After 145 years of producing lambs, the Daniel family has sold its last run to make way for their cropping operation and new seed cleaning business to expand.
The last run of 36 lambs were sold at SA Livestock Exchange at Dublin in April by Richard Daniel, marking the end of a 25-year working relationship.
Skyrocketing land prices across the Yorke Peninsula and reduced returns prompted Richard and his son Peter, to pull the pin on the sheep operation at their Ninnes property.
"We have arable land and it did not add up to be running a smaller mob of sheep on land which could be cropped," Richard said.
They have a cropping program of about 1000 hectares and have also heavily invested in a seed cleaning business.
"There is a lot of paperwork to sell livestock and even though I understand it is for biosecurity, it can be overwhelming," Richard said.
"The way to sell was constantly changing and for a smaller operation it was not worth it."
Since 1973, the family dwindled down its 1000 Merino ewe numbers to just 150 when they stopped producing lambs.
"The cost of cropping machinery means a lot of acres are needed to justify the investment. So, using it to graze sheep was not viable for us, the return was not there," Richard said.
The family's farming legacy in the area began when Richard's great-grandfather, John, arrived in the district from Cornwall, United Kingdom, in 1876.
At just 19 years old he began his farming career by working for his brother in-law at Kulpara, when he supplied meat to the fettlers working on the railway line from Adelaide to Kadina.
"He eventually made enough money and bought a property on the Kulpara-Bute road," Richard said.
His great grandfather had nine children, including Edmond, who eventually took over the family farm before handing it down to Richard's father, William.
Merino ewes were mated to Dorset rams before Richard took over and mated breeders to White Suffolk bloodlines.
Dorset bloodlines came from Arthurton, while Annavilla-blood White Suffolk rams were utilised up until the operation ceased.
Since 1913, the family's presence at SA saleyards began, first selling at Gepps Cross before selling from1999 at Dublin.
They produced lambs for the export market and sold through the saleyard because of return consistently.
"Over the years, I thought the saleyard was where the price was set," Richard said.
"On-hook prices really relied on the saleyards prices but I can see a time coming when the saleyards might become a bit less important.
"Today, operations are getting bigger and bigger, so they tend to sell on hooks more."
But, the family's commitment to selling through the saleyards was mostly built around the strong social benefit.
"I enjoyed the markets to catch-up with other farmers and compare lambs," Richard said.
"We got to know most of the buyers and some of the small butchers would look for our lambs. That happened when you got a bit of a name for producing quality lambs."
The family also formed a long-term bond with Rhodes Wool.
"We sold our wool through the family business for a long time. It was an important relationship to maintain," Richard said.
But eventually, aspects such as a booming lentil market helped the decision along for the family to cease the operation and put their focus into higher value crops.
"I did love having sheep but Peter has an interest in cropping machinery and the seed cleaning business," Richard said.
"It was a big investment and farmers are coming from quite a distance to access the service."
Vanessa Binks
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
