Central Queensland cattle producers Paul and Clare Harris have built their Sunland Cattle Co into a world-class Wagyu operation over the past 13 years.
The couple now run 11,000 fullblood and purebred Wagyus over two properties, totalling more than 18,000 hectares of highly-fertile country in central Queensland.
To kickstart their Wagyu breeding program, the Harrises initially bought 1100 head of second, third, and fourth-cross females, plus a number of fullblood bulls.
They continued to increase their Wagyu numbers further by buying a complete fullblood Wagyu herd of more than 500 head plus embryos and semen in 2010.
The family has a well-established breeding program using the best genetics in large artificial insemination and embryo programs.
Their properties, Old Bombandy Station and Ten Mile Station, have been showcased to delegates from around the world in property tours.
A tour of Ten Mile Station was on the program at Beef 2003 and Old Bombandy was showcased for the World Wagyu Conference in 2015 and Beef Australia 2015.
In 2018, Wagyu Conference delegates again visited Ten Mile Station to inspect Sunland Cattle Co's Wagyu operations.
Old Bombandy consists of 11,072 hectares of freehold land and 236ha leasehold on the Fitzroy Development Road, near Valkyrie. This property has approximately 23 kilometre frontage to the Isaac River.
"We bought Old Bombandy in 1991 and since then we have done significant improvements in its infrastructure," Mr Harris said.
He said Old Bombandy is stocked with fullblood and purebred Wagyu females and fullblood Wagyu bulls.
Mr Harris expects to have a fullblood-only herd on both properties within two years, with embryo transfer work carried out at Old Bombandy Station.
The Ten Mile Station, which was bought in 1994, consists of 6868ha near Balcomba, and has approximately 8km of river frontage to the Mackenzie River and about 15km frontage to deep water on two anabranches.
Between Old Bombandy and the Ten Mile Station, there is an impressive 6000ha of leucena complementing the buffel, green panic and other pastures.
The Ten Mile is only stocked with fullblood Wagyu females and fullblood Wagyu bulls, and paddock bulls are sold to most states of Australia.
The Harrises sell all steers and some heifers to the feedlot at 20 months of age for the 400-day feeding regime.
Sunland's fullblood carcases have a very high marbling score with many carcases achieving the optimum nine score under the Australian grading system.
Paddock to Palate success
Paul and Clare Harris are first generation primary producers, have been in the beef industry for more than 55 years and continue to innovate and improve their Wagyu herds and value their staff.
Mr Harris said that Jason Kelly is the manager of Old Bombandy Station and along with his wife Tina he has worked for Sunland Cattle Company since 1998.
"Mark York is the manager of Ten Mile Station and along with his wife Lyn, they have held this position since 2001."
Last year the Sunland Cattle Co entered the RNA Wagyu Paddock to Palate Competition for the first time and they received one prize. They returned this year and were successful in winning the highest individual index score for their Wagyu carcase, plus the best taste in the competition.
"From a commercial perspective, this is the ultimate result we could wish for," Mr Harris said.
Their winning carcase has the highest individual index score of $6660.
"This is all the result very capable staff, plus associated experts," he said.
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.
