The Boundary Rider’s Report March 2024

Bulls for Sale

We still have a few bulls 18 Months of age left for sale now; available by Private Treaty for those clients who wish to consider purchasing Bulls for Autumn Joinings.  Anyone wishing to discuss their bull breeding needs, please do not hesitate to call 0438 792 140 or email me samwhite@baldblair.com.au.

Seasonal Update at Bald Blair

160 mm have fallen here at Bald Blair until recently.  Our falls in March are a lot less than normal.  While we have a good body of feed in preparation for Winter, low surface run-off means our Dam waters are low.  188 mm has fallen east of here at our Aberfoyle farm, with falls in bigger storms filling dams.  We will be topping up our Winter feed reserves in preparation for the inevitable feed gap coming Jun, July and August.   

Market Update
From the MLA Cattle Projections: https://www.mla.com.au/prices-markets/Trends-analysis/cattle-projections/

This year is looking to be a positive year for the cattle industry with the herd staying within a maintenance phase. While forecasts remain crucial for business management, the expected relative climate stability in 2024 suggests that decision-making may not be as reactive to long-term forecasts as observed in the reactive markets of 2023.

Link to Webinar recording: 

https://youtu.be/iqbZ1dgrFPY?si=R9s-84-OuarcrV30

 https://www.mla.com.au/prices-markets/cattle/eycireport/. 

Weaning
Weaning is currently underway at Bald Blair.  Calves look fantastic, I do not think their mothers will miss them.  Bulls upto 400kg and heifers upto 350kg.  Great to see some new bloodlines shining through, SS Brickyard, Myers Fair N Square, Confidence Plus to name a few, and also some new Bald Blair bloodlines, Stirling S86.

Sam’s Guide to Yard Weaning

1. Yard weaning over 5 days, start by drafting weaners into groups based on size, or sex providing access to fresh clean water and barley straw in feeders low to the ground, to prevent straw getting in their eyes.
2. Feeding Regimen: our ration for this year, 50% DDG and 50% Generade plus Ablib availability of Barley Straw.  They are fed morning and night in their respective groups.
3. Regular Handling: Work the weaners through the race twice daily, even if no treatment is needed. Spend time with the animals, introducing them to walking through the yards, race and small holding paddocks to improve their handling.
4. Husbandry Practices: Keep a vigilant eye on pink eye infections. Treat affected animals promptly with Orbenin and use denim squares as eye patches. Isolate infected animals to prevent the spread of the infection.
5. Socialisation and Conditioning: Introduce dogs, horses, bikes, or buggies to the weaners from the third day to get them accustomed to various stimuli. Utilise small holding paddocks for walking them around, facilitating quiet and easy movement.

Weaning is the best time in an animal's life where you can have a positive influence on their behaviour. It sets them up for future stages of their development, quietens  and settles them enhancing their resilience to stresses and diseases. 

Pastures & Weeds
I gotta say, boy have we got some weeds this year.  That September/October dry seemed to open up the ground and weeds spread.  Primary weeds being chased still include Knoddy Thistle and Blackberry.  Bring out the drones.

Moisture Probe

Soil moisture results: There are two soil moisture probes on Bald Blair, which are part of the MLA research project, ‘Grazing system impact on livestock productivity, soil moisture and soil organic carbon’. These soil moisture probes give an indication of plant water availability, at 20 cm and 60 cm soil depth.

Over the past 4 months, regular rainfall has meant that soils were regularly saturated with water, at both 20 cm and 60 cm soil depth. However, pasture growth and warmer weather also meant that water was removed from the soil: mid-December and mid-February the ‘crop lower limit’ was reached at 20 cm soil depth. This is the threshold after which there is no more water available for plant uptake. Luckily water was not depleted at depth, and rainfall ensured that the soil was not at the crop lower limit situation for more than 2 consecutive days.  Contact: Jori Bremer,Research Analyst, BSc, MSc, PhD, Mb: 04 90 159 627, jori@precisionpastures.com.au

Water

We are really excited to have the pump connected to our new bore out the back of Bald Blair on the Eastern side of the Pinnacle (Fletcher’s Seat).  Huge thanks to Tamworth Drilling for redrilling the bore (long story - Sam might share with you one day - think tractor v pump) We even had to get a new bore licence from NSW Water even though the old bore was a few metres away.  Also a huge thank you to Sapphire City Solar for reconnecting the infrastructure - pumps, solar panels, pipes and tanks to get bore water once again circulating to troughs at the back of Bald Blair.  The Observant System was already hooked up and the Farm Monitoring Solutions app will enable us to keep track of tank levels and rain from our phones.  A huge milestone for us and as groundwater is drying up rapidly, it is very good timing.

