This month Milne Feeds was pleased to sponsor the 5th annual KPCA Livestock Handling Cup. Held at Sandfire Roadhouse, this two-day event showcased the best in cattle handling across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, as well as including a speaker program and working cattle dog demonstration.
The Livestock Handling Cup was first held at Yarrie Station in 2016. Hosted by Annabelle Coppin and crew, the concept of the Cup came about after the Live Export suspension, with Annabelle and Boyd Holden, of Livestock Behaviour Systems, wanting to showcase the unique livestock handling skills involved in managing pastoral cattle. The aim of the Cup was to demonstrate livestock handling activities that are typical of pastoral work, such as mustering, yarding and loading of cattle. Safety of pastoral workers and animal welfare are key components of the Cup. The first event at Yarrie saw 10 teams of 3 members attend. Teams travelled from Pilbara stations, including Yarrie, De Grey, Mardie, Yandeyarra and Karratha, with some teams having members travelling from as far as Broome and Wiluna.
The event is designed to encourage learning, connection, and positivity amongst workers on pastoral stations, and showcase the level of stock handling and care taught, and used, every day in their workplaces. The competition is tough, and judged on certain criteria, including teamwork, stockmanship and animal welfare. The teams must first ‘work’ a mob of cattle in a large yard to get them used to the handlers in the pens, then select and draft off a smaller number of cattle to then be moved, in a low-stress manner, through a race and into a carefully designed obstacle course.
This year, the speaker program on day one included talks from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on biosecurity, centred around the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease, and Lumpy Skin Disease for the north. There was also a panel discussion where the crowd could ask key questions, along with major sponsor presentations and demonstrations, and an update on the Northern WA & NT Drought Hub. To finish off the day, trainer Joni Hall conducted a working dog demonstration. Joni has a team of some 20 plus working dogs that she trains to work cattle on stations across the north.
The 2022 Cup was the biggest yet, with almost 120 spectators and competitors in attendance over the two days. There were 20 teams entered in the competition, from 14 stations across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. Taking out this year’s trophy was Yarrie Station’s team ‘Mulla Mulla’, closely followed by Roebuck Station’s team, and Sandfire Roadhouse’s team.
The event replicates real stock handling situations and skills required in everyday station life. It is a great way for pastoral workers to connect and network with industry service providers, other station employees, and pastoral industry supporters. It is an event that Milne Feeds is proud to be involved in, as supporting the pastoral industry is an important part of our business.
