HITTING the Scone fat cattle market with top weights is Terry Wicks’s aim at “Glenbawn”, Gundy, in the Hunter region.
Mr Wicks manages the property for John Starr running 400 Angus and Lim Flex breeders joined to a Poll Hereford bull. The cattle are farmed over about 600 hectares.
The black baldy heifers are joined to a Black Limousin.
When Mr Wicks started managing four years ago they kept 100 heifers to get their numbers up, now they keep about 50 to 60 replacement heifers a year.
Mr Wicks said the Hereford cross cattle are well suited to the Scone fat market and come up trumps in the cattle yards when it’s time to weigh in.
“We use the Poll Hereford to get a bit more condition on our cattle,” Mr Wicks said.
“The Angus cattle weren’t grossing enough money because they were too shy in weight.
“That is why we started using the Poll Herefords to get the Hybrid Vigour back - and it has paid off.”
At “Glenbourn” the bulls go out with the herd in August to start calving at the start of July, about an eight week joining time.
They have no problems with calving with Mr Wicks saying everything calves down on their own.
“In the four years I have been here I have only had to pull one calf and that was by a black bull,” he said
Because of unpredictable seasonal conditions, the tops of their weaners are generally sold straight from mum at about six month- old.
The remaining cattle are finished off on crop.
As they are on irrigation, Mr Wicks said they can afford to hold on to them a little longer.
“This year was a bit tougher because of the way things turned out we couldn’t get the oats in quick enough,” Mr Wicks said.
“We have sent a few off already and we have about 100 to 150 ready to go on oats in a week or two.”
He said the aim is to get them over the 350 to 400 kilogram mark before they are sold.
“The crossbred calves make about $150 to $180 more than the straight blacks,” Mr Wicks said
“The cattle prices are not at a frightening spot just yet.
“But there is always that chance that the market will level.
“It also depends what happens overseas as well.”
But even through better seasons they have seen at Gundy Mr Wicks said things are changing and feeding is needed the entire way from when the calf hits the ground to selling time.
“They need help to get them finished to where you need them to be,” he said.
“We place them on oat crops and pasture improved paddocks.
"The seasonal controls everything."