Our Bores are well and truly taking up the slack, of a lack of surface run-off this season.  Heavy rain has been received by our properties east of here.

BredWell FedWell

We really appreciated the opportunity to host a BredWell FedWell workshop with the MLA and Angus Australia.  The day started with a cold fog and the fire pit and wood heater warming everyone up.  Nancy Crawshaw, Extension Officer with Angus Australia was the presenter for the day.  Huge thanks to the Bald Blair Public School P & C Catering Committee.

Sam and Kirsty were great to run the event with going above and beyond to guarantee its smooth operation and ensure participants felt welcomed despite the chilly start. Sam has a wealth of knowledge and experience which was great to provoke insightful group discussions, with participants gaining valuable insights from boots on the ground experience in their environment. Bred Well Fed Well Workshops provide a platform for producers to evaluate their herds' genetic and nutritional performance, identifying opportunities for improvement to enhance business profitability. At the outset of the workshop, we documented everyone's learning objectives for the day. It was rewarding to revisit these as we concluded the event, confirming that all topics had been addressed, empowering participants with additional knowledge to make informed decisions for the advancement of their beef enterprises. The engaged and open atmosphere fostered by the participants at Bald Blair facilitated thought-provoking discussions, making the workshop delivery highly enjoyable for all involved. Nancy Crawshaw, Extension Officer, Angus Australia

It was great working with Kirsty and Sam to organise this event. The program relies on producers willing to offer their properties, animals and time to host a workshop, and Kirsty and Sam kindly did so with great enthusiasm – they made my job very easy! The feedback received from participants about this workshop was outstanding, reflecting the program’s success in improving producers’ knowledge of genetics and nutrition. In turn this knowledge, and the skills learnt during the workshop, help producers to implement on-farm changes including developing a breeding objective, combining objective and visual tools to select animals, and using body condition score targets to achieve their breeding goals.  Delphine Puxty of Schuster Consulting Group (SCG). SCG manage the BredWell FedWell program on behalf of MLA.

Click Here https://www.mla.com.au/extension-training-and-tools/bredwell-fedwell/

Empowering Women on Farms

The Empowering Women in Farming Businesses program aims to assist women involved in farming businesses to access the tools and networks they may need to improve and develop their business and decision-making skills, as well as expand relevant networks who can provide further support. NSW Farmers is excited to be delivering 12 events for women involved in farming; to view dates and locations, and register for your local event, click here. 

The Rural Woman

THE Rural Woman offers a digital platform for rural women to connect, learn, and thrive. It combats isolation by providing a supportive online community where women share experiences, expertise, and solutions. Through programs, coaching, and events, it empowers rural women professionally and personally, fostering resilience and growth.

https://theruralwoman.com/

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.

https://beefaustralia.com.au/

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/

Ladies Only Working Dog Clinic - 13 & 14 April 2024 - Glencoe NSW

Contact Margo Hogan 0427 324 124

see flyer below

Listening:

The Financial Bloke Wealth and Wisdom with Ben Law: Episode #65: Prepare Yourself for Succession: Beef 24 Next Gen Webinar with Jeremy Hutchings, Ruth Corrigan and Ben Law.

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-financial-bloke-wealth-and-wisdom/id1598835360?i=1000647863732

Profitable Farmer Episode 136 - Is It My Money Mindset Holding Me Back

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/profitable-farmer/id1309434515?i=1000647233585

Watching

The world is overwhelmed when choosing what to eat. Sacred Cow probes the fundamental moral, environmental and nutritional quandaries we face in raising and eating animals. Focusing on the largest and perhaps most maligned of farmed animals, the cow.  Directed and Produced by Diana Rodgers, Narrated by Nick Offerman

Sacred Cow https://youtu.be/hjyBUk6AQ1M?si=KFy_FGG7PrRcCyU0

Reading

Kirsty: “The Midnight Library” Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets? A novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52578297-the-midnight-library

Sam & Kirsty