If you’re a subscriber to The Land, have a read of the profile Simon Chamberlain has written on Dennis Rush who runs Hopewood, near Texas, NSW. It’s a great look at how he’s using agtech to transform his livestock management and trading outcomes across the operation involving 4,500 ewes and an Angus breeding herd of 650 cows.Â
Here’s a quick summary:
Innovative Pasture Systems:Â Hopewood operates 14 centre pivot irrigators, supporting a legume-dominant pasture mix. Recently he undertook drone-assisted pasture sowing, which he plans to continue long-term.
Optiweigh In-Paddock Weighing: Central to Hopewood’s success are four Optiweigh in-paddock weighing units. These allow Dennis and his team to track performance data in real time. The data drove the decision to reduce mob size and ease rotational grazing pressure which immediately improved weight gains. Animals are handled as little as possible, thanks to the in paddock data, with cattle walked directly from paddocks onto trucks for transport.
Breeding and Nutrition Programs:Â Nutrition management is carefully tailored and monitored, with guidance from Dr Jillian Kelly, Animal Health Nutrition (and Optiweigh user) based in Coonamble. Ad lib licks of salt and lime help balance the high-legume diet ensuring optimal growth.
Proven Results: The benefits of Optiweigh are clear at Hopewood. From fine-tuning ration mixes to understanding behavioural drivers, access to data has become central to maximising weight gains and streamlining management.