History

History

The Ford family is no stranger to the Charbray seed stock industry. Stan Ford founded Wattlebra Charolais in 1972 before moving into the Charbray breed in 1977 with Eric and Joan Ford as EJ Charbrays.
Bulls were sold annually at the National Charbray Sale from 1980 to the year 2000. EJ Charbrays enjoyed success at numerous carcass competitions as well as local and feature shows in the 1990’s. Eric’s passion for the breed found him being involved as a councillor for 10 years and President of the Charbray Society from 1994 to 1997.
The decision was made to sell the Kingaroy property and the breeding herd were agisted on properties at Muttaburra, Jericho and Proston before Trevor and Lolita purchased “Oakleigh” at Darr creek via Chinchilla in 2003.

Trevor and Lolita commenced selling in 2009 at the National Charbray Sale under the Wattlebray Charbrays prefix which was registered by Trevor in 1995.
Wattlebray expanded in 2016 with the addition of “Lone Starr” a Brigalow block 35km NE of Chinchilla which now forms the base of the bull breeding operation with breeders being run on the existing properties.

• 2015 Wattlebray Jericho sold at the National Charbray Sale for the second top price of $19 000.
• 2016 National Charbray Sale was an incredible highlight selling both top and second top priced bulls, both being polled C6 sires Wattlebray Kidman $20 000 and Wattlebray Kinsman $18 000 all seven lots sold to average $9142 .
• 2018 Beef Week we were extremely proud to pick up Reserve Junior Champion Male and Reserve Junior Champion Female along with making the top five in the Interbreed Breeders Group.
• Wattlebray Marshall (SC) the Reserve Champion Junior Bull at Beef 2018 sold to “Greenfields” stud at the 2018 National Charbray Sale for the sale top price of $24 000.
• 2019 Wattlebray ventured to the February All Breeds Sale and sold Wattlebray Might N Power for the breed top price of $10 000 and second top price over the entire sale.
• The 2019 National Charbray Sale was again a terrific result for Wattlebray topping the sale with Wattlebray Navman selling to the “Cordelia” stud for $26 000.
• 2020 Wattlebray headed back to the February All Breeds Sale and again picked up the breed top price of $15 000 for Wattlebray Nullarbor and second top price over the entire sale.
• Wattlebray Prime Mover (P) sold to the “Bettafield” stud at the 43rd National Charbray Sale for second top price of $28 000 with all 15 selling to average $9300
• 2021 Wattlebray Paywave (SC) topped the Charbray section of the February All Breeds Sale selling for $12 500
• Beef 2021 our team of 11 head won 11 ribbons including Calf Champion Male, Reserve Calf Champion Female and Reserve Senior Champion Female. Wattlebray Pin Up stole the show taking out Senior & Grand Champion Male before placing in the top 4 of the Interbreed. Another couple awards we`re very pleased to win is the Exhibitor & Sires Progeny Groups for the second consecutive Beef Week event.
• Wattlebray “Pin Up” who claimed many accolades including Grand Champion Charbray Bull in the 2021 World Virtual Show sold to the newly formed Maravillar Stud in Tasmania for the second top price of $35 000 at the National Charbray Sale.
• 2022 The Inaugural Leading Genetics Female Sale was held online and  were very pleased to pick up an equalling top & second top price for heifers, Wattlebray Ruby (P) $8000 & Wattlebray Sapphire (P) $6000.
• The 45th National Charbray Sale sale was a record breaker for us with both select sires breaking the existing record Wattlebray Ringer (P) came out on top selling to Cordelia P for $52 500 followed into the ring by Wattlebray Rippa (P) selling to Cordelia Stud for $50 000.
• 2023 Wattlebray Swepson tops the Black Stump Sale at $23 500.
• Callide Valley Charbray Feature Show, Senior & Grand Champion Cow, Reserve Senior Cow, Junior Champion Male And Junior Champion Female.
• Wattlebray Sophie $8750 topped the Leading Genetics Female Sale with Wattlebray Taya achieving second top price $5750.