Sidonia Beef: Kyneton’s Sam White on his regenerative process

Kyneton’s Sam White has turned to unusual practices for his beef operation, including a focus on regenerative farming and throwing all his gates open.

Drawing inspiration from the plains of Africa, beef producer Sam White of Sidonia Beef rears his Angus cattle in an unusual way, averting traditional agricultural practices.

And investing his time and energy in holistic, regenerative farming has paid dividends, in the increased health of his stock, lush grass, and healthy soils.

But perhaps the biggest boon has been the extra time he now has to dedicate to his young family.

Sam White of Sidonia Beef, with Angus cattle on his Kyneton farm, where he uses holistic grazing or mobbing of cattle to mimic the large grazing herds of the African plains. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“Regeneration turned my life around, and I haven’t looked back since,” Sam said.

The sixth-generation farmer runs 300 Angus cattle — including 150 breeders — across 809ha near Kyneton, where his family has raised prime beef since the early 1920s.

It was when Sam realised the scope of trying to tackle various health problems across 300-odd head of cattle “season after season” that he felt compelled to try another style of farming.

“We realised trying to give 300 cattle each what they needed … wasn’t possible,” Sam said.

“I looked at organic farming after that, and that was the answer, in the early 2000s. I did a diploma in organic agriculture, the course was a bit of a trailblazer at the time, and I had a great time doing it.

“But … actually we were put off the certification process once we learned a bit more.”

ORGANIC PITCH

Taking the principals of organic farming, Sam then turned his attention towards regenerative agriculture: a way of farming with a focus on rehabilitation of topsoil and increasing the biodiversity naturally available on property.

“I’d heard along the way that a lot of farms that are organic aren’t regenerating, they are degenerating. Even though they’re not using chemicals, there wasn’t that aspect of looking after the land,” Sam said.

Drone footage of Sam’s herd. Picture: Zoe Phillips

In 2014, Sam contacted Brian Wehlburg advertising regenerative agriculture courses. He ran an eight day course in Victoria.

“It turned my life around, and my view on everything upside down,” Sam said.

“I haven’t really looked back since. The main goal is to take your farm in the right direction to regenerate, where the biodiversity is increasing, the pastures are increasing, the soils are covered, and you have a profitable business.

“I have found that this is the case.”

When Sam moved the enterprise towards a regenerative operation in the mid 2010s, he instantly notice a dramatic improvement in the health of his cattle and his pastures.

GROUP MENTALITY

But perhaps the biggest change to his style of farming was to make the bold decision to run all his cattle in one mob, instead of 10-12 smaller groups.

The move, designed to mimic the large grazing herds of the African plains, was another practice to allow pastures to regenerate and recover from years of set stocking.

Sam remembered the day he made the decision and simply opened all the gates on the farm and letting his cattle move about the pastures of their own volition.

“I had about 10 or 12 mobs of cattle, about 35 in each mob, and I wanted them all in one mob. I couldn’t wait to do that,” Sam said.

“I bit the bullet, and opened all the gates to all the mobs. We had autumn drop calving then, some mixed aged calves, and 300 head came into one mob.”

Sam’s regeneration of his soil allows more growth and healthier pasture, which means healthier animals that don’t need supplements or extra feed as they are always moving to a fresh place. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Cattle now move organically throughout pastures, in an almost self-managed style of rotational grazing designed to mimic the patterns of the large grazing herds of the African plains, Sam said, “where huge mobs of ruminants are moved along the landscape”.

“They’re not returning to that point for many months later. The long recovery (to pastures and soil) can happen. And we realised we can do this on our farm,” Sam said.

“Probably the first few months, I saw (the difference) … in pasture health, and it was easier to farm.

“I didn’t want to have to worry about 12 mobs. I have one mob now, and I know exactly where they are. I have all these paddocks ahead of me for recovery. The pastures, rather than getting a two-week break, we’re getting four to eight weeks.”
The health of the cattle also improved, Sam said, along with increased biodiversity in perennial pasture species.

“We have fat cattle going into winter, holding their weight,” Sam said.

“We see ourselves as grass farmers, managing the land and the soil, rather than the animal,” Sam said.

ANGUS THE RIGHT FIT

The all-Angus Sidonia herd works well for Sam, and are a change from the original Charolais herd once managed on the farm.

“They are really well suited as a breed for this area, they do well in the summer and the winter,” Sam said.

“But the profits Angus commands in the saleyards just can’t be passed. And they’re a great animal to work with.”

Some destocking took place during 2019, with the rebuild of the herd still ongoing.

“We have 150 breeders and their calves. I think that could go to 200,” Sam said.

“Beyond that … it’s going to have to be adjusted, depending on the season.”

But Sam is using the rebuild as an opportunity to stock up on select Angus genetics which he feels will best improve the health and resilience of his herd.

Genetics are sourced from Te Mania and Absolute Angus.

“An agent pointed us in the direction of some good cattle and we haven’t looked back. We’ve had bigger yields than we’ve ever had, and the biggest growth in calves,” Sam said.

“In 2019 we bought two Te Mania bulls … and started to join from the 2019 bulls. Then we got a third bull … I did separate their daughters off for a joining period, and bought two new bulls from Absolute Angus.

“They joined for the first time to 2020 heifers. We joined 150, and had only three not in calf, it’s been that good. That’s another thing I find, with healthier animals on fresh pasture, we see an increase in the rates of pregnancy.”

After a few years of farming in this way, Sam said the farm now ticks over in a healthy, independent way, giving him more time to focus on what’s important to him: his two young children.

“I’m the Dad at school pick-up now. I don’t have to be a slave to the farm.

“It’s working for me.”