West Coast farmers swing to stock

The tyranny of distance and having virtually no domestic market has meant continuous cropping has become an attractive option for a number of Eyre Peninsula farmers.

But, rising returns from cattle and sheep, coupled with good prices for wool, has seen the interest in livestock start to rise again. This is especially so on the back of only average cereal prices recently.

For some EP farmers livestock are a critical part of their enterprise and a great tool to mitigate their risk during dry times.

Mr Carey will promptly tell you he prefers stock instead of cropping.

It took him little time to build up sheep numbers and notch up a 100-bale wool target after moving from family properties near Chandada, to a farm at Kaldoonera, about six years ago.

Mr Carey and wife Michelle started with 1500 sheep and have increased that to more than 3500 Merinos on their 4000-hectare property.

They also grow wheat, barley, oats, peas and, occasionally, canola.

Mr Carey said his father also favoured sheep and while the sheep to crop ratio was about 50:50, he was likely to move it toward 60:40.

"We will probably just crop the good country," he said.

"I don't see the sense in spraying out good grass. With modern day chemicals and farm management, I believe I can maximise returns by leaving some manageable grasses for wool and stock production without having a negative impact on crops that follow pasture rotations."

The Careys also run about 120 young cattle in a feedlot.

White River genetics have been the base for their sheep for many years and nothing has changed since Mr Carey moved to Kaldoonera.

"We've been buying White River's top rams for more than 25 years. I remember going there with dad as a kid and now they are my next door neighbour,'' Mr Carey said.

"White River breed sheep that thrive in this country and that's what we are looking for. They are renowned big-framed, heavy wool cutters with good yields.''

The Careys achieved an average 7.36 kilograms of wool a head from shearing 2518 grown sheep. The last 170 averaged more than 8kg/head.

Mr Carey said they were always looking to improve their bottom line with sheep and the best chance of this was by improving wool cut.

He has resisted the trend toward finer wool production.

"We try to maintain 21 micron as the base," Mr Carey said.

"We see 21M as what this country can consistently produce."

The Careys ensure experienced rams go in with maiden ewes and most of the sheep are run in age lines.

After grazing stubbles, ewes have access to oat feeders in paddocks as well as supplement blocks.

They lamb from early April and the lambs run back with their mothers for a month after shearing at the end of July.

"The extra month and milk is better for them," Paul said.

The lambs are weaned onto high-protein medic pastures after receiving Weanerguard vaccine or a copper cobalt bullet.