Breeding Cattle for the Commercially Minded since 1980        

Peter Cook Profile

Our property, Barana, is located north of Coolah in the central west slopes of New South Wales where we operate a mixed farming business comprising cropping and beef cattle over 2300 acres.  The stud, Barana Simmentals, was established in 1980 & is well known & respected in the stud beef cattle industry in Australia.  I began showing at major Royal Shows in 1986 and ceased in 2001 after 15 years exhibiting & achieving success at all major shows.

In August, 2001, we held our Inaugural On-Property Simmental Bull Sale which was a success & continues to go from strength to strength.   The Barana sale is the premier Simmental sale in eastern Australia with the largest offering of purebred Simmental bulls by a single vendor.   We have continuing sales nationwide of 50-60 bulls annually with many repeat buyers. I have worked hard over 29 years breeding Simmentals to secure Barana’s reputation with both commercial & stud cattle producers throughout Australia.

We have hosted educational/information days at Barana for both adult tour groups and students, which focus on both the cattle breeding & cropping enterprises.  I have also been a speaker at beef cattle workshops. We continue to participate in The Land Beef Week and our Open Day will be held in June, 2009, on a date to be advised.

I served on the State Council of the Australian Simmental Breeders Association for many years until my resignation due to other commitments. 

In the past, I have judged at Perth Royal, 1987 & 2007, Sydney Royal, 1996 & 2003, the 2001 Beef Expo in New Zealand, Canberra Royal 2005, Feature Shows in NSW,  Qld & Victoria, the Red Angus National Show & Sale in Dubbo, major shows in Toowoomba, Bathurst, Dubbo & Tamworth and numerous smaller country shows. Most recently I was invited to judge at the National Beef Show held in Bendigo in 2008.

I am married to Charmaine and we have two children Madison, 15 and Campbell, 11.