Developments In On Farm Technology At River Lea

December 1, 2022

In the Bar H Grazing Autumn Newsletter, we wrote about the process of making the staff at River Lea replaceable, and the value we have found it to have in our business. The different technological tools we use on-farm have assisted us in doing so.

We have employed the principles of data collection at River Lea, only capturing data we can utilise and act on. Technology for us is only a tool not something we rely on. Labour has been a major beneficiary in having access to technology all over the property. Not only monitoring water supply, but also pinpointing the location of an issue - we can be notified instantly.

For example, there are several benefits to understanding what water supply does hourly. It can monitor more than what’s in the tank, such as intake vs. stocking rates, or grazing patterns. It’s not about what data you’re capturing, it’s why? Once information is captured, even if it’s not being analysed, there is still the option to do so much more. Once you’ve got power to the paddock the options for different varieties of technology and innovation are extensive. It’s important to understand it does not have to be only via internet, but also radio frequencies and other kinds of transmission.

The different sorts of technology and water monitoring tools on farm, are not at every water point, they’re distributed at the most critical places, giving us a much broader idea of what’s happening out in the paddock.

Instant access means instant control, and with pumps on a start-stop system, you can have immediate impact. Understanding what a problem is means you can understand what tools you need, and accurately find the source of the problem in the minimalist of time partnered by minimal labour. All the technology we use on farm is utilised with the same kinds of principles – another tool in the toolbox.

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FAREWELL PAPFH1144 – TRELINGA H212 (AI)

May 31, 2023

PAPFH1144 was purchased by Bar H Grazing from Trelinga’s David Peak as a twelve-month-old weaner bull at the end of 2013. He was purchased for his genetic makeup – a heavy maternal cow base being 40/1, over Haruki 2, over Kikuhana – all of that complemented by TF148 who consistently allows his females foundations to perform, the way they’re meant to.

The difference between Value & Progress – A marathon runner V.S. The businessman

May 31, 2023

In a world where monetary value is significantly weighted as the key indicator of success, it can sometimes become difficult to remind ourselves that progress comes before value. It is important for us as cattle producers, businesspeople, as well as parents and friends to learn how to measure key indicators of progress.

A herd of cattle are grazing in a grassy field.

DNA & REGISTRATIONS – Where to start.

May 31, 2023

As a business we receive a lot of questions from other Wagyu producers about how they go about taking the next step to submitting DNA and registering cattle. The first thing that we tell them is;

2022 Year In Review

February 15, 2023

2022 at Bar H Grazing was a significant year for the team and business. It saw the crew move from strength to strength and focus on establishing a strong foundation for years to follow. It was a year dedicated to the future of the business – seeing multiple projects that have been in the pipeline come to fruition and pave the way forward for years to follow.

Dedicated Workers: The Role of Dogs and Horses at Bar H

February 15, 2023

If you take a drive through River Lea during a muster, odds are you will see dogs working with our operations team on horseback, getting the job done. I sat down with our Operations Supervisor Andrew Jansen to talk about why we use this tried and true method of working dogs and horses and the benefits that we reap from this combination.

Morphology – We Think it Matters

February 15, 2023

Morphology is a multipurpose tool that provides a variety of benefits to suit the individual needs of your enterprise. A motility score is a familiar semen test and provides some related information however morphology represents a very important part of a bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE) (Australian Cattle Vets Association, 2013).

The method to choosing your recipient cattle…

December 1, 2022

Recipient cattle used in embryo transfer programs, vary from herd to herd and can be difficult to calculate. The appropriate sorts of recipient cattle in our herd differ, and their importance is significant, in some opinions more than donor cattle, since this is the animal that’s required to conceive the embryo, carry it to full term, and raise the calves (Lamb & Mercadante, 2017).

Proactive vs Reactive Planning

December 1, 2022

Prepare, perform, and persevere. These 3 P’s were the running theme of the Young Beef Producers Forum held at Roma in mid-November, attended by three members of our team. Amongst all the informative speakers, a key takeout was the necessity of preparation. Whilst this is far from being a foreign concept, it is a tool that can be continually implemented and improved on.

A herd of cows standing in a dirt field with trees in the background

ANIMAL PROFILE: L3272

September 28, 2022

I was playing the long game when I decided to purchase some F1 Angus from New South Wales, with the intention to create Bar H Poll foundations. These Wattle Top Angus Wagyu heifers mixed with the natural Polled Bos Indicus females already in our herd would set the basis for us. Using known genetics over these females gives me confidence in producing Bar H Purebred Poll Wagyu with data I can touch. It has been proven to me that Wagyu has the ability to have the full package - in production and carcase with welfare.

A woman in a white shirt is standing in a field of tall grass.

Brand Marketing and its place in Agriculture – with Alissa Herman from Golden Triangle Agribusiness

September 28, 2022

Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable shift toward the beef industries understanding and investing in ‘Brand Marketing’, and in turn, seen the positive impact in consumer/supply chain relationships. The brand on the hip of an animal has always been identified as the trademark of many beef producing businesses and worn with a sense of pride, as to us, the producer, this brand indicates the generations hard work and commitment to the animals it represents. However, the marketing of this brand to the consumer in the past has been somewhat lacking.