About
Knowla Livestock is a family owned and operated company comprising of James and Annie Laurie, Ted and Alison Laurie, and Marie Laurie. Children, Sandy, Doug, Rob and Jack and Georgia also play an active role in the properties operation when University and work commitments permit. Maries husband Cliff passed away in 1992 and was the boys inspiration through his work ethic and passion for livestock.
We are the fourth generation to run beef cattle on the headwaters of the Barrington River at Moppy west of Gloucester. Surrounded by the Barrington Tops National Park 2300 hectares and a further 400 hectares of leased land is managed. Whilst it is undulating to steep grazing country it is ideal for cow calf production. The 150 hectare Kanangara property, Kanangara on the outskirts of Gloucester was purchased in 2007 and is the site for our annual production sale.
Traditionally Devon/Shorthorn cross breeders, progeny from the Kholwha Devon stud were sold at the Gloucester bull sale from 1981. The Knowla Angus stud was established in 1995 with foundation females from the Forres, Dulverton and DSK Angus studs. Today 300 registered and performance recorded Angus cows are joined annually with elite cows placed into an embryo transfer program to increase purebred progeny.
Just over 600 crossbred cows are joined to produce feedlot steers for either the EU grain fed market, or the midfed Japanese feedlot trade. A number of steers are also grass fattened for the heavy EU export market or the domestic market through Coles.
An annual pasture improvement program over approximately 250 hectares produces winter feed and establishes high performance pastures to increase overall production. As a result cow numbers have almost doubled in the past 20 years.
The focal point for the Knowla Angus stud is the annual production sale held in the end of July. Just over 80 bulls are offered at this sale as well as 100 ready to join EU accredited Angus crossbred commercial females.
