About this episode

Liam Baker discusses the complexities of destocking and rebuilding livestock herds after challenging seasons.

In this episode, Liam Baker livestock officer with North West local Land Sercices us to unpack one of the biggest seasonal and business decisions producers face after a tough run: when to destock, how far to go, and how to think about rebuilding when the season starts to turn. Following a large destock across parts of the region, many producers are now looking at what comes next. Rainfall may bring optimism, but rebuilding a herd or flock is not as simple as buying numbers back in. It requires a clear look at feed supply, cash flow, breeding priorities, market conditions and the long-term direction of the business. The episode looks at the difference between reacting to a season and making a planned decision. We talk through why destocking is often a necessary tool to protect core breeders, pasture base and business resilience. We also discuss the importance of knowing what class of stock should stay, what can go, and what the plan is before restocking begins. A key theme is rebuilding with purpose. Strong markets can make restocking expensive, so it is important to avoid chasing numbers for the sake of it. Instead, producers should focus on the type of livestock that best suits…

People in this episode

Host: Max Newsome

Guest: Liam Baker

Topics covered

• livestock management
• destocking
• herd rebuilding
• seasonal decisions
• business resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: North West local Land Services

Places: Northern NSW

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