An Irish couple recently returned from Queensland, Australia, where they spent a season working on a 6,000 hectare cattle farm with JK Cattle Co.
Agriland I recently caught up with Cian Maguire from Co. Cavan and Emer Marsh from Co. Kildare to hear some of their experiences during their time working on the farm.
JK Cattle Co. is owned and operated by Justin and Kate Bushhamer. The farm is based in Condamine, Queensland, Australia.
The farm owners met through their shared interest in Angus cattle and have been developing their breeding herd for 20 years now.
Since 2012, they have been operating independently and their herd has grown to 780 breeding cows which are farmed on 6,000 hectares today.
Sian explained that this would be considered a very large-scale stocking rate from an Irish point of view, but he said that the capacity to grow grass there was much less than what is normal in most Irish lands.
The farm is spread across four properties in Queensland’s Western Downs region, about 350 kilometers west of Brisbane.
The area is a very productive agricultural area, suitable for grain growing and livestock grazing, which has resulted in a large concentration of livestock feedlots in the area.
The JK Cattle Co herd consists of approximately 400 Angus cows, 200 Brangus cows and 120 Wagyu cows.
What are Brangos?
Sian explained that Brangus cows are a cross between Angus and Brahman breeds, producing cows that possess the typical Angus traits along with the desirable resilience traits of the Brahman breed.
This makes them better suited to the often harsh Australian grazing conditions such as prolonged high temperatures, drought, presence of parasites, and long walking distances.
Justin, the farm owner, is currently President of the Australian Brangus Cattle Association.
In recent years, Justin and Kate have begun raising Wagyu cows.
The Wagyu breed has become widely known in Ireland as well, and is known for its marbling quality.
“Market and feedlot demand for Wagyu genetics is on the rise in Australia,” Sian said.
Weather conditions
“Cattle stay on pasture all year round in most parts of Australia,” he explained.
He said the availability of fodder depends largely on rainfall.
“Unlike Ireland where heavy rainfall is often a problem, several months without rainfall is not unusual in Queensland.”
“Despite this, the region has recently suffered terrible floods. When rain falls, it often arrives in floods and can cause serious damage and losses to livestock.
“2025 was a very favorable weather year for the region, with well-distributed rainfall over the summer and fall, and a very late onset of cool weather resulting in continued forage growth throughout the season.”
Grassland management
The Cavan man explained that the grass species on the farm are suitable for the tropical environment and have better drought resistance than Irish grass species.
However, this makes the grass very susceptible to cold weather, and since the first frost on the ground is generally in late May, grass growth slows down significantly.
Many fields are left fallow during the summer and are planted with a multi-species grazing mix in the summer and fall to provide high quality forage for growing livestock during the winter months.
Barbed wire fences are more prominent than in Ireland, and electric fences are usually powered by solar energy.
The water pumps are also primarily solar-powered and collect rainwater in natural and artificial lakes, where it is then pumped into tanks that supply the water basins.
Even in homes, all drinking, cleaning and cooking water is rainwater collected from rooftops and diverted into tanks.
Handling livestock
A high level of planning and investment is used in the design and construction of livestock handling facilities.
Because cattle are typically grouped into herds numbering around 250, but sometimes exceeding 500, proper handling facilities are essential to allow good cow flow, reduce stress and ensure worker safety.
“Two people can put hundreds of heads through crushing and put them back on the lawn in just two hours.”
The cattle are first transported to a large mustering yard or ‘cooler’.
Smaller groups of cattle are then taken from the main herd and progressed through a series of pens, each smaller than the last, towards the ‘pound’, a round sorting pen which is pulled into several pens, towards the loading ramp or up the race towards the crush.
All handling units feature an “immobilizer” crush that can be adjusted to accommodate livestock of any weight, allowing 360 degree safe access to the animal through a range of doors and windows.
JK Livestock Company
Partners Justin and Kate both work full time at JK Cattle Co.
Their employees, Bruce and Jess, primarily cared for one of the other properties of about 7,000 acres.
Lydia, who also works on the farm, relies on another property of about 3,500 acres.
“With a very broad skill set, employees can move as needed,” Cian said.
Sian explained that his business was mainly based on the two house properties (4000 and 1000ac), but he would move around other properties as required.
