A switch to Angus production in the late 1990s bolstered David and Gail Parkinson's commercial breeding operation on Myuna, 20km north of Albury, due to the breed's hardiness and mothering ability.
The Parkinsons started leasing the 545ha of undulating country in the 1990s before purchasing it outright in 2002.
There is close to 10 per cent flat land on Myuna, where lucerne is grown on 50ha. The crop is undersown with triticale in winter to then produce silage for their 300 head pure Angus breeding herd and their progeny.
Mr Parkinson said after enjoying an excellent year of rainfall in 2020, they had a good start to the summer but they're slightly down on their average at present.
"However our country is looking good. At the beginning of autumn we put all of our stock in containment areas, and we don't let them out until they have a good head of feed in front of them," he said.
"We also rotational graze when they're let out. We do have an interest in developing a regenerative farming system as well.
"In the containment areas the cattle are fed our self-grown silage, with steers and heifers receiving a mix of silage, grain and canola meal.
"We kept them contained a bit longer than usual this year due to the rain drying up a bit after the early break."
The Parkinsons try to buy bulls which allow them to keep the 400-day growth and mature cow weight at around the same, which means they're looking for 400-day growth EBVs of around 100.
They're now running a pure Angus herd and have been refining their progeny through the utilisation of bulls purchased from the Corrigan family, Rennylea Angus.
"I got into Rennylea bulls because I was very impressed with the Corrigans' breeding philosophy, they aren't too large but they're efficient, and they've kept the rib and rump fat levels up in their bulls, which makes it easier for them to get heifers back in calf," Mr Parkinson said.
"They also produce a high marbling herd with good carcase figures and buying high marbling bulls has been a focus of ours."
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The Parkinsons bought a further three bulls from Rennylea in March this year.
"In my opinion their second tier bulls would be equal to the top bulls in many other studs," Mr Parkinson said.
"I got the EBVs for the bulls we purchased from Rennylea for the last three years, and what stood out was that the average IMF score was 4.9.
"Last year we artificially inseminated with three of the bulls from the Rennylea semen catalogue. Their IMFs were 5.4, 5.3 and 5.8. They have great growth as well."
They grow out 90 per cent of their heifers and AI them in mid-October then paddock join the rest of their cows from November 1.
They've been running their AI program for eight years and are keen to keep it going due to the benefits it provides.
"We usually join in two or three cycles depending on how the bulls are going.
"We monitor their time in the paddock very carefully to ensure against overuse.
"Due to our containment system our stock are always on good feed and therefore in good condition.
"Our annual fertility rate is close to 90pc. All surplus empty stock are sold, especially dry cows."
The Parkinsons have forged a good working relationship with JBS Albury buyer Peter Steer.
"We forward sell our steers to JBS as Peter knows they marble very well, so he's happy to give us a good forward price," Mr Parkinson said.
"We won't sell our current steers (currently weighing 340kg on average) until August through December at close to 500kg.
"Last year all of cull heifers and empty cows went to JBS as well. We ensure we receive dress figures for all our stock which go over the hooks."
Down the track the Parkinsons want to focus more on feed conversion efficiency within the herd.
"Now that the industry is getting a better handle on those figures in regards to EBVs, it's something we need to look at and understand better for the future."