Investing in the Future of Cattle Management: Kalyeeda Station’s New Yards

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    <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-242736" class="wp-image-242736 size-large" src="https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8560-scaled-e1754459219232-1024x589.jpg" alt="Cattle Yards at Kalyeeda Station" width="1024" height="589" srcset="https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8560-scaled-e1754459219232-1024x589.jpg 1024w, https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8560-scaled-e1754459219232-400x230.jpg 400w, https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8560-scaled-e1754459219232-768x442.jpg 768w, https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8560-scaled-e1754459219232.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/>
    <p id="caption-attachment-242736" class="wp-caption-text">Kalyeeda yards taken from a chopper yesterday. Click on the image for a larger view.</p>
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<p>A combination of safety, efficiency, and longevity has driven a $900,000 investment into a new set of cattle yards at Kalyeeda Station, located in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.</p>

<p>The Camp family recently completed the installation of the new facilities within one of the station's outer breeding paddocks, enabling them to efficiently manage breeding cattle and transport weaners back to the processing yards at the homestead.</p>

<h2>The Design and Its Benefits</h2>
<p>Designed by <strong>Peter Camp</strong>, the new yards serve a crucial role in separating the loading of weaners from the processing of cows and bulls. "With our new setup, we can process approximately 1000 breeders a day," explained Mr. Camp.</p>

<p>“The design allows us to truck weaners back to the homestead without interfering with the processing of breeders,” he said. This setup also addresses modern requirements such as scanning and body scoring, which tend to slow down processing times.</p>

<h2>Building for Longevity</h2>
<p>Safety and efficiency were top priorities during the yard's design phase. The construction employed heavy-duty steel throughout the whole setup, featuring pneumatic gates in the crush areas and layouts designed for minimal labor usage.</p>

<p>“This setup is expected to last for 40 to 50 years with minimal maintenance,” Mr. Camp stated. "The idea is to do it right the first time.”</p>

<p>He further explained that while prefabricated yards may be quick to construct, issues like rust can compromise longevity. By using substantial materials, including railway iron and bore casing, the new yards are built to last.</p>

<h2>Training and Efficiency</h2>
<p>Transitioning staff to the new system required some re-training. “The biggest hurdle was getting everyone accustomed to using the pneumatic gates instead of manually opening and closing them,” Mr. Camp remarked. “Once staff adapted, we saw significant productivity gains.”</p>

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    <img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-242737" class="wp-image-242737 size-large" src="https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8546-scaled-e1754459419784-1024x590.jpg" alt="Aerial View of the Yards" width="1024" height="590" srcset="https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8546-scaled-e1754459419784-1024x590.jpg 1024w, https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8546-scaled-e1754459419784-400x230.jpg 400w, https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8546-scaled-e1754459419784-768x443.jpg 768w, https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8546-scaled-e1754459419784-1536x885.jpg 1536w, https://www.beefcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_8546-scaled-e1754459419784.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/>
    <p id="caption-attachment-242737" class="wp-caption-text">Bud Box design evident in this aerial photo taken yesterday for Beef Central.</p>
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<h2>Cost Breakdown</h2>
<p>Mr. Camp detailed that labor constituted approximately one-third of the total investment, with pneumatic gates and the crush costing around $160,000. “More than $250,000 of the total cost was attributed to labor alone,” he noted.</p>

<p>The materials used include 45lb railway line for the posts and 7-inch bore casing for the corner and gate posts. Additionally, custom-made rails were produced in Vietnam, specifically designed to accommodate three 2700mm panels.</p>

<h2>Influence of the Bud Box Principle</h2>
<p>Based on the Bud Box principle, derived from the late cattleman Bud Williams, the yards are designed to enhance low-stress stock handling. The box concept allows cattle to remain calm while moving through the handling process.</p>

<p>Even though the Kalyeeda yards do not adhere strictly to the prescribed dimensions of a Bud Box, they effectively utilize its principles to direct cattle flow into the race and processing areas.</p>

<p>The outer yards include large rectangular boxes guiding cattle towards the five-way race draft. After entering the crush, cattle can be efficiently processed and separated as required.</p>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>As Kalyeeda Station embraces innovation in cattle management, the new yards represent a significant investment in safety and efficiency. This modern approach ensures that the station can better meet the demands of cattle handling, making operations smoother and more effective in the years to come.</p>

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