National Charbray sale hits a new record with $40,000 top at Gracemere

Vendors and buyers from across the country travelled to the CQLX Saleyards at Gracemere, with bull prices reaching a top of $40,000 and averaging $8880.

The growing popularity of the Charbray breed was prevalent, considering last year's results had the top price bull at $26,000 and an average of $7186 for an 87 per cent clearance through the ring.

Claiming the top price of $40,000 was 23-month-old dehorned Charbray bull Rosewood Napoleon, offered by Paul Connor, Rosewood Charbrays, Morinish, and purchased by Ted and Elizabeth Euston, Gympie.

The son of Rosewood Thirsty weighed in at 825kg with P8 and rib fat measurements of 9mm and 6mm respectively, an eye muscle area of 140sq cm and a 39cm scrotal circumference.

The Rosewood draft averaged $15,500, selling four Charbray bulls with a 100 per cent clearance.

Paul Connor said his family have been selling cattle at the national sale for the past 15 years and were very proud of their results and to see Rosewood Napolen fetch the top price.

"It's amazing, it's an amazing feeling because there's a lot of other people out there with better genetics and have been breeding cattle a lot longer than I have, so it's very humbling," Mr Connor said.

"He's an excellent bull, the kind of bull I like, he's got a smooth tropical coat and a bit of content about him and the type of bull I've been striving to breed.

"It's nice that someone else likes something that I breed.

"I really appreciated the bull, I just hoped other people did and it was good that they did."

The Connor family run a commercial operation consisting of 750 breeders as well as small Charbray and Droughtmaster studs.

Claiming the second-top price of $28,000 was Wattlebray Prime Mover (P/S), offered by Trevor and Lolita Ford, Wattlebray Charbrays, Chinchilla, and bought by Steven Kajewski, Bettafield Charbrays and Charolais, Central Highlands.

The 24-month-old son of Huntington Lovell weighed 902kg with P8 and rib fat measurements of 11mm and 10mm, a 139sq cm EMA and a 43cm scrotal circumference.

Charbray Society of Australia president Matt Welsh, Huntington Charbrays, said Monday's results were a testament to the fast growing Charbray interest.

"It was a very successful sale, as I have been saying over and over again, we've got a pattern of good quality cattle coming through," Mr Welsh said.

"The national sale is our shop window for the breed and we've got some real cattlemen coming in and having a look at what the society is doing."

Mr Welsh said the breed was forging ahead, with the once standard two-breed cross becoming a consistently performing and common sense option for producers.

"We've got clients that have been early to move and cross with either our parent breeds and now consolidating that back into a stabilized Charbray operation," Mr Welsh said.

"The consistency of not just your type of animal but the muscling, fat covers and traits that are really coming forward are shown in the scans of the cattle today.

"That is something we'll keep working towards, and we've got to be cautious but we've got a good group of breeders and I'm sure it's in capable hands."

Agents: Elders and Savage, Barker and Backhouse

See who was spotted at the sale here: Photos from the 2020 National Charbray Bull Sale