Schoen Pastoral
Growing
The home farm ‘Killeneen’ was purchased by Murk Schoen Snr in 1974 and is now being managed by the third generation of the Schoen family. Once originally part of the 30,000 Brocklesby station which sprawled from the banks of the Murray River ‘Killeneen’ was the kept portion by the then owner A. Taylor in 1906. A large double brick homestead designed by renowned local architect A.C Macknight was commissioned in the same year and stands proudly today.
Notably just down the hill from the homestead is the location where famous colonial painter Tom Roberts painted the iconic “Shearing of the Rams”, although the Shearing shed was destroyed by fire in 1960 the surrounding trees still tell the story of the past.
Cropping
Currently the main enterprise of Schoen Pastoral is the broadacre cropping, with the versatility of both dryland and irrigation, winter and summer crop programs.
the main winter crop rotation includes Wheat, Barley, Canola, Oats for Hay and Lupins. Our summer crops include Corn and Adzuki beans for human consumption.
In recent years we have been approached by major seed companies to expand up and coming varieties for market scale.
Contract Embryo Calf Raising
Going into our 10th year Schoen Pastoral currently runs a 200 head Autumn calving recipient herd. Through this herd we provide clients with a weaned calf. Currently our cows are implanted in late May for an early March calf. We exclusively use Holbrook Vet Centre for all of our ET reproduction services, who have a long standing relationship with.
The process is simple and includes the client supplying us with frozen embryos, we coordinate and manage the recipient cow for implant, pregnancy testing and calving (including birthweight and tagging) and supply a 200 day old, weaned calf ready for the client to take home.
This allows our clients the ability to grow their current calf crop without the need to own more land or more cows and utilize their current genetics to the full potential.
Contracts usually fill quickly, for more information please contact Kate.
Contracting
Schoen pastoral offers a variety of broadacre cropping and hay contracting services. Including modern feet of machinery. Hay production is a specialty.
Sheep
Schoen pastoral currently runs a modern 1st cross ewe flock with the preferred cross of White Suffolk/Merino, this ewe is then mated to a terminal Southdown composite ram with the aim to produce a sucker lamb for the supermarket trade.
After trailing this cross back in 2016 this has been our main stay and has performed exceptionally well for us especially for early growth and high yield, two very important profit markers.
When the opportunity presents, we will also purchase sheep and lambs into trade. Sheep work exceptionally well in a mixed farming enterprise and complement the grazing varieties of brassicas, cereals, and annual rye.
