THEY come as weaners and go, just on 12 months later, carrying an extra 300kg and ready for processing.
For Greg Upton it's all about how much beef can be produced from each and every hectare of country.
Recognised as having some of the best performing improved pasture country in the New England, Upton Pastoral Company turns off some 6000 slaughter weight EU, grassfed cattle each year from 2670 hectares.
The country located about 40km south of Walcha has been sown to a highly productive and resilient designer mix of fescues, cocksfoot, ryegrasses and clover.
"It's just terrific country that benefits from a favourable climate and high rainfall," Mr Upton said.
"It's not quite a beast to an acre country, but it comes close."
What is particularly impressive is the 1150-1270mm average annual rainfall recorded atop the 1350m altitude Great Dividing Range, which is delivered from both westerly and coastal influences.
Mr Upton said the productivity of the country was enhanced by the extended growing season.
"That's the advantage of having two distinct rainfall influences," he said.
"We effectively have two growing seasons and only a relatively short winter domancy.
"Pasture pasture growth generally continues through to mid-June and restarts in late August/early September."
Upton Pastoral Company operates five properties: Pindari Tops, Alpha, Brislington, Foxdale and Billys Creek, which are under the day-to-day management of Scott Withers and his team of four.
The properties are all divided into about 30ha paddocks, and are managed on a rotational basis. Water is also plentiful across the operation. In addition to the spring-fed creeks there are 180 strategically placed dams.
The properties are highly developed. Each is equipped with Proway cattle yards with all weather B-double access.
Electric fencing is widely used including as a means of improving the effectiveness of the boundary, predator fences against kangaroos and pigs.
Mr Upton said he strongly favoured Euro-infused cattle because of their impressive growth rates and processing performance.
"Euro-cross, and some of the top performing Angus cattle, are the high achievers when it comes to weight gain and carcase yield," he said.
"They're cattle that work very well in this country.
"We're transitioned away from cows and focus on weight gains."
Mr Upton said the aim was to at least double the liveweight of 300kg mostly Euro-cross animals over a 12-month period.
A quick calculation reveals that on 6000 cattle, that's an remarkable 1.8 million kilograms of gain each year.
Cattle weighing about 300kg are bought out of the paddock and from saleyards all year round.
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The elevated country is fertilised with lime and single super phosphate. Based on soil tests, 200-220kg of super is applied on a annual basis to maximise the productivity of the improved pastures on an ongoing basis.
Surface stone can be an issue in the basalt country. However, rather than attempt to remove the material, the stone is pressed into the ground using a heavy 5m wide roller behind a D7 crawler.