'Increased the quality of my calves': Barana's top bull heads to Queensland
- Elka Devney
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Article by Elka Devney First published on The Land on July 4 2025.
Buyers sought soft, well-balanced, and early-maturing type bulls at the 25th annual Barana Simmental and Angus bull sale, held on property at Barana, near Coolah.
All up, the Cook family sold 23 of 26 bulls to a top price of $19,000, to average $9608.
Of this, all 14 Angus bulls offered sold to $19,000 to average $10,428, while nine of 12 Simmental bulls hit $12,000 to average $8333.
First-time buyers, Craig and Phillipa McGuigan, Glenmorgan, Queensland, secured the sale topper, Angus bull, Barana U-Boat U53.
Son of Pentire Rome R22 and out of Barana Jedda Q013, the 20-month-old weighed 970 kilograms.
He scanned 10 millimetres and 14mm over the rib and rump, respectively, along with 142 square centimetres eye muscle area and seven per cent intramuscular fat.
The McGuigans also paid $18,000 for the second top-priced Angus bull, Barana Ultrabright U5.
Another son of Pentire Rome R22 and out of Barana Rita Q006, the 22-month-old weighed 988kg with 10mm rib fat, 13mm rump fat, 145sq cm EMA, and 6.9pc IMF.
Mr McGuigan said their Shorthorn, Angus and Simmental cross operation targeted the heavy feeder market.
They sought soft, well-balanced bulls with straight tops and good figures across the board.
"The bulls are good walkers with almost identical weight, great depth and length," he said.
"We've come a long way to find quality, and these bulls are like two peas in a pod."
Merv Proctor, Gairlock, Triangle Flat, purchased the top-priced Simmental bull, Barana Unequal U73, for $12,000.
Sired by Wormbete Romeo and out of Barana Nadine, the 20-month-old weighed 872kg with 8mm rib fat, 6mm rump fat, 137sq cm EMA, and 4.8pc IMF.
Mr Proctor focused on length, depth of hindquarters and concentrated on using homozygous poll genes.
"I have found the Barana bulls to increase the quality of my own calves," he said.
He runs no fewer than 400 head of cattle, predominantly Simmental.
Alongside Unequal, Mr Proctor also purchased a Simmental bull, Barana Unregistered, and an Angus, Barana Uptown U25, for $8000 each.
In the heifers, four of eight Simmental stud females sold to $4000 each, while four Simmental cows with calves made $3100, and 10 Simmental heifers hit $2700, to average $2650.
Barana stud principal Peter Cook was overwhelmed by the result.
"We aim to breed well-muscled, deep-ribbed, smooth-skinned bulls with great length of body and neck extension," he said.
"We're not long into the Angus, but we want to breed them to a similar quality to our Simmental herd."
Weronga Pty Ltd, Coolah, bought two Angus bulls for $12,000 each.
Monivale Pastoral Company, Tara, Qld, purchased two Simmental bulls for $10,000 and $8,000.
MJ, PK and AR Goulding, Banktop, Coolah, secured two Angus bulls for $10,000 and $7,000.
Sandy Creek Simmentals, Wahroonga, Loomberah, bought four Simmental stud females for $4000 each, as well as one Simmental bull for $10,000.
Elders and Davidson Cameron and Co conducted the sale with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
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