SINGLETON livestock producers Nigel and Janet Meyn of BenLedi Pastoral Company have recently invested in stud Angus females recognising the comparative value to the current commercial markets as well as previously diversifying into goats.
Running a self-replacing Angus breeding herd focused on weaner production, they have both autumn and spring calving groups that run across their 700 acre (about 283 hectare) pastoral property.
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"Benledi is building numbers back up... currently running 80 females now," he said.
The Meyns purchased 22 Reiland Angus pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) heifers in July off AuctionsPlus as part of their rebuild.
"They were maiden heifers, to have their first calf at two years of age and they are doing an outstanding job," Mr Meyn said.
Following the success of these females they also secured five PTIC stud heifers off Reiland Angus from the East Meets West online sale last month.
"We were really impressed with the phenotype, temperament and the EBV's of the heifers that we secured from Reiland Angus and we look forward to seeing their progeny," the Meyns said.
"We also purchased 15 spring born Q heifers at the Dunoon Female sale in November, including three heifers by Landfall Keystone K132, two by GAR Drive, and others by Lawsons Momentous M518, Topbos Leading Edge and others by homebred sires," he said.
"Benledi Pastoral Company also purchased eight Lawsons stud cows with a calf-at-foot in May through AuctionsPlus from Vince Rheinburger of Braidwood - Lawsons Angus NSW co-operator herd.
Mr Meyn is also part of a bigger family operation along with his father, Kerry, and, uncle Colin, that incorporates around 5500 acres (2227ha) and 600 Angus breeders.
"We lightened off in 2018 and 2019 due to the drought conditions, but managed to keep the majority of our breeders... At peak we had over 800 plus breeders," he said.
The Meyns have an irrigation block on the Hunter River that is purely used for cropping.
"We make hay and silage to supplement the cattle at weaning; and it allows us to maintain the breeding herd during tight seasonal conditions," he said.
"It is a good asset, to have the ability to look after cows when we need to. Last year we used everything we had and bought in a large amount of fodder as well to try and retain breeders."
C & K Meyn has bloodlines from several places including; Te Mania, Knowla Livestock, KO Angus, Dunoon and Rennylea, and they have not bought in any breeders over the years.
All C & K Meyn steers are sold to Rangers Valley Feedlot, whom they have had a long-standing association with for many years, and in particular with cattle buyer Rob McCarthy.
The steers leave the Meyns at about 10 month of age weighing around 330kg, as backgrounders in preparation for Rangers Valley Premium long feed markets.
Prior to this they are yard weaned for about a week, then go into a small paddocks where they are fed silage and hay for approximately a month which assists in their transition to their eventual feedlot destination.
The Angus breed suits the country that the Meyns operate in and allows them to produce a good article suitable for the long-fed feeder steer market while maintaining balance in the cow herd.
"We look for a middle of the road maturity pattern that is not extreme in our breeding herd," he said.
"Producing feeder steers, we have to look at EMA (eye muscle area), marbling traits, growth, including 600-day weights without going extreme on mature cow weight.
For the maternal side of things they consider positive fats and milk, with Mr Meyn saying a balanced package is ideal.
DIVERSIFICATION
About five years ago Janet Meyn started a diversification project that incorporates boer goats into their farming system.
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"The goats are used for weed management which complements the cattle grazing operation," Mr Meyn said.
The original nannies were good quality goats from a client, and they recently introduced a Youlden Valley buck that was identified as being a high-yielding, early maturing type.
"They were an opportunistic purchase, but we have noticed they do a terrific job on cleaning up a lot of woody weeds we get here," he said.
"Even through the drought we didn't have to supplement the goats, they did just as well then."
The Meyns started with a small number of nannies, but they have been retaining females to build their herd up to their current 80 breeders.
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"Nannies have had up to two sets of multiples in a year. They seem to synchronise themselves with cycling and maintain a pretty set pattern to breeding, and kid out at the same time," he said.
"We don't lock the buck up at the moment."
Mr Meyn said the goats are good commercially and organically.
"Males are sold generally direct to Wilberforce (abattoirs), netting results of up to $10 a kilogram dressed at about 15kg, and you don't have to have them long to get to that result," he said.
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