Feeding cattle kale a viable alternative for Youngs

BEEF FINALIST 2018: SUPERFOOD kale is not just a winner for health-obsessed hipsters – it’s also the cattle feed of choice for leading beef producers Ben and Jane Young.

Green dream: Ben Young sees the superfood kale as the future for his beef herd.

SUPERFOOD kale is not just a winner for health-obsessed hipsters – it’s also the cattle feed of choice for leading beef producers Ben and Jane Young.

The Youngs, from Macarthur in Victoria’s Western District, are using the novel crop to grow feed for their cattle during the cold winter months, when harsh conditions drastically slow the growth of many traditional grasses.

The Youngs run about 1100 Angus breeding cows and 1040 weaner cattle, alongside 9500 Coopworth composite ewes, on the family’s 1160-hectare home farm and 1050 hectares of leased country.

This represents significant growth in both land and stocking numbers since 2004 when Ben returned to the farm. Then, the Youngs were running 4500 Merino ewes and 300 cows on 900 hectares.

The family’s switch to kale is the result of Ben’s hard work in recent years to identify key areas to improve the productivity of the farm.

He found a lull in winter feed production a burning problem, with growth rates of weaner cattle from July to early September varying between zero and 0.9kg/day – representing poor productivity.

The Youngs conducted experiments on farm to identify the cheapest, most viable feed option and found kale a good feed alternative for mature cows, allowing them to save other pastures for younger stock, which in turn has boosted the cattle’s health and growth rates – but most importantly their bottom line.

“I think it is better cow tucker than human tucker,” says Ben, 39.

Providing the Youngs, and the broader beef industry, with plenty of food for thought.

FINALIST Beef Farmer of the Year 2018

BEN AND JANE YOUNG, Macarthur, VIC

ON FARM: BEN AND JANE YOUNG