Orara Valley – 15 km west of New South Wales North Coast City of Coffs Harbour, Australia. Rainfall 60” – 100”, heavy Winter frosts, annual dry Winter/Spring period.

Management:
Big River is a pasture improved medium nutrition kikuyu and white clover farm managed intensively and grazed using cell grazing principles.  All cattle are grass fed Summer pastures are baled for silage and used in Winter/Spring.

History:
Purchased in 1977 Big River bred registered Brahmans until 1995 and a large herd of  registered Gelbviehs until 1996.  In 1991 the best of these breeds were joined and used with Angus to form the basis of the three breed Orara Black open composite.

Why Composites?
No one breed contributes all.  Using the 3 breeds, the Orara Black combines the commercial qualities of fertility, maternal, milk, weight gain to all ages, finishing ability, carcass, good temperament and climatic adaptation  into one package.