Commercial operations are based at Arrawatta Station, north of Inverell in NSW, where our goal is to produce the ultimate in grass fed and finished beef.
For almost 200 years, moderately framed Native Angus® have been producing beef of world renown eating quality, with taste from the back fat and buttery texture from the marbling, while fed and finished on grass alone. Native Angus® have an unparalleled ability to transform pasture into magnificent beef of great value in a world where real food, naturally raised in the old-fashioned way, is becoming so highly prized.
The phenotype of the Angus was radically altered in the 1970s with the introduction of North American Angus, which had been infused with other breeds of cattle in response to changing economics that favoured larger framed cattle suited to grain finishing and feedlot production. By the mid 1990’s, there were fewer than 150 Native Angus® breeding females remaining in existence. Only the efforts of the Rare Breed Survival Trust, the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society and Geordie Soutar of Dunlouise Farm in Angus, Scotland have saved the Native Angus® from likely extinction.
The lush grasslands of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales are considered one of the premier grazing regions of Australia, on account of a reliable, temperate climate and highly mineralized soils. Arrawatta Station has some 1,800ha of rich red and black basalt soils, ideal for both native and improved pasture, with adequate gentle hilly country and an 8.5km stretch of the Macintyre River. Soil tests have shown CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) in the region of 38 meq/100g, indicating very high fertility. Native grasses abound on the hilly country. The flat lands are ideal for improved pasture species. The property uses a variety of regenerative management practices to build soil biome health, and to improve environmental biodiversity and water quality.
We run a closed herd currently comprised of some 800 breeding females (Angus, Australian Lowline Angus and Native Angus®) and 30 Native Angus® bulls. Our Native Angus® genetics (embryos and semen) were originally imported from Scotland and we import genetics on a regular basis to ensure that we can draw on the best Native Angus® phenotypes for the ongoing development of our herd.
The key components of any beef production process are cattle genetics, feed quality and management of cattle, grasses, and soil. We believe that by combining the best grass conversion cattle genetics with the best Australian grasslands and using the best grazing management techniques, we can produce the best grass-fed and finished beef in the world.
If you are a beef producer who has an interest in our program or who would just like to learn more about Native Angus® and what we are doing, please get in touch -
Arrawatta Station
550 Arrawatta Rd,
Oakwood, NSW, 2360
Tel. 0412 364 156