Dual purpose pays

Operated by Angus Gibson, in partnership with Peter Brooks, the pair have taken the term “mixed farming enterprise” to a new level.

“You have to take the opportunities when they arise,” Mr Gibson said.

For the past six years, from April through to August or September depending on the season, the operation stagger sowed about 700 hectares of crop.

During that period they used livestock to graze the crops.

“The idea of having a large number of stock and allowing it to chew it down is to delay flowering until after we have passed the highest risk frost period,” Mr Gibson said.

“This year the season has been terrific, so we have produced an awful lot of feed.

“Therefore we needed the large numbers of livestock to manage it and eat it down.”

From March the operation has bought in 4200 head of crossbred lambs, 800 Merino wether lambs, 600 young trade cattle (steers and heifers), 120 cows and another 250 weaner cattle from their own operations.

The stock is run on the cropping system for about five to six months when it is gradually sold through forward trading contracts.

Mr Gibson said this could vary from 500 lambs or 100 cattle a week, depending on the stock and market demand.

“It is obviously a fairly expensive business and you have to have cash flow,” he said.

“Forward trading contracts reduce some of the risk involved.

“But obviously you have to be prepared to outlay the money and you have to be prepared to take the risk.

“It is only for a short period of time, but it is still an issue for people.

“In previous years we have traded here and there, but relied more on a simple agistment system.

“But this year we have purchased more stock because of the season.”

He said the peak growing period for crops was now and the stock were reaping the benefits.

“Predominantly the crossbred lambs are grazed on the canola crops; they can put on two kilograms a week,” he said.

“The cattle on the wheat crops average a 2kg a day increase.”

Mr Gibson said it was about taking the opportunity when it arose.

“Last year we had to turn a number of crops into silage and made some canola hay due to the massive October frost event where temperatures reached minus five degrees,” he said.

“Then, in February, when it was extremely dry and things weren’t looking particularly good, we purchased 120 cows.

“We held them for a five week period on canola hay in which time they put on an average of 50kg and were then inducted onto our crops.

“Eighty per cent of those cattle will soon have calves at foot.”

Mr Gibson said the other benefit was providing stock into a market at a time when other producers were still finishing stock.