Strong Queensland support, heifer bulls sought at Bowen stud's 30th sale
There was particular demand in the Angus run at the Bowen Poll Herefords and Peakes Angus bull sale at Barraba on July 17, as buyers chased growth traits and bulls suitable for heifers.
The 30th anniversary sale drew a strong Queensland contingent along with several NSW volume buyers.
There was a full clearance in the Angus portion, with 107 bulls averaging $11,551 and reaching a $50,000 top.
In the Herefords, 38 of 42 sold to $26,000, to average $9236.
The top-priced Angus sold online to Nutrien Bourke, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client.
Peakes Bowen Prime Minister U337 was by Dunoon Prime Minister P758 and from a Milwillah In Focus B115 descendant.
The bull recorded -7.2 gestation length +4.4 intramuscular fat. The stud also retained semen.
The second top-priced Angus at $32,000 was Peakes Bowen Black Hawk U604, a Dunoon Black Hawk Q857 son, who sold to Thornleigh via Elders.
The July-2023 drop was described as a heifer bull with +3.8 birthweight and -5.5 gestation.
Durkin Cattle Company, Theodore, paid $30,000 for the unregistered Peakes Bowen Everest U800, by Peakes Bowen Everest S557.
He was described as a heifer bull and recorded -10 gestation length, +3 birthweight and +10 eye muscle area.
The same operation also bought Peakes Bowen Identity U566, also a heifer bull, for $16,000.
Queensland's Hourne and Bishop, bidding online, selected Peakes Bowen Rocket Man U342, by Millah Murrah Rocket Man R38, for $28,000.
Another bull suitable for heifers, he measured -4.9 gestation length, +3,8 intramuscular fat and +78 carcase weight.
There were two $24,000 sales, including Peakes Bowen Powerpoint U705, by Milwilllah Powerpoint R318.
He was bought by the Lee family, Roma, Qld, and was their top pick across a draft of four, averaging $16,500.
Another $24,000 sale was Peakes Bowen Black Hawk U617, by Dunoon Black Hawk Q857.
He sold to SC and S Carter Pty Ltd, Rangari. The same operation paid $10,000 for Peakes Bowen Powerpoint U481.
Other notable buyers included AJM Pastoral, Burleigh Station, Richmond, Qld, who was buying via Charles Weyman-Jones.
AJM paid $22,000 for Peakes Bowen Black Hawk U513, also by Dunoon Black Hawk, and $20,000 for Peakes Bowen Powerpoint U345.
Mr Weyman-Jones said AJM was a large-scale enterprise and was seeking sound, high-performance bulls with clean skills.
The sires would be used to breed his own commercial bulls.
Volume buyers in the Angus draft included Southern Itta Bena Trading, Coonamble, who selected 14 bulls, all for $6000.
The Fenton family, Trunkey Creek, took home nine Angus bulls averaging $8222, paying to an equal top of $10,000.
Bidgel Grazing Company, Elvanbrook, Qld, bought five bulls averaging $6800, while RE and CE Bomford, Barraba, averaged $12,600 across a draft of five, paying to an equal $16,000 top.
The charity bull, Peakes Bowen Prophet U324, was knocked down for $10,000, adding to the $68,400 already raised since Bowen began offering a charity bull in 2022.
The proceeds were split three ways between the Ruby Mae Foundation, Westpac Helicopter Service, and the Stuart Peake Memorial Cancer Research Trust.
Bill Whitney, of Aohai Australia, Goolhi, bought Prophet U324.
Mr Whitney said he favoured the bull's low birthweight and frame.
"We're a cattle and cropping enterprise at Goolhi, got 1200 breeders all mainly Angus," he said.
Mr Whitney said the operation was aiming to increase numbers and his purchases today were all bulls that were suitable for heifers.
"We'll join a few heifers this year. That was the main one, and then just build and overall growth to put a bit of quality back in the herd," he said.
The bull was the top pick for the operation, who took home a draft of six to average $7667.
In the Herefords, the top-priced lot again went to an online bidder in Fitzroy Farming, Attunga.
The $26,000 Bowen Undercarry U151, by Tobruk Southern Cross S15, measured +5.9 EMA and +84 carcase weight.
He was the sole purchase for the operation.
Second top price went to Bowen Undermine U095, by The Ranch Remington R028, who sold for $22,000 to Macada Pty Ltd, Oberon.
He measured -2.2 gestation length with +92 carcase weight and high growth.
Macada also paid $8000 for Bowen Urunga U140.
Wooling Pastoral, Crookwell, bought Bowen Update U030, also by The Ranch Remington, for $20,000.
The operation also selected Bowen Ulmarra U9, by Tobruk Southern Cross S15, for $16,000 and Bowen Urbanise U73, another Remington son, for $10,000.
Brook Pastoral Company, Birdsville, Qld, took home 10 Herefords, all at $6000.
Mr Weyman-Jones was also bidding on behalf of the operation, and said Brook Pastoral supplied OBE Organic Beef.
Stephen Peake, Bowen, said it was a pleasing sale and catered to everyone's needs.
The stud had increased its Angus offering to provide bulls for a range of budgets.
Mr Peake noted his biggest volume buyers in both the Angus and Hereford drafts were not operating, but it was still a solid result.
"People have been through some tough years in this area, and south," he said.
"Not everyone needs a bull every year, but people really focused on the good bulls in each breed.
"People really look for structure and length and weight and growth for age."
Heifer bulls were very popular, he said.
The Fenton family of Trunkey Creek had bought from the stud in 2017 and were only now needing to replace those sires.
Mr Peake said it was a testament to the bulls' structural soundness.
"It's a great hear about bulls with longevity, because it is a problem in the Angus breed," he said.
He thanked new and return buyers for their support over the 30 years of sales.
Nutrien conducted the sale with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, the guest auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
