Bowen Hereford and Peakes Angus stud principals Stephen and Jodi Peake, Barraba, were all smiles after what was referred to as a "terrific result" at their 2022 Pick of the R Drop Female Sale on Thursday.
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Overall it was a full clearance of 32 Poll Hereford heifer to a top of $38,000 and an average of $11,813, while 71 out of the 75 Angus heifers sold to a $36,000 top and an average of $9268.
With over 60 registered bidders gathering at the Barraba property, all lots consisted of joined "R-drop" heifers giving the option to the successful bidder to select their pick from two heifers.
The top-priced Hereford heifer, Bowen Matchless R124, sold for $38,000 to David and Olwyn Lyons of Melville Park Herefords in Vasey, Vic. She was purchased on behalf of the Lyons family through Nutrien stud stock agent John Settree, Dubbo.
The 18-month-old female was sired by Bowen Magistrate M241 and out of Bowen Matchless J169.
Just under four years ago, the Melville Park Hereford operation was heavily involved in a Bowen sale during which it purchased the top-priced Hereford bull, Bowen Magistrate M241 - the sire of the sale-topping heifer, for $64,000.
"David and Olwyn have been big supporters of the Bowen program for a number of years, they recognise the good genetics here. They purchased four lots today at an average of $23,500," Mr Settree said, on behalf of Melville Park.
"Performance wise, the data set and the back up service that Bowen provide was another factor for the purchases. The four females bought today will go into their own genetic program and they will re-invest into their effective breeding program."
The top-priced Angus heifer, Peakes Bowen Monica R660, sold for $36,000 to Yallambee Angus, Berrima.
The 20-month-old female was by Milwillah Identity P134 and out of Peakes Bowen Monica N822.
Volume buyer was Andrew and Caroline Manson, Wanrua Poll Herefords, Newry, Vic, who bought six Hereford heifers to a top of $14,000, and for an average of $10,166.
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At the conclusion of the sale there were eight unregistered commercial heifers sold for $3500 a head and three unregistered commercial crossbred "R-drop" heifers at $3400/head. Both lots sold to local buyers WD and JA Crowley, Barraba.
Stephen Peake praised his buyers and underbidders for the support that they showed in both the Herefords and Angus heifers.
"What a great time this is to be apart of the beef industry, there are so many positives to take away from today [Thursday]," Mr Peake said.
"The market is the strongest I've ever seen it and people are in such a great frame of mind at the moment to invest into their cattle programs.
"Today's [Thursday] female sale was basically a one-off. It was a good opportunity to give buyers a selection of our full heifer drop where we can still retain half of the draft with the joined selection system that we had in place.
"It was great to see heifers going all around the country with a heavy presence in Victoria, to all the way down to Tasmania.
"Moving forward we can now build into our bull sale in July were we will offer 50 Hereford bulls. Magistrate M241 sons will star in that line up as they did last year.
"We will also be stepping up from last years 65 to around 80 Angus bulls this year, featuring Krakatoa sons".
The sale was conducted by Nutrien with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, taking bids.
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