But it was all about quality rather than luck when their pen of 12 grey PTIC Brahman heifers took out the top honours out of a field of more than 700 Brahman females, as judged by Consolidated Pastoral Company's pastoral inspector, Geoff Warriner, Carlton Hill, Kununurra, WA.

In their first time entering the show, the Smiths' heifers impressed the big crowd of vendors and buyers at the sale, going on to sell for an impressive $2200/head to Nick Mather, Manumbar Station, Goomeri.

The Smiths' two-year-old heifers were bred and raised at their Marlborough property on a mix of Secca stylo grass and spear grass, and bred to their own bulls.

"We've got 30 unregistered stud cows that we breed our own bulls from and they are the sires of these heifers," Mr Smith said.

"All of our heifers get walked to Marlborough Campdraft every year, which is 25km from home and I reckon it sets them up for life in terms of education."

Indeed, the champion pen of heifers was among the cattle used in last year's Marlborough Campdraft.

Reserve Champion Pen of the show was awarded to a pen of eight grey Elrose cows and eight calves from Rodger and Lorena Jefferis, Artesian Downs, Richmond, which went on to sell for $1100/head, also to Nick Mather, Manumbar Station, Goomeri.

The second-top price of the sale of $1900/head was paid for 12 grey PTIC EU-accredited heifers, sold by Fenech Grazing, Craigleigh, Wowan, also to Nick Mather.

* See next week’s Queensland Country Life for a full sale report.