Meet the man behind the success of the big sheep studs

You might not know him but this man is the silent secret behind the success of many of Queensland and Australia’s top sheep studs.

Mr Harvey, who is the managing director of Southern Stock Services in Trangie, NSW is a nutritionist who provides nutrition programs for studs including Wilgunya, Mount Ascot, Towalba and Coban.

With clients in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria, Mr Harvey personally drives to properties to ensure the very best service.

At 76 years of age it was only 18 months ago that he handed in his pilot’s license and stuck to travelling by road.

He said after 50 years he should stop and retire but it would kill him if he did.

“You’ve got to have a challenge,” he said.

“I used to work overseas in the Middle East.

“As long as they (my clients) are happy than I’m happy.”

Mr Harvey visited the State Sheep Show in Charleville on the weekend and even with a wheelie walker he made sure he was one of the first ones to inspect each class of sheep after judging.

He said he still didn’t consider himself an expert and was learning new things every day.

“It’s about understanding livestock and you have to have a strong industry involvement and listen to people,” he said.

Mr Harvey’s business looks at increasing productivity and profitability of livestock enterprises and has increased some businesses’ profitability by up to 70 per cent.

Southern Stock Services analyses the feed that is available for animals to then works out a suitable feed ration.