The Boundary Rider's Report April 2024
The Boundary Rider’s Report April 2024
Hello!
Our boys are now 18 and 14! The birthday festivities have been very enjoyable. We have been down to Coffs for the Ocean Swim. The boys did 2kms and Kirsty 600 metres. The cause for the TAS team was, its ok to not be ok, the blue tree project https://bluetreeproject.com.au/
We have also been involved with the Tour De Rocks bike ride from Armidale to Woolgoolga. Abbott and Arthur rode their bikes and Sam and I supported them. If you would like to donate please go to
https://www.tourderocks.com.au/
We attended Anzac Day services in Dangarsleigh and Armidale and were very proud to watch both Abbott and Arthur March in the parade. We also attended the TAS Anzac service yesterday morning. A very special service. Thanks to all those who have served and are serving our country.
The last few weeks have been very busy for us. We have completed weaning of all our calves and set them up for winter on our pastures. We have completed our Autumn AI programme and also our 600d Wts; scans and assessment of our bulls and heifers in the lead up to Beef Week. In addition we have been spraying more weeds, fortunately we have access to some great drone operators that have truly delivered in terms of efficiency.
In early April we said farewell to stockman, Ben Lennon, and we wish him all the very best with his future. We welcome Paige Marsh to the team and we appreciate that she has hit the ground running!
We are heading up to Rockhampton for Beef Week and look forward to immersing ourselves in all things beef and of course enjoying the QLD hospitality. If you are going and want to catch up please give us a call. We are there from Monday to Friday.
Seasonal Update at Bald Blair
We are still waiting for our first frost! There is rain predicted this week and the pastures are still green. A mild Autumn, with all stock doing well. There is potential for more rain throughout the year.
Market Update
The cattle market has come off its recent strength, with the EYCI reaching upto 670c/kg cwt, while coming back to 600c/kg cwt in recent days. My thoughts remain much the same as in the prior report, I believe pricing will continue to improve for beef, largely due to the disruption caused by drought to the size of the US cow herd. At Bald Blair we continue to reduce stock pre winter where we can.
The sheep market remains volatile due to increased turnoff across the industry. There are good forward contracts for sheep finished in June and July, suggesting the major sell-off may have occurred.
https://www.mla.com.au/prices-markets/cattle/eycireport/.
Bull Sale Preparation
We are really happy with our bull sale preparation this year. The bulls have received their tick vaccination, boosters, 600 day weights, carcass scans (thank you Roger Evans), structural assessments (thank you Dick Whale) and freeze brands. They are split into two groups and grazing on high performance pastures. When we get back from Beef Week we will put them through the full monty BullCheck with our local Vet - Dr Leisa Brown and finalise which bulls have jumped through all the hoops and make the bull sale catalogue list.
BULLCHECK™ is a standardised accreditation scheme for assessing the breeding soundness of bulls. It evaluates five fertility components: general physical examination, testes inspection, libido assessment, semen analysis, and sperm morphology. Meeting minimum standards indicates high fertility probability. Though not a guarantee, it signals breeding potential. The Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV) recommend all components for valuable bulls, with customizable options for buyers and sellers. ACV offers a 'Gold Standard' accreditation since 2007. BULLCHECK™ ensures objective fertility assessment, aiding informed bull selection beyond aesthetics. For more information check out this website:
CLICK HERE
Bald Blair Stirling NBB21S86
We had this bull in the yards the other day and have collected more semen from him. He is an outstanding sire, a son of Paratrooper P15. If you are interested in using him please check him out and give us a call. Alternatively you can fill in the form on our website.
https://www.baldblairangus.com.au/semem-sales
Pastures & Weeds
Big shoutout to Precision Drones for their incredible work with the XAG P100 Pro! Thanks to them, the blackberries on the Pinnacle at Bald Blair have been sprayed. Contact Olivia on admin@pdrones.com.au or 0429 478 895.
Also massive thanks to Trent Jones 0437 606 927 for his drone use. The blackberries at our Aberfoyle block are now under better control. We thought we had missed the opportunity to get them done and it is a huge relief to at least have the blackberries done for the moment.
We are still struggling with the nodding thistle situation and the school holiday team (Kirsty and Abbott) probably did not do as much as was expected! The nodding thistles are not going anywhere and are patiently waiting for us to get to them!
Water
All the work we have done in the past connecting bores and water lines has been put into practice. The juggle of getting water to troughs and all pumps working at once is testing our problem solving, plumbing and engineering minds.
Working Dog!
We have a new kelpie pup “Yella” out of “Coin” from Peter Hogan at Glencoe.
He has a lot of growing to do and is as keen as mustard - hot english mustard!
Meat and Livestock Australia - Transport Hub
A huge congratulations to Sharon Dundon, MLA Project Manager – Animal Welfare, for putting her heart and soul into the Transport Hub. As Sharon says “We needed to put everything in one place so that everyone in the supply chain knows what their roles and responsibilities with livestock transport are. It all starts at the farm gate. If producers get it right at the farm gate, it makes the transporter’s job a lot easier.”
Fantastic content - please check it out and share with your industry colleagues.
Check out this great video for an overview: https://youtu.be/nfKaa8CcSp8?si=6kyZWJSEyrQdp0YN
https://www.mla.com.au/extension-training-and-tools/resource-hubs/transport-hub/
UNE visit
It is always a pleasure to welcome students from the University of New england. Especially welcoming back to Bald Blair Professor Sam Clark, Professor in Animal Genetics, School of Environmental and Rural Science, who has fond memories of Bald Blair School P & C catering (thank you Pam Clark) the bull sale and coming over to the sale. It was great to meet the students and discuss breeding, bulls and all things cattle. We had Bald Blair Stirling S86 in the yards for collection, so he was discussed at length.
