Is it Australia? Or New Zealand?

This is the view west across paddock 44 at the end of an Australian summer.  We cut hay just on 2 months ago.  Then I spread perhaps 30 tonne of chook manure and compost.  

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[Double click for full screen view]

At this time of year we would usually be brown and dry, dry, dry.  This year we're green, green, green - and not that wet really.  I guess we've had 300 mm over the 3 months of summer - some of it was pretty heavy, but spread out like New Zealand - a week or 2 or 3 apart.

I'm thinking of mulch mowing at least one of the paddocks and leaving it on the paddock - just to see the effect of an on site composting.  I'm also doing this at a leased property where there is long rank grass over quite a large area that, 12 months ago, was bare to the point of quite serious erosion risk.  This happens when there are too many kangaroos coming out of the bush.

Sixteen cows and their calves have now had their time at Moora Farm with the bull and returned to their homes for most of the year - on other farms nearby.  As a result I have only 14 animals at Moora Farm - and there is no way they can keep up with growth.  I have the 2009 calves at another agistment property.  I'll get them home soon - and that will help.

Anyone reading this in the Gisborne area (Macedon Ranges really) who is interested in agisting cattle for us - please get in touch.  We have a variety of ways it can work.  The main thing is that you can get to look after some beautiful cattle - but with a good support structure if you're a beginner - or just not having to worry about things if you're more experienced.

The cattle are Belted Galloways and have what my dear wife calls 'high paddock appeal'.  Just this morning I picked up the start of a new agistment option - another animal with high paddock appeal as it turns out - see the next blog post.

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