BALQUHIDDER station, at Parawa on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is perhaps best known for its 2007 sale to media magnate Kerry Stokes in a $20 million walk in-walk out deal, but it is fast gaining a reputation for quality prime lamb and cattle production.
The 3064-hectare property is run by Mr Stokes' long-time business partner Peter Murray. The two jointly own a number of other properties including 4050ha on Kangaroo Island stocked with 2500 Riverleas-blood Angus cattle.
Balquhidder Station manager Wayne Biddle said brand recognition would be their focus area in the next twelve months.
"In terms of our beef operation, we are starting to gain a reputation for producing cattle that are good doers, easy care and that start gaining weight immediately after weaning."
Mr Biddle attributes the quality of the Shorthorn and Angus genetics they have sourced for many years as a major component of their commercial success.
Balquhidder sources bulls from renowned Shorthorn Stud Weebollabolla, near Moree in New South Wales, where the Munro family has been breeding Shorthorns since the 1850s. Mr Murray has been a client for more than 50 years.
In 2008, 45 Angus bulls from Willalooka Basin were bought for between $3500 and $4000 and 400 Riverleas Angus cows were bought from The Basin's Kangaroo Island dispersal along with two of The Basin's KI farms.
"Shorthorn cattle have done well on the Fleurieu for a long time. We find that they suit our operation in terms of fertility, doability off grass, structural soundness, temperament and caracase traits," Mr Biddle said.
"There is also a large market demand for Angus cattle which do well in the Fleurieu's Mediterranean climate. We are able to turn off animals with muscle, fleshing and high-quality carcass traits."
Highlighting their long run of successful beef production were the prices they received for 10 to 12 month-old, spring-drop weaner steers they sold at the Mount Gambier monthly store sale this month.
Their run of 70 steers sold to $755 a head, with the weaner heifers making $540.
The store sale was a new push aimed at maximising marketing and brand recognition for Balquhidder in South Australia and Victoria.
"We will continue to sell cattle through the monthly store sales and the Strathalbyn markets.
"We have been able to attract regular volume buyers, including contract cattle buyer Chris Hocking from Strathalbyn who buys for various feedlots."
Buyers for Balquhidder cattle come from SA, Vic and as far away as Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands.
The operation runs 1500 Shorthorn and Angus breeding cows and turns-off around 1000 weaners a year aimed at feedlotters, with a target weight of 280 kilograms.
"The number turned-off is dependent on the season we've had but in the last year, we have had plenty of feed so we can stock a higher rate and turn-off a larger number," Mr Biddle said.
Cattle are yard-weaned for five to seven nights on supplementary feed and handled during that time.
The operation also cuts about 1400 to 1800 round bales of oaten hay a year to supplementary feed during colder months.
"We are looking to sow permanent clover in the future but at present, we have 380 hectares under oats and annual ryegrass," Mr Biddle said.
In addition to the commercial beef operation, Balquhidder runs 6000 cross-bred and Merino ewes for prime lamb production and ewe replacement.
Each year, 2500 to 3000 lambs are turned-off at 20kg dress weight and sold mainly to T&R Pastoral and Woolworths.
"We have regular buyers but also sell some lambs through Auctions Plus. Last year, we offered 700 through the site and achieved a good inquiry," Mr Biddle said.
Genetics used for prime lamb production include Pine Ridge Suffolks, Milang, Leawarra White Suffolks, Willunga, and numerous South East Border Leicester stud rams.
*Full report in Stock Journal, September 15 issue, 2011.
