Mendooran performer

Pisaturo had come to Australia as an Italian prisoner of war, later returning after the war to start a new life and ultimately fulfil an ambition to become a successful cattle breeder.

The "Mandalong" stud prefix he adopted soon became known and respected throughout the beef cattle world, due to the extraordinary showring successes of his Poll Shorthorn and later, Charolais studs.

From there he progressed to developing his own breeds, notably the Mandalong Special, Square Meater and Tropicana, all tailored for specific markets both in Australia and overseas.

Now in his 90s, Pisaturo still resides at "Mandalong Park", although today the 140 hectare farm is used only for steer fattening. The Mandalong studs are now based at Mendooran, on the "Yarrow Station" property of one of his sons, Rick junior.

And now, with the younger Rick keen to move back to "Mandalong Park" to be near his ageing father (and also to devote more time to his other business interests), he has put "Yarrow Station" on the market.

The tough decision, made in collaboration with his wife Victoria, puts into play a substantial Central West mixed farming property superbly set up for intensive stud or commercial cattle production.

The 1303ha (3222 acres) "Yarrow Station" will go to auction on February 25 with Peter Milling and Company of Dubbo, along with the same owner's nearby Castlereagh River block, the 308ha (761ac) "Riverview".

"Yarrow Station", which is situated seven kilometres east of Mendooran, is an aggregation of two adjacent farms, "Yarrow" (1036ha) and "Vimy Ridge (268ha).

Mr Pisaturo bought "Vimy Ridge" and "Riverview" 15 years ago from the same owner, having previously leased another Mendooran property owned by his brother. He bought "Yarrow" a year later.

Today "Yarrow Station" is a dedicated breeding property, carrying year-round about 900 head of predominantly Mandalong Special and Tropicana (a Red Brahman/Mandalong Special cross) cattle.

Cattle are also fattened for the Dubbo market on the property, and in addition to the cattle enterprises "Yarrow Station" has an equine dimension as home to Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred studs.

Much of the seedstock production in recent years has been aimed at live export to Russia, where Mr Pisaturo has forged close links with the corporate owners of a 6000-head cattle breeding and feedlotting venture.

The "Riverview" property, situated about five kilometres from "Yarrow Station", is not permanently stocked, but serves as a drought insurance measure, thanks to its 500 megalitre irrigation entitlement.

Both properties are described as slightly undulating, composed of red and grey sandy loam soils and 85 to 90 per cent arable, although under present management cultivation is limited to fodder cropping for home use.

Introduced pastures established on "Yarrow Station" to complement the native grasses and clovers include lucerne, Premier Digit, Bambatsi and Serradella.

Following his father's example on "Mandalong Park", Mr Pisaturo has spared no expense in developing the improvements on "Yarrow Station" to a level consistent with efficient, low-labour livestock management.

The 41 paddocks are linked to the central handling facilities by a series of fenced laneways, and are also grouped into five distinct "cells" each with its own fodder reserve for on-site supplementary feeding if required.

Since aggregating the two properties into "Yarrow Station", Mr Pisaturo has constructed 13km of new roads or laneways and erected 85km of new fences (mostly hingejoint).

The property is also now superbly watered by a reticulation system from a bore supplying "cup and saucer" troughs in most paddocks, backed up by dams and a creek that intersects "Vimy Ridge".

Working improvements are extensive and modern, and include three large steel-framed sheds (one incorporating nine horse stables), silos, hay and grain sheds and modern steel cattle yards built to work 250 head.

The main ("Yarrow") homestead is a comfortable three-bedroom clad structure with formal and family living areas, two offices, verandah and ducted air conditioning. It is complemented by a two-bedroom demountable, and a three-bedroom cottage on "Vimy Ridge".

"Yarrow Station" and "Riverview" will be offered separately, although both may well be bought by the same party, due to their mutually complementary nature.

Contact Peter Milling and Co, (02) 6882 3544.