ON THE FARM

The farming property on which Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon stands was originally selected in 1868 by Mr Edmund Byrne and became known as Mt Pleasant Station. In 1936, wealthy landowner and widower Mrs Catherine Musk donated the 6885 hectare (17,000 acre) property to the Christian Brothers. Some 3000 hectares of land was sold in the 1970s for the Army Camp to the east of CAC Bindoon and the farm today consists of 3643 hectares (9000 acres), of which 2000 hectares (4942 acres) are cleared.

CROPPING PROGRAM:

The annual cropping program is around 450 hectares (1100 acres) with 200 ha of wheat, 200 ha of oats and 50 ha of barley being planted in 1999. Each year, around 3000 square bales and 700 large round bales of oaten hay are made. The silage pit is filled with green oats or pasture and covered with plastic to make about 500 tonnes of silage for cattle feed in autumn. Seeding occurs in May/June, with haymaking in October and harvest in December.

CATTLE ENTERPRISE:

CAC Bindoon runs 300 head of Hereford, Devon, Simmental and crossbred cows as a commercial breeding herd in addition to the small Devon and Simmental Studs. Our students have the opportunity to learn how to prepare and show stud cattle through the CAC Bindoon Cattle Club and members compete at several local shows and field days. Of the 300 or so calves born each year, about 80 heifers are retained for breeding purposes and the remaining go into our feedlot for grain feeding and are sold when 12-16 months old and weighing about 400 kilos.

SHEEP ENTERPRISE:

A round 2000 merino ewes with a total flock number of around 6000 sheep are run on the property. The merinos are of Cranmore bloodlines and their fleeces average about 21 micron. In 1994, purebred Texel ewes were purchased and a pure Texel flock is being developed to produce high quality prime lambs. Texels are bred for their meat as they produce a large lean carcass, although their wool is of poor quality. Our students helped with the embryo transplants of the Texel embryos into the surrogate mothers (merino ewes). Lambing usually occurs in July and the main shearing is in March in the eight-stand shearing shed. Students are able to gain a shed-hand certificate and Years 11 & 12 students have the opportunity to do a two-day shearing course.

PIG ENTERPRISE:

CAC Bindoon has a 30 sow semi-intensive piggery with each sow producing around 16 - 20 piglets a year. Our aim is to produce baconers which are marketed at 90-100kg live weight at about six months of age. A 100 kilo pig gives about a 66 kilo carcass. The main breed is Large White but there is some Landrace, Duroc and Hampshire (black colour) in them. The pigs are fed mainly barley and wheat - grown on the farm - mixed with lupins and various supplements. About 150 tonnes of wheat or barley is stored in galvanised steel silos and about 250 tonnes of oats and lupins in open silos.

EGG PRODUCTION:

The poultry area has been going through a redevelopment since 1996 and has a 400 hen capacity. It is set up to demonstrate the main three types of egg production used around the world: battery, free-range and barn (deep litter) so that students can observe and collect data leading to discussions relating to production costs, land degradation and animal welfare. The current line of hens is Isa Brown - the leading producer of brown eggs in the world. It is intended to develop extra pens for breeding purebred poultry, with the aim of entering various shows.

VEGETABLE PRODUCTION:

The vegetable garden was re-established in 1996 and crops include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, rhubarb, snow peas, broad beans, peas, onions, lettuce, chives, celery, silverbeet, parsley and potatoes growing in straw. All vegetables are grown organically and all the produce is consumed here. Compost and animal manure produced on the farm is used to enrich the garden beds. The seedlings for the vegetable garden are grown in the shade house then planted out.

HORTICULTURE:

CAC Bindoon's citrus orchard includes Valencia and Navel oranges, grapefruit, mandarin and lemons. Most of the produce is consumed here with the surplus being sold for juicing. The olive groves are based on two varieties, Verdale and Sevillano, and a rejuvenation program started in 1996. A joint venture between CAC Bindoon and Fulcrum Enterprises has resulted in the production of a high quality, extra virgin olive oil which is processed on-site in a small, modern continuous flow plant. Fruit is harvested in May/June and is either pickled and bottled or used for oil production.

PONY CLUB:

CAC Bindoon currently has 13 horses suitable for beginners through to experienced riders and is able to provide agistment for students' privately owned horses. Membership of the Pony Club is available to all students, regardless of their previous riding experience. Members are regularly given formal instruction and participate in many activities relating to horse management. Members are encouraged to compete at local shows and there are also opportunities to participate in campdrafting and cutting and Western events.

FARM WATER SUPPLY:

The main water supply for CAC Bindoon comes from Meckering Spring (which resulted from the 1968 Meckering Earthquake). There are 28 dams on the property including man-made Lake Scott and Lake Musk.