We are breeding our cattle purposefully from the outset. We want to breed animals that can do well (fatten well) on just grass the whole year around. This is less simple than it sounds, as many cattle have been bred for big frames that need supplementary feeding. For a comprehensive commentary on the problems with the mainstream breeding, see the Pharo Cattle Company Blog.

Our cattle will be grass fed all the way, and once we’re able to keep the wallabies out we’ll not be bringing in hay and silage.

So the cattle will need to cope well with the available forage on the ground in all seasons and they will be moved/fed daily. Temperament is of upmost importance because of this, and we are not spring chickens, are new to the gig, have a small child, and will be working daily with cattle in small pasture areas. For this reason we are going with Murray Grey or Murray Grey/Angus crosses. Murray Greys have excellent temperament, both breeds do well in our locality, and make for some excellent beef in the right conditions.

We’re extremely happy to have acquired a Square Meter last season (Murray Greys bred for meat qualities – they are short and stout. She has given us a bull calf this year and we will be retaining him as the farm bull.