ANGUS 'Gus' Whyte has a simple farming philosophy – to convert as much grass to meat and wool as possible from his station in the Western Division of NSW.
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For this reason, he has chosen to use Hazeldean Angus sires to breed a more efficient cattle herd.
The cattle are run alongside Mr Whyte's core business – Merinos – on Wyndham Station, 85km north of Wentworth on the Darling River anabranch.
The Western Division is best known for its Merinos and more recently cleanskin sheep, but the Angus-sired cattle are also thriving.
"It is not unusual for people around here to have 40 or 50 cows if they have a number of reasonable seasons," Mr Whyte said.
In 2010, after nearly a decade without cattle, Mr Whyte and his wife Kelly and son Mitchell, were able to buy back into beef.
They bought 160 young heifers from Western Australia – an assortment of breeds but mainly Santa-Droughtmaster crosses.
The cattle were grown for a few months until they had reached mateable weights of at least 300kg.
In early 2012 – through further purchases – the Whytes built their herd up to 500 breeders after two years of receiving about 450mm of rainfall, well up on the district's 260mm average.
But the seasons have started to turn again and with just 190mm in 2012, they are back to 220 females.
Wyndham also supports 1700 Merino ewes – a self-replacing flock of 1100 and the remaining 600 joined to White Suffolks.
Mr Whyte said Angus were popular in the market and well-received by buyers – a major influence on his decision to buy black bulls.
Another major consideration was wanting to do business with their former neighbours and Hazeldean South Australia stud principals, Guy and Sarah Cunningham, Willalooka.
Full report in Stock Journal, January 31 issue, 2013.
