GLENN and Susie Trout of Borambola in southern NSW are in the box seat when it comes to witnessing success and growth in the rural sector.
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The pair are managers at the Birubi Limousin and Limflex Stud which is headed up by Annette Tynan.
For them their involvement in the cattle industry spans from commercial interests through to showing stock at the highest level and running on-property sales.
They also believe in fostering a culture of education for the next generation of young people who are ready to to learn the ropes in the beef cattle industry.
ADVANTAGES: A competitive beef cattle market and need to rebuild the herd – which is at a historic 20 year low in terms of numbers – means producers are looking to infuse top genetics into their animals.
The Borambola property runs both stud and commercial cattle and many of the genetics allow for producers to make the most of hybrid vigour and good growth rates.
“Down here in the local market in the past 10 years the tendency to lean towards European-infused cattle has been quite rapid,” he said.
Producers are also seeking out polled genetics – cattle without horns – to help improve herds and reduce the need for dehorning.
“In a cross breeding sense we are certainly kicking some goals in terms of getting in the door,” Mr Trout said.
CHALLENGES: The wet winter has brought with it plenty of pasture growth but at the same time many producers have lost paddocks which were inundated by water.
“Our country is not affected by river flow, we haven't been impacted heavily, certainly some of our clients are going to lose a percentage of their pasture country,” he said.
Mr Trout said restocking and sourcing replacement cattle to rebuild herds was a challenge for producers at the moment because of the high prices. “It is going to take a long time to rebuild the (national) herd back to where it was,” he said.
“Certainly buying into cows is extremely expensive at the moment, long term view it is going to take a long time to build that herd back to where it was.”
THE FUTURE: “We need young people to become involved in this industry … there was a time when agriculture was unattractive but that has changed and there are a lot of really smart kids who are coming to the fold,” he said.
“It is important to keep those kids engaged in the agricultural sector.” Mr Trout said he had worked with young people in some of the beef cattle industry’s junior programs and he commended the efforts made by so many schools to get students involved in agriculture.
He said the stud beef cattle industry was doing a good job in terms of creating opportunities for the next generation.