Woodard families hit new records for their studs at Central Brangus Classic
The 18th annual Central Brangus Classic at CQLX Gracemere on Friday, September 26, proved a family affair as two Woodard prefixes delivered the standout result of the day.
In a wrap of the sale, 111 of 131 bulls cleared for an 85pc clearance, gross of $1,381,506 and an average of $12,446.
Females saw 10 out of 12 sold for an 83pc clearance, gross of $47,000, and $4700 average.
That took the combined gross to $1,428,506 with 121 head sold at an overall clearance of 85pc and an average of $11,802.
This year's sale average lifted by 15.8pc from $10,189, though clearance eased five points (from 90pc in 2024).
It was Brent and Maree Woodard, Parkes Brangus, Duaringa, that struck the top money of the day first when Parkes 439, sold for $50,000 to D and L Eiser at Alton Downs.
The 34-month-old herd bull by Parkes 330 and from a selected Parkes cow weighed 857 kilograms, scanned a 144 square centimetre eye muscle area, measured 9mm P8 and 6mm rib fat, recorded 5.5 per cent IMF, and had a scrotal circumference of 39 centimetres.
Stud principal Brent Woodard said the achievement marked the highest sale price his family had ever reached in the Classic's 18-year history.
"He was a standout calf, and the bulls before him by the same sire had the right shape and proper back ends," he said.
"Figures may not always tell the story, but this bull had the type and look that people were obviously after."
After offloading the sire of his top-priced bull, Mr Woodard said he had already rung the new current owner to see if the bull could be bought back.
Later in the catalogue, the attention turned to Benarla Brangus, when Benarla 88, offered by Ben and Karla Woodard, Baralaba, matched the top money and sold to stud duties in the Triple B herd at Dingo.
The 37-month-old homozygous polled bull by Bonox 1362 and from Benarla B77 weighed 934kg, scanned an EMA of 146 square centimetres, measured 14mm P8 and 10mm rib fat, recorded an IMF of 6.1pc, and had a scrotal circumference of 41cm.
Buyer Lindsay Barlow said he was chasing an Australian bloodline Brangus type, with muscle, thickness, and balance.
"We were just looking for a good square bull with plenty of muscle pattern, thickness, and a proper head," Mr Barlow said.
"This fellow fitted what we were chasing, and he'll go out in November with about 90 cows carrying American bloodlines to square them up."
Mr Barlow said he had tried unsuccessfully on earlier bulls before pulling up at $50,000 to secure Benarla 88.
"We pulled up there, and we planned that if we missed him, we'd have gone to the Brangus national sale," he said.
Ben Woodard said the result was also a career highlight for his young family's prefix.
"The dam is one of my favourite cows - not the biggest, but really functional, calves every year, and passes on that proper Brangus head and character," he said.
"There were three sons of the same sire in the sale today, and they all sold well, so we're really pleased with that."
In total, the Benarla draft averaged the highest for a vendor, with $25,200 for five bulls. The three out of Bonox 1362 averaged $32,666.
Following closely behind in vendor averages was Parkes Brangus with an average of $21,250 for 10 bulls.
Bulk buyers were Woorabinda Pastoral Company from Duaringa, who secured six bulls for an average of $8333, Oakdale Pastoral from Blue Mountain, who purchased five bulls for an average spend of $10,000, and Coolmaringa Brangus from Dingo, who also put together a draft of five bulls for an average of $18,000.
The top female of the day was Couti-Outi Emma, a 20-month-old heifer out of Couti-Outi 951 and by Couti-Outi Blewett 1242, purchased by the Lamb family of Paraweena Cattle Company near Banana.
- Selling agents: Nutrien Ag Solutions, Stocklive
Top 10 vendor averages
(Prefixes that sold more than two bulls under the hammer)
Benarla Brangus: 5/5 average $25,200
Parkes Brangus: 10/10 average $21,250
Couti-Outi Brangus: 6/6 average $20,000
Scrubbee Brangus: 4/5 average $14,250
Earlwood Brangus: 11/11 average $13,909
Tannyfoil Brangus: 6/6 average $13,500
Lagoon Brangus: 3/3 average $13,333
Bullrush Brangus: 3/3 average $12,000
Yaraandoo Brangus: 6/7 average $11,000
M1B Brangus: 6/11 average $11,000
