2010 Team Te Mania Field Days - Tonga Station and Habbies Howe

9th & 10th June, 2010  - Tonga Station & Habbies Howe

Team Te Mania members, Mark and Louise Calvert-Jones from Tonga Station at Mansfield, began using Sapien Technologies koolcollect software in 2006.

Tonga Station runs a commercial Angus herd and a trading enterprise. 

The use of koolcollect has allowed Tonga to more efficiently capture and better utilise their data.

"Previously we worked in old wooden yards using an Elders book and copying to Excel. This was not good for preg testing, especially when you find duplicate cows coming through the yards - and it was all hopeless when it rained," Mark says.

As the numbers increased from 150 original breeders to 700 females and up to 800 trade cattle, they decided to build new yards. 

In the planning they looked at a number of technologies to make things easier and quicker.  "Three things stood out," Mark says. "We needed a roof, power, and a better way to record animal movements and treatments."  After talking to a number of people, Mark settled on the koolcollect system coupled to Ruddweigh scales and an Allflex panel reader. The advantages were evident from the outset.

"We are able to calculate turnoff dates for trade cattle more accurately, plus calculate average daily gain (ADG) of trade cattle to compare vendors, which helps in buying decisions for the future," he says.  "We are able to keep tabs on mating groups and their bulls, plus mob up all breeders after joining and split out again for calving.  "This allows us to better utilise our available feed, gather bull mating assessment, and when it comes time to split the mobs back into calving groups, it is a very easy drafting job."

koolcollect has quickly become an integral part of all cattle handling. This is largely due to its ease of use in the field. As the animals walk into the crush, their NLIS tag is scanned and weight is recorded by koolcollect software beside the crush. 

koolcollect is used to record all weights and treatments for the trade steers, which are backgrounded for the feedlot market. Both Mark and head stockman Tony have no problems using the software. "We regularly weigh all animals so we can accurately project which animals will be sent to the feedlot for optimum price," Mark says.  "koolcollect makes our life so much easier."  koolcollect also saves Tonga Station valuable time and effort in other ways, especially when combined with an Allflex stick reader.

During preg testing, as the vet pronounces an animal "empty" Mark can simply scan a tag pinned to the wall to record this status in koolcollect. No manual computer entry is required. This labour-saving system also allows the empties to be drafted off at some later stage if required.  Sapien's technology also allows Tonga to easily analyse data and make informed choices.

The systems in place provide for carefully-considered decisions and marketing strategies to be made in the most appropriate environment of choice - either the yards or the office. And koolcollect offers a comprehensive solution to data collection challenges, not only saving time and effort (and money) but creating value within the enterprise.  Tonga Station also utilises superkool, another Sapien software system, as a central online database that stores and backs up all the information collected.

Other guest speakers included -   Richard Eldershaw, Rangers Valley Feedlot gave an update on the export market.  Professor Mike Goddard -  discussed line breeding / inbreeding, and its pros and cons; and DNA Testing.    The Hon Greg Hunt, MP - click here for notes on opportunities for regional Australia under the Coalition's Environment Program.    Helen Waterworth - Value-adding to meat strips and a tasting of Aria Farm beef strips.    Four'n Twenty Legendry Angus Pies were served for lunch.
 

Workshop in the woolshed at Habbies Howe, Seymour; Mark Calvert-Jones, Susie Sleigh, Julia McKay, Louise Calvert-Jones; Nancy and Graeme Sheldon, Longwarry 

Colin Henke with Andrew Gubbins and Team Te Mania member, Stephen Brain, Mumbannar; Tom Gubbins with Knox Paton and James McCormack; Mary and Andrew Gubbins with Susie and Dennis Stewart, Team Te Mania members, Condobolin, NSW

Aerial and Peter Piccles, Team Te Mania members from Cowra, NSW; Scott McKay displays pasture improvements at Habbies Howe

2009 Team Te Mania Workshop  

The Elders Face of Future Farming Workshop at Deakin Management Centre on July 30-31, 2009.  DNA gene markers are cutting-edge technology and while the potential in the future for genetic improvement using this technology is enormous, where are we at now and what are the issues?   Dr Hans Graser, AGBU.  Dr Christine Jones -  the net effect of beef cattle and soil on global warming.  Angus Australia CEO Dr Peter Parnell - Manage recessive genes in your herd.   Elders Rural Services managing director, Mike Guerin - Elders perspective of rural issues into the future.  ABN Amro Morgans chief economist and director of strategy Michael Knox - how agriculture is bucking global financial trends with better returns on capital.

2008 Team Te Mania Workshop

Steers bred using Te Mania genetics are at the top end of the performance table when it comes to carcass compliance, marbling, product quality and feedlot profitability at the Rangers Valley feedlot. That was one of the key messages given to 26 Team Te Mania members and Te Mania clients who visited NSW and Queensland during a two-day field trip in April. Full report