Four decades of quality - Forty-five years and 25 sales for Barana

It's important to know that the stud you are buying from can produce bulls that thrive in your climate.

This is what Barana can offer - Peter Cook has bred both commercial and stud cattle for more than 45 years, in good times and bad, and he knows Barana cattle will suit clients operating under all Australian conditions.

With 45 years and 25 on-farm sales under their belt, the Cook family at Barana Simmentals, Coolah, NSW, breeds quiet, hardy cattle that can produce excellent weight and yield in steers, and great mothering and calving ease in females.

Barana Simmentals was founded on traditional European and New Zealand bloodlines by stud principal Peter Cook in 1980.

Mr Cook began showing at major royal shows in 1986, securing many champion awards and earning a name for breeding good, sound, functional cattle.

The stud is based on a 940-hectare mixed farming and grazing property on the north-west slopes of NSW, where Barana's 200 registered and commercial breeders graze on native and improved pastures.

Mr Cook said the aim was to breed bulls that produced steers that were quick growing with good carcase characteristics and the ability to finish.

"Our stud sires are carefully selected for medium frame size, softness, thickness, strong muscling, and ample capacity," he said.

"A silky, fine, slick coat, sound feet, a strong muzzle and a sirey head are also essential traits. For the past 20 years, we have focused on developing poll genetics and ensuring herd longevity."

In the past, Barana had success in the show ring and carcase competitions. "We have enjoyed success in the Australian National Field Days' grass-fed steer and the RAS NSW Feedlot JapOx competitions, and the Scone Beef Bonanza, where we secured the champion purebred carcase with a total point score of 90.867."

He said Barana clients had reported Simmental-cross vealers straight off their mothers consistently dressing out at 58 per cent and outdoing other breeds in weight for age.

"Barana clients have succeeded in gaining a rare championship/reserve double in the heavyweight division steer carcase judging at Brisbane Royal with a Simmental-cross steer sired by a Barana bull.

"Our bull buyers report that the introduction of Simmental bulls in their herd has significantly lifted weights of weaner steers."

Barana has invested in a suite of impressive bulls from New Zealand, South Africa, as well as in Australia over the years to improve its program.

But it hasn't stopped at Simmentals.

"Our Angus journey began in 2015 with the purchase of cattle from the Kansas Dispersal Sale. Over the past decade, our herd has grown to include 80 registered females.

"We prioritise the same key traits in our Angus cattle as we do in our Simmentals: deep, long-bodied structure, sound feet, structural integrity, strong maternal traits with high milk production, and a fine hair type. We have sold bulls nationwide and secured a solid client base over many decades."

BIG OPPORTUNITY

Barana has been supplying quality bulls across every mainland state of Australia for more than 40 years, with many sold into Queensland.

Barana bulls are bred to perform under all Australian conditions, with particular suitability for northern operations.

At Barana's 25th on-property sale on July 4, it will be offering 28 predominantly polled bulls - 14 Simmental, 13 Angus and one SimAngus.

Mr Cook said a majority of this year's bulls were soft, early maturing, middle-of-the-road type bulls. "This style of bull will introduce cattle into your herd that will eat less, have the ability to finish with a higher yield and put more dollars in your pocket.

"Our sale bulls have been run on pasture-improved country and fed a supplementary ration of wheaten hay and a light grain mix. Sale bulls went on to a crop six weeks before the sale.

"Bulls will present in good, strong condition on sale day. Barana bulls are not overdone on feed as we value longevity in the bulls we breed, and no foot trimming has been performed on any of the cattle presented."

Barana will also offer nine joined stud females and one lot of four purebred Simmental commercial females with Angus calves at foot. These commercial females have been running with a purebred Simmental bull up until sale day.

Two lots of five purebred Simmental commercial females joined to a Simmental bull will also be offered. All females have been 100pc grass-fed.

As in past sales, objective data will be available for each bull, and all inspections and guarantees will be provided.

All bulls must pass stringent veterinary tests for breeding and soundness. Bulls have been vaccinated against three-day sickness and tick fever (three-germ blood) to suit Queensland clients. Free cartage offers are included for bull buyers (conditions apply).

The sale is interfaced with AuctionsPlus for online bidding and audio streaming.

Barana is participating in the Queensland Simmental Bull Sale at Gracemere on July 28 with an offering of seven Simmental bulls, which have been finished for 90 days in Queensland. Bulls are available for viewing at Clifton by arrangement.

The catalogue and sale video can be viewed at www.baranasimmentals.com and on the stud's social media platforms.

Credit: The Land