophie Camm, Cambil Brahmans, Proserpine, and Andrew and Roxanne Olive and family, Raglan Brahmans, Raglan, while calf championships were awarded to Don and Julie Hurrell, HH Brahmans, Gympie, and Ken and Wendy Cole, of Kenrol Brahmans, Gracemere.
Andrew and Roxanne Olive and family exhibited the senior and grand champion bull with the 30 month-old Raglan Mr Coglan 2874 (IVF) (H).
Raglan Mr Coglan is a son of JDH Carson de Manso 834/7 (Imp US) from a Hamdenvale Rocky female who was bought at the Big Country Bull and Female sale, Charters Towers.
Mrs Olive said she and husband Andrew had spotted the sire JHD Carson de Manso on a trip to the US.
"He was a massive bull and he appealed to us," Mrs Olive said.
"We really thought he was ideal over some of our females and would give our cattle a lift so we bought his semen."
Raglan Mr Coglan was described Mr Waldron as a larger framed, big strong bull with a sire's outlook, plus 'he had another ten per cent of extra horsepower'.
Coglan's stablemate, Raglan Mr Vinnie, a son of Raglan Victory was decorated reserve senior champion bull, while the reserve senior champion female was Raglan Miss Danyel.
Lawson and Sophie Camm, Cambil Brahmans, Proserpine claimed a swag of broad ribbons resulting in one of their best showings so far. Included was the most successful exhibitor award.
The Camm's wins included senior and grand champion female award with Cambil Miss Empress 5230 (IVF), a very feminine daughter of JHD Clanton de Manso (Imp US), who at 27 months-of-age was heavily on-calf and is due to calve any day.
Mr Waldron said Cambil Miss Empress offered so much to the Brahman breed for her quality and his expectations in judging females had been outdone.
The Camms also exhibited the junior champion female Cambil Monique, and reserve Cambil Jewel.
Mr Waldron described them as outstanding types, and said he could have gone either way with the fall of the broad ribbons as they were both impressive.
The Camms day got even better when they also scooped the junior champion bull awards. Cambil Jackson was sashed junior champion bull, while stable mate Cambil Hemsworth was reserve.
Don and Julie Allen, HH Park Brahmans, Gympie, exhibited calf champion female with HH Park Hailey Rose, while reserve was Kenrol Jilly Rae (AI) (ET) exhibited by Ken and Wendy Cole, Kenrol Brahmans, Gracemere.
In the calf champion bull classes the ribbons fell the same way with champion award to HH Park Luigi while reserve was Kenrol Nando 0550 (IVF).
Calf Champion bull HH Park Luigi who is by Viva Mario. Viva Mario was the grand champion bull at the World Brahman Congress and judged by Mr Waldron who was one of a panel of three judges. Mario went onto to claim the Brisbane Royal Show interbreed champion in 2016.
General manager of the Australian Brahman Association, Anastasia Fanning said the 97 head of Brahmans was truly a impressive display of the breed.
"We have another feature breed on display at this year's Ekka and are expecting in the vicinity of 120 head so it was going be be a pretty impressive showing," Mrs Fanning said.