Beef Australia- 5 - 11 May 2024
Beef Australia is a premier event celebrating the Australian beef industry, held in Rockhampton, Queensland. It serves as a platform for farmers, producers, and stakeholders to showcase the latest innovations, technologies, and trends in the beef sector. The event features exhibitions, trade shows, seminars, and competitions highlighting various aspects of the beef supply chain, from genetics and breeding to processing and marketing. Attendees can engage in networking opportunities, attend educational sessions, and explore the diverse range of products and services offered by exhibitors. Beef Australia aims to promote growth, sustainability, and excellence within the Australian beef industry.
ANGUS FOR EVERY SYSTEM – BREEDING FOR PROFITABILITY IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
Presented by Angus Australia
With more large scale operations seeking out Angus genetics to complement their breeding operations and drive further genetic improvement, marketability and profitability, the Angus Australia Beef Australia 2024 seminar will take a deep dive into how Angus genetics are being utilised across these operations in traditional bos indicus areas, as well as focusing on how the use of Angus genetics in these operations is improving productivity and profitability.
Date: Tuesday 7th May 2024
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Venue: James Lawrence B
Price: $55+ online booking fee
https://beefaustralia.com.au/home/2024-program/seminars-symposium/seminar-program/tuesday-seminars/
Listening:
#67: Tell Me I Can’t, And I’ll Show You I Can with Alice Mabin – AgriShots
Welcome to an inspiring journey of resilience and determination with our guest, Alice Mabin. From overcoming addiction and adversity to founding AgriShots, Alice's story is a testament to the power of grit and passion.
In a world where challenges are inevitable, Alice's unwavering spirit and refusal to accept limitations inspire us to push boundaries and pursue our dreams relentlessly. From facing rejection to building a thriving business, her journey is a reminder that obstacles are merely stepping stones to success.
Throughout our conversation, we explore pivotal moments in Alice's life, discovering how she found strength in the face of adversity. We also uncover her unique approach to risk-taking and how reframing failure can lead to unparalleled growth and innovation.
Furthermore, we unravel the mission behind AgriShots and how it's revolutionising the agricultural industry with authentic visual storytelling. Alice shares insights into AgriShots’ vision and its role in showcasing the remarkable opportunities within the agricultural sector.
Join us as we uncover the secrets to harnessing drive, vision, and unwavering determination with Alice Mabin. Don't miss out on this captivating episode of resilience and triumph!
https://thefinancialbloke.com.au/podcasts01e67/
In The Roundhouse x Beef2024
Introducing the collab you didn't know you needed. In a special celebration of Australia’s beef industry, Beef Australia has collaborated with In The Roundhouse to present a limited edition set of four plates. In The Roundhouse is a lifestyle brand inspired by a clear vision: to create unique, modern and memorable homewares that will be loved for years (and meals) to come. The range features a stunning, cattle-inspired design capturing the colours of beef, grass, sunshine, and sky – from which Australia’s premium beef and agricultural produce can be enjoyed.
The artistry in this collaboration creates a timeless souvenir from Beef2024, and is an important reminder of the provenance story behind the food we share.
Beef Australia – In The Roundhouse
Funding Grants
The Climate-Smart Agriculture Program, under the Natural Heritage Trust, aligns with Australian Government objectives. The NHT supports sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and environmental protection. It aims to conserve water, soil, plants, and animals, fostering partnerships with industry, communities, and governments. This program targets sustainable growth in agriculture, preserving Australia's natural resources. It promotes best practices in agriculture and resource management, aiming to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability. Objectives include adopting climate-smart practices, engaging in carbon and biodiversity markets, and implementing natural resource management techniques to improve soil health and safeguard biodiversity.
https://www.grants.gov.au/Go/Show?GoUuid=903e6762-9d2a-4725-ada6-4e667b8d3aff
Fundraising
Tour de Rocks
https://www.tourderocks.com.au/
Abbott and Arthur are riding in the TAS team for the Tour de Rocks charity bike ride. Tour de Rocks is a charity bike ride raising funds for cancer research and support services. Their annual event involves cycling through scenic landscapes, promoting fitness and community engagement. Funds raised go towards regional cancer initiatives. The organization aims to make a significant impact in the fight against cancer.
Miles for Mac
Please support Miles4Mac - The brainchild of Ted Chick, a year 10 student at the Armidale School. Ted plans to run 20 days and over 530kms from Sydney to Armidale to raise funds and awareness for family friend and schoolmate Cormac (Mac) Downes.
In late 2023 Mac's health deteriorated rapidly and was diagnosed with an aggressive tumour on his spine. Overnight the Downes family life was turned upside down. Miles4Mac hopes to ease the challenges of the Downes family and also other regional families in similar predicaments through the fantastic support of Win the Day.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557372934582
Rail Trail
We are big fans of the New England Rail Trail, a project the Guyra community has been working on for 10 years. Now the Armidale Regional Council has the opportunity to start stage 1 from Armidale to Dumaresq with funding of over $5million. They need to understand how important this project is to the future of the community. Our boys are mad keen cyclists and really want this project to go ahead. Please take the time to read this petition and sign it. Thank you: Petition · SUPPORT THE NEW ENGLAND RAIL TRAIL - Australia · Change.org
Sam & Kirsty
Contact Information
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