Success bult through change, challenges and lessons learnt along the way
One of the standout stops on a recent grazing tour was Amelia Downs, near Charters Towers, in basalt country, where Jane and Jordan Moore gave producers an honest and practical look at the major changes they’ve made across their business over the years.
Rather than just talking about successes, the Moores openly shared the economics behind infrastructure investments, the risks they had taken, mistakes they had made, and the lessons learnt along the way. Discussions around fencing to land type, managing cattle through the wet season, and the importance of having a mix of country within paddocks strongly resonated with the group.
For many graziers, the value was in hearing experiences from people who had tested ideas, adapted over time, and built confidence in their decision-making, something that has been a strong focus of previous cluster group discussions.
The paddock drive that followed sparked plenty of conversation around pasture budgeting, feed availability, and paddock condition late in the dry season. Graziers discussed how wet season grazing decisions can directly influence dry season productivity and long-term land condition outcomes.
There was also interest in the early adoption of John Weir’s (Jane’s father) stock water medicator system used to protein supplement cattle across the property.
Jane and Jordan manage more than 20,000 hectares north of Charters Towers using a time-controlled rotational grazing system, with stock numbers and grazing pressure adjusted according to seasonal conditions and available feed.
Working alongside the Department of Primary Industries through a Producer Demonstration Site established in 2021, the property has been closely monitored to measure pasture condition and livestock performance. Over four years, the results have shown livestock productivity comparable to the top 25 per cent of producers in the region, while maintaining good land condition.
Their approach focuses on maintaining ground cover, protecting productive perennial grasses, and making proactive decisions around stocking rates, spelling, and forage budgeting, even during tough seasons.
For graziers on the tour, the visit reinforced that adaptive management, forward planning, and confidence to make timely decisions are key ingredients in building a resilient grazing business.
This bus trip was hosted through the Landholders Driving Change (LDC2) project, funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.
