The 22nd annual Bowen Poll Hereford and Angus bull sale at Barraba was again a successful event for the Peake family with the Poll Hereford draft topping at $24,000 and an Angus bull reaching $20,000.
Over 100 registered bidders from across four states filled the sale complex.
Of the 63 Poll Hereford bulls offered 60 sold to average $9950 and 65 of the 68 Angus bulls offered sold to average $9800.
Included in the Poll Hereford draft were four yearling bulls which averaged $11,000.
The $24,000 top priced bull, Bowen Spark L76, was purchased by Remolea Poll Hereford Stud, Clifton QLD.
The 870-kilogram bull measured 19mm on the rib, 10mm on the rump, had an eye muscle area of 120 square centimeters and a scrotal circumference of 31cm.
By Grassmere Spark 555, a trait leader for intramuscular fat (IMF), the 24-month-old bull possessed a pedigree stacked with New Zealand bloodlines and measured in the top 1% for IMF, rip and rump fats, top 20 % for calving ease and all indexes and top 25% for 200 and 600-day weights.
Hilary O’Leary, stud principal of Remolea Poll Herefords and his son Pat were particularly drawn to the bull’s strong IMF
“IMF is a very important attribute that needs to be focused on in the Hereford breed” explained Mr O’leary who has been using and succeeding with Bowen bloodlines since 1984.
“Moving forward, the IMF figure will influence self-life and eating quality in our product so we need to put a big focus on it now” added Pat O’Leary.
The “well balanced sire, with showman-like presence and quality second to none” will be introduced in to the Remolea stud breeding program and go over Evesham Bomber females.
“We are really excited to introduce the Bowen Leonora female line into our herd and admire this bull’s softness attributes, he is the tyw of bull we aim to breed and will complement our females really well” added Pat O’Leary.
Alvio Trovatello, Glendan Park Herefords, traveled up from Kyneton in central Victoria to secure a yearling Poll Hereford sire, Bowen Jet Fire M2, for $22,000.
Weighing 670-kilograms at 16-months of age , the Yavenval Jet Fire J032 son measured 10mm on the rip, 7mm on the rump, an EMA of 104 square centimeters and a scrotal of 39cm.
From a strong cow-line going back to the dominant sire Bowen Vincent V1, this “attractive calf has the X-Factor” according to the Peake family.
Mr Trovatello runs 180 stud breeders and liked the yearling’s weight for age and Homozygous Poll factor and will be using the bull over Horn cows.
Winderadeen Corporation, Collector were the volume buyers in the Poll Hereford securing six bulls to average $10,000.
Winderadeen runs a straight Hereford herd of 1,400 cows at Collector and the corporation sells direct to feedlots, aiming to turn off steers at an average of 450kg liveweight by 16 -17 months of age.
A Rennylea Edmund E11 son attracted a bidding war in the Angus draft with Leeton Grazing, Barraba winning the bid on Peakes Bowen Edmund L733 for $20,000.
The 25-month old tipped the scales at 948-kilograms and measured 17mm on the rib, 11mm on the rump, an EMA of 129 square centimeters and a scrotal of 40cm.
Leeton Grazing manager, Dan Lott, controlled the bids on the day and described the bull as “a stand out sire with incredible length, balance and sire appeal”
From a Millah Murrah Equator daughter, the bull will introduce new genetics into the Leeton stud herd where they are aiming to increase there breeder numbers up from 100.
“This bulls IMF of +2.3 and birth weight (+1.4) will suit our operation well and particularly our stud heifers” explained Mr Lott.
The bull’s strong IMF may also see the sire used in the company’s commercial herd which supplies Rangers Valley Feedlot.
Long time supporters of the Bowen breeding program, Roger and Geraldine Bomford “Cotmore” Barraba secured Peakes Bowen Outlier L718 for $18,000.
The Matauri Outlier F031 son weighed 946-kilograms with 14mm on the rib, 12mm on the rump, an EMA of 128 square centimeters and a scrotal of 42cm.
Mr Bomford, who runs a 450 breeder commercial Angus operation liked the overall thickness in the bull and said he had meat right along the top with good confirmation.
“He’ll suit our operation, we sell weaners in the may. Being at the top of Mt Kaputar, we have a short season and carry calves through the winter” explained Mr Bomford.
Neil Watson, Santaco, Tamworth assisted Jim O’Brien, “Peri” Rocky Creek to secure seven Angus bulls to average $13,429.
Advocates of the Bowen program, they like that Bowen cattle have plenty of size, good weight gain and are extremely quiet.
“The Bowen cattle do and perform really well in the hilly country at Rocky Creek” said Mr Watson.
The sale was settled by Hart Rural Agencies, Barraba and Landmark with Paul Dooley, Tamworth as auctioneer.
