THE introduction of the winter grazing wheat variety Naparoo on "Kooralbyn" at Orange has contributed to saleyard success with cattle from the property finding good reception from buyers at prime sales.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Just over three weeks ago, Des Redmond sold steers at the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange (CTLX) prime cattle sale at Carcoar; six weeks prior to selling them they had been on his Naparoo grazing wheat.
"It gave them a lovely boost, and freshened them up very well," Mr Redmond said.
He has sown about eight hectares of the winter wheat on his property, in addition to about 4ha of oats.
He first added Naparoo to the property three years ago, having received half a silo worth from a cattle buyer who'd had great success with the winter wheat.
Mr Redmond typically sows the Naparoo in late January or early February in preparation for winter feed.
This year, he had 27 Angus steers and 11 Hereford steers grazing on the wheat.
The Angus steers were grown out towards about 600 kilograms, and made about 255c/kg at CTLX about three weeks ago.
The Hereford steers were a bit lighter - about 520kg - and sold for about 280c/kg.
In a first for the property, Mr Redmond spread 33 tonnes of nitrohumus sourced from Australian Native Landscapes on his winter wheat paddocks in preparation for sowing.
This equated to about $1400 worth, and proved an excellent investment, as it had provided a fantastic kick-start for the Naparoo, and had the benefit of contributing to strong clover growth as well.
"I find it is really amazing for the clover - it has shot right out of the ground," he said.
In the past he had used lime and superphosphate.
Prior to adding Naparoo, he had typically focused on oats as a winter grazing crop.
"Oats is a marvellous feed, but I find this Naparoo a little better," he said.
"The winter wheat seems to outshine the oats in that you get greater body and more feed out of it."
Mr Redmond also gives his cattle some lucerne hay.
"Kooralbyn" covers about 80 hectares, where Mr Redmond runs about 60 to 80 weaners and grown steers, typically Angus, Hereford and Charolais.
He purchased them as weaners from CTLX and aims to grow them out to about 520 to 600kg.
In addition to the Naparoo, oats and clovers, pastures across the property consist of phalaris, cocksfoot and ryegrass.
Soils are mainly red basalt types.
Two weeks ago, at the May store sale at CTLX, Mr Redmond bought a pen of 28 Angus and Shorthorn weaner steers, with an average weight of about 260kg, for $650, which are already grazing on the Naparoo.
He plans to sell the cattle at about 12 to 18 months.
Having been on his property since 1968, Mr Redmond has scaled down his feeding operations but still takes an active interest in the markets, and recognises the importance of putting in to get results - as evidenced by the nitrohumus and Naparoo.
"You have got to treat your ground properly," he said.
Nick Heydon
The Land's property editor.
The Land's property editor.
