From working in an abattoir to managing five beef cattle properties in the upper Goulburn River region, Andrew Baynes says he’s learned a great deal on the job.
Currently, he manages the five Whanregarwen Pastoral Company properties, at Yea, Killingworth, Limestone, Molesworth and Nagambie, which run breeding females, calving in spring and autumn.
“I worked eight years in an abattoir, as a slaughterman and boner, before going to a farm in Highlands, as a laborer,” Mr Baynes said.
“I came here and worked under another manager, and when he left, they gave me the opportunity to have a go as manager – I grabbed the bull by the horns.”
A Yea local, he said he had recently bought a small block of land at Highlands.
“I know it’s only small but it gives me somewhere to go home and practice what I learn at work,” he said.
He, partner Brigitte and son Cooper, six, currently run a small herd of Angus cows, alongside Dorper sheep, “as a hobby.”
I know it’s only small but it gives me somewhere to go home and practice what I learn at work.
- Andrew Baynes, Highlands
Most of what he had learned was from trial and error and taking the odd gamble.
Stock and station agents had advised about such things as calf weights, while agronomists were helpful in soil preparation and seed selection.
“I made the common mistakes everyone has made – trying to feed calves on pellets, feeding out rotten silage, even learning about grass tetany,” Mr Baynes said.
“You learn as you do it, you are going to lose some stock. You can’t go hard at everything, it never works out, but have a go. It’s a bit of a gamble, at times – so far, mostly it’s paid off.
“This year we sowed a whole heap of oats on the Yea River flats for the first time.
“We weren’t too sure but that paid off and we cut 12 bales to the acre, which is pretty good for the season.”
It was turned into silage, which would be fed out when calves were weaned, for the Yea Blue Ribbon weaner sales.
“The goal, over the next few years, is to try and get some more weight into them and sell them direct to the abattoirs or to feedlot buyers,” he said.
The property uses Kelly Angus, Welcome Swallow, Paringa and Rosedale Charolais bloodlines.
The herd was broken down into 150 autumn calving cows, and 200 autumn and spring calving heifers.
“The country will handle the autumn calvers better than the spring calvers,” he said.
“It was a slow start, and early finish, to the season. We didn’t get any rain until the end of April, which make it a hard start for everyone, especially the autumn calvers.
“Most of the dams have plenty of water in them, but we didn’t get the initial rain to make the grass grow.”
His role as manager involved everything from sowing paddocks to cutting and baling hay, feeding stock and ensuring fences were in good order.
“I love the challenge of it, turning run down paddocks into pasture, then into rolls of silage or trying to get some weight on cows, especially in this season,” he said.
For those thinking of a career in agriculture, he has some simple advice.
‘Enjoy it, get outside and have a go,” Mr Baynes said.
“Be prepared to get hands on, get dirty. Make the most of what you’re given.”
And what’s the most valuable lesson he has learned?
“Patience,” he said.
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