Commercially relevant genetics
One of JK’s core values is to provide commercially relevant genetics that can work in a commercial enterprise.
To achieve this, they manage the pedigree herd alongside the commercial suckler herd, so that all cattle are exposed to the same environment and management practices.
In recent years, the purebred herd has grown as they have invested more in genetics and commercial herd numbers have declined to accommodate this.
The commercial herd has produced primarily F1 Angus/Brangus x Wagyu heifers that are reared on the farm and sold to local feedlots weighing 380kg.
Calves are synchronized and artificially inseminated to breed at two years of age. All cows and calves calve unassisted and all calves are marked and weighed at birth.
JK Cattle Co.’s annual bull auction was held. on Monday, August 4, when 80 bulls will go to auction.
This was the farm’s fourth annual bull sale and their largest sale to date, with bull prices reaching A$24,000.
Regenerative agriculture
Regenerative farming practices are largely used on the farm, Sian explained.
Apart from fields planted with mixed-species forage crops, grassland pastures receive very low levels of inputs compared to grassland pastures in Ireland.
Multiple species of grasses, legumes, forbs and shrubs grow throughout the pasture, providing livestock with a range of forage options.
In times of drought or low grass growth rates such as in winter, these other species provide a source of nutrition for livestock, as well as supporting a healthy soil ecosystem.
The farm works closely with nature as is evident from the range and abundance of flora and fauna throughout the farm. However, the presence of large numbers of kangaroos increases the workload required to maintain secure fences.
Summer brings temperatures in excess of 40°C. Livestock seek shade during high daytime temperatures, so trees play an important role in providing shade.
Temperatures are a challenge when moving livestock, with early morning and afternoon being a more suitable time to move livestock.
Dogs and horses play a vital role in herding livestock, especially in difficult, heavily wooded areas or wet areas.
Dogs are very effective at moving large crowds, and are especially useful when working with younger, more flighty livestock.
The use of horses promotes a very positive response from livestock, allowing them to be managed in the field in a calm and controlled manner compared to the use of motorized bicycles or carts.
Handling techniques
Great emphasis and time is invested in maintaining correct handling techniques when working with livestock whether in yards or on pastures.
Weanlings are “educated” through exposure to livestock dogs, and this reinforces good behavioral habits and locomotion in response to canine/human stress from a young age, which are maintained throughout their lives.
When moving cattle from one field to another, care is taken to ensure that the cattle move in a low-stress, steady pace and that they are left in a calm, contented state of mind and grazing on their new pasture.
When handling cattle in yards, a one-way system is applied as much as possible to train cattle in the correct movement patterns.
During every movement, no matter how small, attention is paid to constantly promoting good movement in the cattle.
As a genetic resource, docility is crucial and any animals that display a bad temperament are removed from the breeding herd immediately.
Livestock ID
Cattle are tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) button tag that must remain in their ear for traceability to track movements. However, ear tags are applied at the grower’s discretion.
Legislation in Queensland requires cattle to be branded on their farm of origin.
Branding is usually performed at weaning, when calves are 6-7 months old.
Bull calves destined for the feedlot are also castrated at the same time, including removing the testicles from the scrotum through two small incisions.
Meat quality
Meat quality is something JK Cattle Co. strives for. To enhance it, through genetic improvement and through its management.
Care is taken when loading animals to ensure they are not subjected to undue stress at the expense of meat quality.
Incorporating Wagyu genetics has been a big step in improving meat quality, but it has also been the focus of genetic improvement for Angus and Brangus over the years as well.
Similar to Ireland, last year saw an upward climb in cattle prices in Australia.
At the end of 2023, Australian cattle prices saw a very sharp decline. From then until 2025, there has been a steady trend.
The past 12 months from August 2025 have seen fat cow prices range between $2.8 and $3 per kg liveweight.
450kg feeder heifers were priced between $3.60 and $3.80 targeting a 100-day feed.
Medium-fed, 150-day Angus heifers weighing 450kg were priced between $4.20 and $4.40. Grass-fed heifers weighing 650kg were priced at $6-$7 per kg carcass weight.
Some of the key challenges the sector faces in Australia are securing motivated skilled labor (which JK thankfully has no problem with) and rainfall variability.
Other challenges since 2023 have been the higher costs of doing business and the purchase price of land compared to farmgate revenues.
