ON FARM SOUTHERN CATTLE Putting it into practice J oanne and Tracey “We covered a wall with “We’re also more confident SNAPSHOT: Gowen have grown sticky notes as to the topics in assessing pasture growth Joanne and Tracey in both skills and we wanted covered. It was and quality, and better at confidence as a basically everything to identifying grasses. Gowen, ‘Barrakee’, result of the Northern do with farming: technical, “Any session on soil, pasture, Uralla; ‘Argyll’, l Tablelands Local Land administrative, health and grasses and fodder crops has Walcha, NSW safety, marketing, the works. been really useful – it’s the Services ‘Ladies in Livestock’ program. “I keep going back because basis for our whole operation, the days are informative really – and we’ve gained The mother‑daughter duo and fun, there’s a group of more understanding of our run a self‑replacing Angus supportive women, and we soil types, how to read soil enterprise on two properties learn a lot. test results, how to manage at Uralla and Walcha in the andimprove the soil.” Northern Tablelands of NSW. “One thing I really like is that there’s a range of ages New friends Area: Joanne attended the among the women, but While Joanne emphasises 1,340ha first Ladies in Livestock particularly that there are a the gatherings are “not workshop at Guyra in 2016. number of younger women, a coffee and cake day”, Enterprise: At that time, Tracey was more Tracey’s age range, she says she and Tracey Cattle working as a vet in WA and who are coming along and have made new friends in returned home in 2017 to providing such support for the group. Livestock: help manage the properties. each other.” 600‑head Angus “The program is successful cow/calf operation “And I’ve only missed the odd New skills because it brings together one since,” Joanne said. As a result of participating like‑minded, supportive Pasture: “I’ve made the day a priority – in the program, Joanne women who are wanting Mix of supered native I enjoy it so much.” said she and Tracey have to learn and share their pastures and improved developed new skills. experiences and help others,” pastures with cocksfoot, Joanne said she didn’t know Joanne said. fescue and prairie grasses, what to expect from the “We’re more mindful of ryegrass, clovers and herbs group before she attended, assessing the condition score“What we’ve learnt has given but had been looking for of our cattle and, after a dayme confidence about what I Soil: field days or seminars that of hands‑on assessing and can do and what I know.” ■ Granite; traprock running would provide tools and another where the muscle and off to granite information to improve her fat score points were outlined with tail paint, we’re becoming Rainfall: farm management skills. 760mm (Uralla) and better at it,” she said. 920mm (Walcha) “I was gobsmacked and excited by the type of information that women Joanne and Tracey were looking for at that first Gowen workshop,” she said. E: gowenfamilyestates@ outlook.com.au Tracey and Joanne Gowen pictured with a mob of weaners. 3311