Think thoroughbred studs think multi-million dollar horses but these properties are also home to significant beef cattle enterprises.
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The Hunter’s leading thoroughbred studs Coolmore and Darley run between them more than 2000 head of cattle.
Cattle play a vital role on the region’s studs as they are used to clean up pasture paddocks once the horses are moved to fresher fields.
Coolmore has over 700 head of cattle on its 8,500 acre property and the stud was ranked number one, by meat processor JSB Scone, out of over 450 beef cattle producers supplying a “clean and green” total grass fed, chemical free, program for the life cycle of the cattle.
The JSB Farm Assurance program values, promotes and recognises “clean and green” product and delivers a whole farm management system that encourages long term management practices to producers.
Coolmore’s ranking is a reflection of its a clean and green product; the high value, high quality and highly productive Coolmore land upon which the best cattle and the best thoroughbred horses are raised.
JSB held a Farm Assurance Beef producers forum in Scone this month for 100 producers to enhance partnerships with industry and promote supply chain alignment and opportunities - from paddock to plate.
JSB also hosted a producer dinner and visited Coolmore Stud as part of their on-going commitment to promoting and engendering a whole value chain relationship and understanding between the buyers, agents, producers and consumers of their product.
Whilst at Coolmore they also attended their Stallion parade - the Parade weekend attracts over 5,000 people to the Hunter Valley.
The Hunter’s thoroughbred industry (value added) is worth $564.4 million/year. In the Department of Planning and Environment’s Hunter Regional Plan 2036 it described the region as one of three of the best thoroughbred centres in the world. The plan states there is a need to protect the Equine Critical Industry Cluster and allow for expansion of the industry. It also talks about the need to conduct an assessment of landuse compatibility.
Some statistics on the two leading studs: Coolmore: 1,000 horses and 780 head of cattle; 11 stallions standing in 2016; 1,600 broodmares serviced in 2015; 150 employees.
Godolphin/Darley: 400 employees; 22 stallions in Australia; owns over 250 broodmares; stallions serve over 2,000 mares per season; 450 horses in training; Woodlands (6,500 acres, Denman); Kelvinside (1,700 acres, Aberdeen);1,250 head of cattle at both Woodlands and Kelvinside properties; 4,000 clients and visitors annually.