Flexibility boosts beef producer’s bottom line

Hayley Warden, The Land

A shift to Angus over the last eight years has seen Cleary Bros’ cattle enterprise go from strength to strength.

The construction company runs about 200 Angus breeders on their 720 hectare property at Berry on the NSW South Coast. Ash Mathie joined the company in 2000 and has managed the farm for 12 years, during which time he has rebuilt the herd after downsizing in the years prior. He has witnessed many changes during that time, with regards to both the marketing of cattle and the way the business operates. “A lot has changed with the market and the way we do things now,” Mr Mathie said. “We made the shift due to market demand for black Angus cattle, we started off with Poll Herefords primarily then worked our way into Angus. “Now we have about 98 per cent Angus and 2pc Hereford cattle.” Cleary Bros sell weaners when they are eight to nine months of age, either via the South Eastern Livestock Exchange (SELX) at Yass or on AuctionsPlus. “I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t be happy with the current market,” Mr Mathie said. “We did really well last year. “We usually sell our weaners at Yass and use that market as a bit of a benchmark, focusing on their weaner sales from September to November. “Sometimes we go down the AuctionsPlus avenue, we just assess what is going on at the time and work out the best option for us.” At other times, if the market isn’t as strong for their description of cattle, they will grow them out to feeder weight and sell directly to the feedlot. “We like to keep our options open. If we can maintain and hold onto them through a bit of a lull in the market, then we will,” Mr Mathie said. “We are in a position to be able to hold the calves we wean depending on the market conditions. “We have put ourselves in a position where we have enough pasture, hay and silage to maintain them for another 12 months if need be.” They have made the decision to retain their weaner heifers, due to the cost involved in buying replacements. “This year we will probably maintain 80-90pc of our heifer calves and grow them out as future breeding females,”Mr Mathie said.

This year Cleary Bros opted to sell 164 head (82 steers and 82 heifers) at the Braidwood Weaner Sale on May 27th, that they would normally sell in October, early, at seven to eight months old, given the market and to avoid carrying them through winter. The decision paid off, with a pen of 24 Angus steers, 233kg, selling for $1560, 670c/kg. A second pen of 24 weighing 224kg made $1535, 685c/kg. While, a third pen of 24, weighing 194kg, sold for $1410, returning 727c/kg.