Hi from Queensland

6 posts
Mon, 04/28/2014 - 11:06 #1

Member for

10 years 7 months
philnikki
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/28/2014 - 10:48

Hi from Queensland

Thought the best way was to introduce ourselves, we are from the Sunshine Coast and are in the midst of working towards selling our business, and

house this year. Once done we are looking at buying a farm more Hobby than full time in the the surrounding area. We would like to have a few cattle smaller breeds, horses by 2 for the kids and wife, chickens ect and look at sustainable practises, solar, use of water, grow veggies ect.

Most posts seem to be from NSW , but if anyone from Qld is on the forum as well advice on suggestions on farm size, good books to read, courses to take ect, budgets, things that novices when buying wouldnt even think of would be great. And will be more than happy to help out when we get up and running with advice if we have any.

 

Cheers

 

Phil & Nikki

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Mon, 04/28/2014 - 23:35 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

hi Phil and Nikki,

welcome aboard. There are a few of us on the forum from Qld- I'm one of them. Will get back to you in a day or so as I've been fencing all day and it's very late.

Cheers,

Barb

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Wed, 04/30/2014 - 21:05 #3
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

While I am not a Banana bender my son is, so welcome from south of the border :) Cheers Rob

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Sun, 05/04/2014 - 12:16 #4
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Phil and Nikki,

Finally found  the time to get back to you, life is just so flat out at the moment and I finally have a day off.

There a number a useful articles and and advice on this forum: Books and information etc. Your local Library may have quite a number of useful books either in their library or in the data base that you can borrow. As you know, your local library in Qld, can order in books from other libraries they are associated with. Your local primary industries dept is always very helpful too.

As to the size of the block, well, that depends on what stock you are running and where you buy because a lot depends on local rain, soil and climate. Some areas including mine, even though it is on the coast, are very prone to drought. My advice, if you want to run cattle and horses, is the one I always give everyone: buy the biggest block you can afford, because if you want to expand and you only have a small block then you may not be able to do so. Cattle, even Dexters and Low lines for instance, still eat a lot, and drink a lot of water. My friend who has Dexters had to sell most of hers during the drought as she had no feed and to buy in feed lot finisher cost her $543.00 a tonne! She has 75 acres. Myself, I would never buy less than 50 hc = 123.55 acres.

The reselling of the offspring of small breed cattle, if you are considering breeding, can sometimes be a problem too, as most of the cattle sale yards can't move them and there are so many of them on the market, that it is even hard sometimes, to get hobby farmers to buy them. They aren't any easier to handle than Murray Greys, which are very quiet, the breed I have, or Angus cattle. There is always a ready market for standard cattle also. This is just a thought based on my experience. However, some of the other members of the forum may have had different outcomes to me and my friend.

If I were going to run horses, I would have the vet vaccinate them for Hendra virus also. I know it is expensive, but not as expensive as it is if you were to catch it, as it is a Zoonotic disease (can be transmitted to humans) and is almost always fatal.

Hope some of this is useful to you.

Cheers,

Barb

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Sun, 06/08/2014 - 09:28 #5
philnikki
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/28/2014 - 10:48

 

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for the answers especially Barb who went out of her way to spend a bit of time with some fantastic helpfull

Info.  Were getting closer to our Goal have sold our Investment property, and now need a couple of good months for our business and hopefully sell that and be on our way to having a nice rural retreat.

 

Thanks again, will be back when were actually on the land.

 

Cheers

 

Phil & Nikki

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Sat, 08/16/2014 - 12:51 #6
philnikki
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/28/2014 - 10:48

Hi Guys,

Update we have just signed a contract on 35 acres with house in the Noosa Hinterland, now all we have to do is sell our business, move there get jobs and start being sustainable. Our Aim is to add Solar, there is already veggie garden there and fruit trees and chicken pens. And eventually just stick to around 3-7 cattle in the future. So were close to our goal jsut learning now and reading more about what cattle to get, dont want many as noted. Have 2 dams and the area is usually pretty green with 3 paddocks. Son wants some nice mini breeds that are popular, quiet but also can be slaughtered for food.

So any suggestions on good books or website for sustainable farming, chickens, veggies would be great. 

And thanks Barb again for all the info.

Cheers

PhilNikki

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