“The decision for us to breed Square Meaters was easy”, says Bob “we were looking for a way to expand and thought that buying more land was our only option, until we heard about the Square Meaters.”

“Because of their early maturity and smaller frame size, the Square Meaters are targeted at more efficient beef production and this has allowed us to increase our cattle numbers to almost double what our carrying capacity was,” he said.

Based just outside the Nation’s Capital, the McCluskeys have found a keen demand for the Square Meaters cattle. “Many people around here have smaller farms and the Square Meaters are ideal”, says Su “but they are just as suitable for the commercial farmer on larger holdings because of their ability to meet the domestic market”.

The Square Meaters are bred from the Murray Grey cattle, a breed known for their docile temperament. Their quiet nature, suitability to the cool Canberra region and commercial viability made them a perfect choice for the McCluskeys. “These aren’t toy cattle or pets” says Bob “the Square Meaters is a proven serious beef breed and that’s why we like them”. Although, as can be seen from the photos, the cattle are certainly quiet!

Since starting CLUSKERS SQUARE MEATERS STUD seven years ago the McCluskeys have focussed heavily on structural soundness and the female traits of milking ability and fertility.

“We firmly believe that a cow has one job to do, and that is rear a live calf year in and year out’, says Su. “There is no point in a female looking 100% if she is going to have problems calving or keeps all her nutrition to herself rather than putting it into the calf.” To this end, the McCluskeys have instigated a strict stock management regime ensuring that cattle are continually classed for structural soundness as calves, fertility as young cattle and rearing ability once they have calved.

At CLUSKERS SQUARE MEATERS STUD, the breeding and management program is based firmly on commercial factors and needs to fit in with the busy schedules of two proprietors that work full time off-farm. “We have the basic principle in our decision making that the benefit has to outweigh the costs, and time is money for us” says Su. “Our breeding program fits in with how we can manage our herd to have the cattle at their healthiest best all the time.”

Stocking rates and pasture rotation are managed to ensure the minimal of hand feeding occurs. “The cost of feed and the time it takes to hand feed make it an unviable prospect except when absolutely necessary”, says Bob. Cattle are calved down in late winter, and weaners are sold in Autumn, when they meet the domestic market specifications and that means that nothing needs to be hand fed over winter.

Cattle are joined in Spring for a 6 week joining period and using four to five bulls with around 20 cows each. At the end of the joining period, the cows are placed into one mob and then rotated around the property. This allows better management of the pastures and water and keeps the cattle in peak condition. “Throughout summer the cattle get used to being moved around, in fact, as soon as they hear the motorbike, they run to the gate so it takes no time at all to move them into the next paddock,” said Bob.

“We now keep our stocking rates low – a lesson we learned from past overstocking experiences and a decision which proved to be a saving grace during the drought, says Su. “We have also divided our property into small paddocks separated by laneways which makes for much more efficient management.”

The good doing ability of the Square Meaters was certainly proven during the drought with the cattle retaining reasonable condition throughout and within a few weeks of the spring growth coming through, were looking in good condition again.

The McCluskeys have also found a demand for their bulls for lease. “Many people around here don’t want to have a bull on their property all year,” says Bob McCluskey” so we put on of our nice quiet bulls on a trailer, deliver him, and then go back and pick him up 6 weeks later. People don’t even need to have cattle yards as we just put a halter on the bull and walk him onto the trailer to bring him home”.

The McCluskeys have been successful in the showring, picking up Supreme Champion at their first ever Royal Show. They also show their Square Meaters steers, which are prepared and presented by Gundagai High school, at Melbourne Show. “The teacher and students do a terrific job in preparing and showing the steers, says Su. “We don’t have the time to feed and prepare steers for showing but having a school prepare a steer for you is a really good option. It gives us exposure in a marketplace that we would not normally be in and is great for the schoolkids too”.