Teys turn to almond hull at Stockinbingal

This year’s event celebrates 10 years with 330 head entering Teys Australia’s Jindalee Feedlot at Stockinbingal in August. Entries will be fed a wheat based ration, which will be changed to barley based in November, with almond hull also making up a small component of the roughage source.

“It’s not a first choice but in terms of price and availability, they are able to be used,” Teys Australia Feedlots General Manager Grant Garey said. 

The dry conditions have also meant an absence of northern NSW and Queensland entries this year.

Over the trial’s history, five different breeds/crossbreeds have won in the competition with Teys Australia noticing a slightly heavier presence of crossbred cattle in the top ten finishing teams. 

Mr Garey said winning cattle needed to have genetic potential to have the correct balance of red meat yield, fat cover and intramuscular fat.

“Cattle which perform well are those which have scope to grow and perform over the 100 days they are on feed and are reaching a body condition where they have enough finish to present a good quality carcase for grading,” he said.

“Cattle that perform well also have been well prepared and don’t suffer any sickness during the feeding period.”

That preparation extended to vaccination and drenchings in the weeks before the cattle entered the feedlot and introducing the animals to feeding systems.

“The environment is different, so picking cattle which are confident and have been given exposure to eating out of a feed trough/ hay feeder and drinking from a water trough,” Mr Garey said. 

“Cattle should have enough frame to grow for the 100 days, but not need 150-200 days to achieve an adequate level of finish.”

Teys preparations begin two months before cattle arrive.

A team of nine staff induct the competition cattle, is usually a process for four.