But when it rains this is good country and we love living here

But describing themselves as ‘positive’ the couple were very accepting of the challenges that laid ahead. 

Tarcombe consists of 15,384 hectares of a combination of Thomson River country, open downs country grassed with Mitchell, while Buffel grows on the ridges and creek banks. 

The country is home to 400 registered Droughtmaster cows registered under the Western Red stud prefix.

Western Reds incorporates 300 Fairhaven cows bought from Colin and Linda Hewitt in 2013. 

And as the drought worsened in 2014, the couple started seeking agistment to keep their breeding herd in tact.

“We really tried everything, and had cattle on agistment only many different places,” Dean said.

“And we were very lucky our cattle were spread on properties where the owners were really helpful.

“It was a tricky to manage and maintain our stud records.

“We joined three percent as we didn’t have the luxury to control mate, and then we DNA tested all progeny to keep our stud records.  

On reflection of those tough years they both agreed that  “there really is no right or wrong decisions you can make in a drought as everything is a gamble and we didn’t know what the weather would do.”

“From 2014 to 2016 was it really horrible, and we tried it all,” they agreed. 

“We agisted, feed, and off loaded young heifers that we would have normally keep as future breeders, in order to save our core breeders.”

However Tarcoombe experienced some good winter rain in 2016, and the Allen’s could finally bring their cattle home.

Then, they were lucky to be under more storm rain in January 2017 and another 31mm just recently, in late October which left them smiling.

“This latest fall should germinate our Buffel and MItchell grass country and put some water in the dams,” Dean said. 

When the seasons finally return to Tarcombe, Dean and Julie will look to compact mating from the end of January to end of April. 

However during the dry times their calving ratio maintained a level of between 85 to 90 percent.  

Both Dean and Julie agreed they do get dry times.

“But it does rain eventually and this country is very good,” Julie said. 

“We want to live out here as we love it, and bring our children up in this environment. 

“The weights we achieve with our cattle is incredible from this country. and we certainly don’t need the rain that producers further to the east do in order to maintain their country – this country holds on – it is amazing.”

Both Dean and Julie cull heavily for temperament and type, and push for polled cattle.

They produce 100 Droughtmaster bulls annually and sell in the Outback Invitation sale at Longreach, the Artesian sale at Blackall, and the Droughtmaster National Sale in Rockhampton.

The balance is sold in the paddock into Western NSW, Alice Springs, Quilpie and Windorah districts, and locals.

All culled steers and heifers are sold at the Blackall Saleyards. 

“Occasionally, when we have a B-Double load we consign them through to Roma Saleyards,“ Dean said.

To the future the couple hope to sell 300 bulls annually, both at auction and in the paddock.