Nurrenyen Beltie Beef Dry Aging at Feather and Bone

Beef Breaking Demo Class at Feather and Bone

The Teaching Team in Action

Today I attended a beef-breaking demonstration class at Feather and Bone Butchery.  There were about 15 participants  and the class was team-taught by Feather and Bone joint proprietor Grant who did the talking, and the head butcher Din who did the breaking (see pic above)

It was fascinating to see the skill with which Din broke the carcass into its various cuts and hear Grant's explanation of the qualities and uses of the various cuts.  We also tasted some of the cuts barbequed on the spot - delicious.

I was excited and gratified to see our own Nurrenyen Beltie ribs being dry-aged in the coolroom (see pic above)

Two Steers sold to Feather and Bone

One of the steers in the week before sale.

Today, two three-year-old steers were sold over the hooks to Feather and Bone.  Their carcasses should arrive at the Marrickville shop on Wednesday 13th March.  The butcher will assess and break the carcasses and prepare the beef for sale.

If you are interested in trying our beef please give Feather and Bone a call to determine when your favourite cuts will be available.

Nutrisoil Application

Today my neighbour and fellow regenerative farmer Craig Hunt applied  the Nutrisoil (worm juice) and TM Agricultural to the last of our pastures.  This will be the only form of input to be applied to our pastures this year.  In February 2021 we conducted Haney Soil Tests on soil samples and these results are to be used as a base line to measure any improvement in the soil health as a result of our adopting regenerative farming techniques. We will be measuring the change in soil health by using the Haney Soil Tests over our regenerative journey.

Plantain in the pasture

Plantain in the Windbreak Paddock in Autumn

In Autumn last year we broadcast plantain into one paddock to try to increase the diversity of pasture plants and improve palatability and digestability of the pasture.  Above is a pic of the plantain which has germinated this autumn in the paddock.  Very pleased with this result.

Regeneration of Native Pasture

Two years ago we started to try to regenrate the sward of microlaena (weeping grass), a nutritious and palatable native grass, in one of our paddocks. 

In 2020 we rested the paddock for a good 6 months over the late winter, spring and summer.  In the late summer after the micralaena had gone to seed  and the seed fallen we grazing it.  The hope here was that the grass would be grazed back allowing the sun to penetrate and the fallen seed would be trampled into the soil.

We also broadcast clover (a mix of a number of varieties) in the autumn of 2021 after the micralaena had gone to seed again in the March.

The results were very pleasing as shown in the pictures of the herd grazing on the lime green pasture of microlaena and the dark green clover.

Cows and calves grazing the regenerated pasture

Here is a picture of the herd grazing the regenerated pasture.

Preg Testing reveals 100% hit rate.

Today Sam Croker came and preg tested the girls that were put to Newton or impregnated by AI in late Spring and early Summer.  It was great news -  all ten were PTIC  (Pregnancy Tested in Calf).  Now we nervously await the Spring and the calving to see what sort of job Newton has done as a sire.  The proof is in the progeny.

Newton joined to half the herd ; the other half artificially inseminated with Viper.

Today, for the first time, Nurrenyen Newton was introduced to the stud females at Nurrenyen. Because he is related to half the herd, those girls had to be impregnated by AI using semen from Longfield Viper.  Given the heifers we got this Spring from our AI programme we were happy to use the same semen for a second year.

Fingers crossed for a successful joining in 2019!

Calving Complete at Nurrenyen

We only had four pregnant cows to calve this year.  This is the result of us reducing the size of the herd becasue of the drought.

Three were impregnated by AI with semen from a previous Grand Champion Belted Galloway Bull at the Royal Canberra, Longfield Viper, and one by natural joining to Nurrenyen DAC.  We were thrilled to get three heifers and one bull calf.  The bull calf, by DAC, was out of Agricolae Dunns and like his mum he is dun in colour.  The others were all by Viper, were black and white and will be registered with Galloways Australia and eventually joined to Nurrenyen Newton.

Newton second to Droughtmaster Bull at Royal Easter Show

As the only Belted Galloway entered into the stud section of the Royal Sydney Cattle Show in 2019 after winning the blue ribbon in his class (14 - 20 months) Newton was put in the Other Recognised Breeds championship.  He was up against a Droughtmaster bull from Western Australia that was the blue ribbon winner in the Droughtmaster 20 -30 months class. Although he was favourably commented upon by the judge, Harris Thompson, this time Newton came in second as the Reserve Champion Bull, Other Recognised Breeds.

In an article in "The Land" published on the day of judging, Mr Thompson was quoted as making these comments about the two bulls vying for the Championship.

There were only two bulls, but two different types.

"The Belted Galloway has full length of body and plenty of length, while the Droughtmaster displays plenty of muscle and length in all places he needs it," he said.

However, while the Belted Galloway was a credit to his breed, Mr Thompson chose as his champion, the Droughtmaster.

"Between the bulls the Droughtmaster has a little more strength on top and a little more muscle down through the lower thigh.   A really impressive calf with plenty of muscle and meat where he needs it. Just his overall power and muscle that got him over the Belted Galloway."

Mr Thompson said it was a difficult decision as both were very good in their own right.

"Very different markets and two completely different breeds."

Jon, Sam and I were happy with those comments!!

Newton Adjudged Grand Champion Belted Galloway Bull at Royal Canberra

Newton's second outing and he wins again.  This time it was the Galloway family feature cattle show at the Royal Canberra Show where the judge, Peter Collins, adjudged Nurrenyen Newton the Champion Junior Belted Galloway Bull and then the Grand Champion Belted Galloway Bull. We got to bring home the perpetual trophy which will return to the next Galloway Family feature show.

This was particulalrly pleasing given the amount of competition present at a feature show.

Well Done Nurrenyen Newton!!

Nurrenyen Newton attends his first show

Today Nurrenyen Newton attended his first show and was adjudged the Champion Belted galloway Junior Bull and Grand Champion Bull Other Recognised Breeds - a great first outing for the boy.  You can hear the judges comments in the video under Standing Sires.  Thanks to Sam Croker for preparing him so well.