It’s been 12 months since the Winks family saw an opportunity to value-add in their cattle breeding operation by buying Nooroomba Feedlot at Maidenwell.
The family partnership consists of parents Ian and Wendy, son Andrew and his wife Lauren, who all help run Hereford/Santa Gertrudis breeders over 40,485 hectares at Woolerina and Yendon, west of Bollon, in south-west Queensland.
All breeders are joined back to Hereford and more recently Santa Gertrudis bulls, for four months from October to January.
"We introduced Santa Gertrudis cattle after trialing a number of breeds,” Andrew said
“We find they have a better tolerance for the dry climate and yet are still soft cattle that suit many cattle markets."
The family's Bollon country ranges from Grey Gidgee, Brigalow, Belah to Red Box and Wilga, with predominately Buffel grass, which was introduced on Woolerina in 1960 and on Yendon in 2004.
Once joined, all breeders are pregnancy tested and those not in calf are culled and finished through their Nooroomba Feedlot.
When the season is in their favour, the family also buys in additional store cattle to grow out and background on their Bollon country for six to eight months.
Andrew said they buy both private paddock cattle and through the saleyards.
More recently the family has been sourcing weaners, weighing 280kg and upwards, through the Victorian weaner sales.
"It depends on the season, but we look to have them gain about 100 to 200kg in weight while growing out and backgrounding," Andrew said.
“Currently the season at Bollon is good, but it has been patchy.
"However, by adding Nooroomba Feedlot it has given us more marketing options.
"Firstly, it drought proofs our south-western country during dry times and it has allowed us to change our marketing direction.
"We have moved from selling feeder cattle to now taking our cattle through the supply chain.
“This move will also help us improve our breeding business by targeting specific markets.”
Since moving to Nooroomba Feedlot, Andrew and Lauren regularly return back the family’s Bollon country to assist Andrew’s parents, Ian and Wendy, with mustering, branding and shearing.
Tackling the feedlot challenge
Andrew and Lauren Winks already knew their cattle fed well in a feedlot environment, but the energetic young couple also wanted the challenge of hands-on experience in running a feedlot when the opportunity arose.
Together with their three young daughters Charlotte, Addison and Isabelle, they moved from Yendon to take over the management of Nooroomba Feedlot last year.
This opportunity has allowed them to target specific markets in the supply chain and tap into their tertiary qualifications.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Agri-Business, while Lauren has a Bachelor of Applied Science.
The couple target the Coles MSA 70-day supermarket trade with their home-bred cattle, while their bought in cattle target the 100-day market and are sold to Kilcoy Pastoral Co at Kilcoy.
The Nooroomba Feedlot is registered at 5250 Standard Cattle Units and is currently carrying between 2800 to 3000 head.
"We also offer custom feeding services to outside clients and will feed for any market specification," Mr Winks said.
Both Andrew and Lauren work closely with their nutritionist Rob Lawrence.
"He is always available and helps with our rations and our overall cost efficiency and profit, and his advice is our bible" Mr Winks said.
"One of the biggest challenges for us was to find the best market options to fit our breeding operation and maximise our return. We are also able to tailor our breeding operation to meet our market specifications more closely."
The couple operate the feedlot with two full time employees Jason Finney and Bruce Atkinson and a casual Brent Weeks.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
