Barana Simmentals was founded in 1980 on traditional European and New Zealand bloodlines. Barana began showing at major Royal Shows in 1986, securing many Champion awards and earning a reputation for breeding good, sound, functional cattle. The stud ceased showing in 2001 after 15 years exhibiting and achieving success at all major shows. Stud Principal, Peter Cook, has worked hard over 36 years breeding Simmentals to secure Barana’s reputation with both commercial and stud cattle producers around Australia.

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Barana is one of the largest Simmental breeders in the eastern states with the stud herd including 200 registered breeders.

 

The first bull purchased for the Barana stud in the early 1980's was Lonsdalefarm Bernard. All Bernard’s sons sold by Barana averaged $4,863 in the 1986/87 bull sales. Some of his progeny sold in the late 80′s included Barana Generator [$13,000], Barana Emerald [$9,000] Barana Felix [$12,000] & Barana Fergus [$15,000].

Peter purchased Karewa Jester, a polled son of German sire Eizenherz from New Zealand in 2000. This bull bred well in Barana’s polling programme. German genetics have been utlised with Zimbo and Gowrie Yankee [P] who also produced excellent progeny.

Polled sires which have produced a consistent line of cattle within our herd have been Karewa Jester, Vintage Maverick, Barana Yeardleigh, Barana Yardley, Barana Zulu & Gowrie Yankee.

In 2007 we purchased Bullock Hills Buster [P] and Corinda Downs Buckshot [AI] [ET] [P]. Bullock Hills Buster is by a South African bred bull Shawacres Nacobi [ET] and Corinda Downs Buckshot is by another South African bred bull Shawacres Jahari 50L. Both these sires have produced promising calves for Barana.

Barana ventured into the black Simmental market in 2008 sourcing some of the best genetics in the world. We purchased a dozen black Simmental females & imported black embryos from Canada. These embryos were implanted into recipients resulting in 17 purebred black Simmental calves on the ground. Visitors to Barana who saw the calves commented that they are the best black Simmental genetics they have seen with the bulls displaying true Simmental attributes in a black coat. The first offering of these bulls were presented at our 2010 annual sale.  As it became increasingly difficult to run multiple herds on Barana and we needed to downsize our breeders the decision was made to disperse our black Simmental females in May, 2013.
 

In February 2009 we purchased the top priced bull Bandeeka Poll Cossack [P] at the Bandeeka Stud sale in Western Australia. Waterfront Fabian [P] was purchased in 2014 and along with Barana Echuca [P] & Barana Emotion [P] have produced some outstanding progeny. In February 2015, Barana purchased Callendale Jasper [P] [AI] and Woonallee Jumbo [P] [AI] and we look forward to their positive impact on our future breeding programme.

At Beef 09 in Rockhampton, eight of the broad ribbon winners were sired by Barana bulls and the top priced bull at the 2010 Woonallee Simmental sale was sired by Barana Yeardleigh.

At the Queensland Royal in 2011, Barana secured Senior and Grand Champion Bull and Reserve Champion Female. At the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza in November 2011 Barana took out the Champion Purebred Carcase with a total point score of 90.867. Our success continued at the Dubbo Beef Spectacular in March 2012 where we won Senior and Grand Champion Female, Res. Senior Champion Female, Junior Champion Female, Senior Champion Bull and Most Successful Exhibitor of all Breeds.

We have enjoyed success in the Australian National Field Days Grass-fed Steer and the RAS NSW Feedlot JapOx Competitions.

Barana genetics are ongoing proven performers for our clients both in the show ring and in carcase competitions. In 2014 Tullatoola Eastlake [Sired by Barana Eastlake] was judged first in the Under 12 months class and went on to take out Junior Champion and Grand Champion Bull and Supreme Exhibit at Sydney Royal. In 2015, at the Woonallee Simmental sale the top priced bull’s dam was sired by Barana Eldorado [P]. Valley Creek Joker has been very successful in the show ring and was top priced bull at the Wormbete Simmental sale in 2015, his dam was a Barana female purchased at one of our sales.

Barana bulls get results with clients reporting Simmental Cross Vealers straight off their mothers consistently dressing out at 58% 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 sire by a Barana bull. Our clients have topped the annual Bindaree Beef Weaner Sale with a pen of Simmental Cross Steers and won best pen of Euro or Euro Cross Steers in the competition section. Barana clients have topped the Casino Weaner and Grower Sale with 10-11 month old Simmental Cross Weaner Steers consecutively and secured top pen of Euro bred steers at the sale. Our bull buyers report that the introduction of Simmental bulls in their herd has significantly lifted weights in the weaner steers they turn off.

Some of the females we have bred & shown with success over the years are Barana Galaxy [Supreme Exhibit at Sydney Royal Show at 12 years of age!], Barana Roberta & Barana Venus.

It is rewarding to see Barana predigrees in many sucessful stud breeding programmes and Barana genetics breeding on for our clients. The benefits of using Barana bloodlines are evident. 

Barana's Annual Sale is the premier sale in NSW and as we approach our 16th On-Farm Sale we hope to continue with the pleasing results achieved in the past.