Fortune shines on first-time vendors at this year's Central Brangus classic

A herd bull offered by first-time vendors fetched the top price at the 2026 Central Brangus Classic sale at CQLX on Friday, September 25.

This year's sale saw 20 vendors offer eight females and 106 bulls.

The top-priced bull, Bendee 101, was sold by first-timer vendors to the CBC sale , brothers, Callum and Todd Barlow, Callum's wife, Tara, and Todd's wife Tracey, Bendee Brangus, Amaroo, Comet.

Purchased by Gavin Eiser, Moonshadow Brangus, Cumberland Park, Alton Downs, for $32,500, the 35-month-old bull was sired by Bonox 1333 that the brothers purchased at the CBC sale four years ago, and was out of a selected Bendee Brangus cow.

Weighing 990 kilograms, the poll bull scanned at 145 square centimetre for eye muscle area, measured 13 mm P8 and 10mm rib fat, recorded 5.8 per cent IMF, and had a scrotal circumference of 44 centimetres.

Mr Eiser, who has been breeding Brangus for more than 40 years, said he liked the top-price bull because he had plenty of meat on him and a good head.

He said he did not really look at the bull's data when choosing him, except to note that he had a big EMA and good weight.

"He's got type and I know the bull has a good constitution, that's a big thing," he said.

Mr Eiser, who has a commercial operation with 150 breeders and a stud prefix, said the Barlows were his wife's cousins and they had bought bulls off him in past years so knew all about their cattle.

Callum Barlow said the top-price bull was a nice-headed bull, had a bit of thickness, correct legs and nice feet.

Todd Barlow said not only did he have a good head, the bull had a good underline and EMA reading.

"He's going to be a good, tough bull," he said.

The Barlow brothers, who are third-generation producers, and their father, Greg, run a commercial beef operation with 450 breeders, selling weaner steers off their mothers.

"Gav's got really good cattle, plenty of good females to cross with, so we're looking forward to seeing the progeny (from this bull)," Callum said.

Of the six bulls that the Barlow families offered, one, Bendee 103, which is a brother to the top-price bull, made $16,000, another made $8000 and a fourth fetched $22,000. Two that were passed in at auction sold after the sale for $6000 each.

Callum said they were grateful the top-price bull had gone to a good home, and thanked John Collins, Yaraandoo Brangus, and Nutrien's Julian Laver, for helping them be part of the sale, adding they would try to bring some better bulls next year.

2026 Central Brangus Classic

Friday, September 25

The top-selling heifer, Tafino Lucy 519, was sold by Tafino Brangus and was bought by Sowden Brangus for $8000.

Vendor Dan Maguire said the top-price female was just a nice, all-round heifer with a nice head, slick coat and a good body.

Homozygous poll, the 12-month-old heifer was sired by Yaraandoo Epitaph and was out of Tafino 275.

This year,100 bulls sold of 106 offered for a 94pc clearance, a gross of $1,174,500 and an average of $11,745.

For the heifers, seven out of eight sold for a clearance of 87.5pc, a gross of $30,000 and an average of $4285.

All up, 107 lots sold for a clearance of 93.85pc, a gross of $1,204,500 and an average of $11,247.

During the auction, three bulls made $30,000 - Benarla 121 purchased by the Hanson family, Bullakeana Brangus; Parkes 478 purchased by WJ and MF Maguire, Scrubbee Brangus, Dingo; and Earlwood 5265 bought by MR and KL Brown, MM1B Brangus, Dululu.

In a wrap of the 2025 sale, 111 of 131 bulls cleared for an 85pc clearance, a gross of $1,381,506 and an average of $12,446. Two bulls sold for a top of $50,000.

Females saw 10 out of 12 sell 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, one of the bulk buyers was Woorabinda Pastoral, which bought 12 bulls for an average of $9416.

CEO Nick Krebs said they were just looking for a few heifer bulls and few better bulls to go with some cows.

"We were just looking for a well-framed bull ... suitable to go over the cattle we've got."

Mr Krebs said they ran a Brangus cross herd, some with a bit more Brahman content in a few.

"So we were just looking for a softer Brangus to go over them all," he said.

The company regularly attends the CBC sale, but this was Mr Krebs's first time and he said the quality of the bulls was good.

"The vendors have done a great job selectively to get such a good line of bulls ... and I thought the prices were reasonable considering the quality," he said.

Woorabinda runs between 3500 and 4000 breeders on 44,515 hectares (110,000 acres) across six properties.

Another bulk buyer was Rushel Produce, Gumlu, which bought nine bulls for an average of $7888.

Nutrien Ag Rockhampton's Julian Laver said it was a very good sale with a good crowd in attendance, considering the dry conditions, and there was a good solid line of bulls.

"Buyers yet again, are definitely getting pickier in what they look for and what they buy, but they're prepared to pay the money for the right article," he said.

Vendor Averages at Auction:

Bates Brangus: 2/2 for an average of $6000

Benarla: 8/8 for an average of $11,625

Bendee: 6/8 for an average of $19,625

Blackdown: 1/1 for $8000

Bonox Brangus: 10/11 for an average of $10,400

Circletee Brangus: 2/2 for an average of $13,000

Coolabah: 9/9 for an average of $9111

Couti Outi: 6/6 for an average of $14,000

Earlwood Brangus: 7/7 for an average of $14,357

Lagoon Brangus: 1/1 for $16,000

MIB Brangus: 7/7 for an average of $13,071

Night Brangus: 2/3 for an average of $13,500

Parkes Brangus: 10/10 for an average of $12,800

River Run Brangus: 2/2 for an average of $10,000

Scrubbee: 4/4 for an average of $10,500

Sunny Hills: 2/2 for an average of $7000

Tafino Brangus: 6/8 for an average of $7333

Tannyfoil: 6/6 for an average of $10,666

Telemon: 10/10 for an average of $9000

Yaraandoo: 8/9 for an average of 10,000