While cattle prices in recent weeks have been nothing short of miraculous the familiar knife edge feeling of anticipation for price drops has some graziers thankful for their off-farm income.
Dan and Lisa Coggan run a 900 head Santa breeding operation at Sherwood, Injune, however Mr Coggan’s skills in bovine husbandry extend far beyond his front gate.
On average, Mr Coggan spends 200 days each year working away from home, undertaking contract mustering, pregnancy testing and spaying duties for a growing clientele.
Mr Coggan said the downside of being away from his young family was softened in that he, wife Lisa and four children Damien, Haylee, Matthew and Brooke could live off his external income.
“Every dollar the property makes goes straight back in due to having separate incomes,” he said.
“The operation is set up for ease of management- we have a lot of smaller paddocks that can be mustered quickly when I get home.
“There’s at least one dam in every paddock so the waters can go a fortnight if they have to, and my father is close by if anything goes wrong.”
Mr Coggan’s parents live nearby on the 3000ha Norwood. Sherwood’s 2500ha and another 1200ha of agistment all within 10km of each other made careful planning of management strategies imperative.
Nonetheless, Mr Coggan said his time working off-property had been beneficial financially while also building his skill set and increasing his awareness of diverse management practices.
“We’ve used Compudose on our weaner steers for five years now. It wasn’t until I saw the immense benefits of HGPs while working away that I convinced Dad to try it and we’ve never looked back,” he said.
“We give an initial 100 day shot when they’re let out after weaning and a second injection at the first break in the season.
“We’ve found the initial Compudose shot puts an extra 20kg on. For a cost of $2.20 per beast it’s not even a question for us now.”
The Coggan family aim to service the heavy feeder market with their steers while heifers primarily slot into the Brindley Park feedlot at Roma.
Mr Coggan said 20 day stints was the norm at the start of his contract mustering career and while he had cut back to five day blocks he was thankful for the skill set he developed early on.
“In the last four years we’ve started spaying the cull heifers to guarantee entry to the Brindley Park market,” he said.
“I learnt to pregnancy test through work and picked up some tricks of the trade in spaying before doing a course and now I offer those services to clients.
“It can be very profitable and the benefits flow back on-farm in many ways.”
Mr Coggan said management strategies learnt off property complemented his father’s 45 years experience in the Santa field.
“Santas suit every market and they always weigh well. You can sell them as weaners, feeders or a finished item and trust they’ll perform,” Dan Coggan said.
“We supplement feed with cotton seed from weaning onwards and we get huge returns especially with the combined effect of the HGP.
“Dad traditionally only fed cotton seed during dry times but more recently we’ve fed it to our dry cattle and their response is outstanding.”
Mr Coggan said he kept more weaner heifers for replacement breeders this year to increase his home bred numbers.
“You enjoy the product you see more when they’re your own and the one you breed will always be better than the one you buy,” he said.
Mr Coggan said two thirds of his herd were now home bred.
“We buy about 200 cows and calves a year and trade them in and out,” he said.
“Actually having that bought cow and calf unit to trade is attractive rather than having a heifer cost you money for two years before she puts a calf on the ground.
“If you get two calves out of a bought cow you’ve paid for that one unit but we’re leaning towards looking at more of our own product in the paddock.”
The Santa breed were obviously there to stay at Sherwood and Mr Coggan said the cattle handled his mixed box sandlewood and brigalow belah scrub country with ease.
“Santas are a good all round breed but like any breed, they can get away from you if you don’t manage fertility well and be selective on type and temperament,” he said.
“With the right management, Santa breeders can confidently ring a feedlot buyer and know their product will suit- that’s where the Santa breed really shines.”
