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KATANNING FARMING COUPLE’S NEW START
Great Southern Herald
12 January 2023 – P4
By Bob Garnett
Photographs by Angela Butler
Daniegh and Matt Kitchen just happily married on November 5, 2022.
Katanning farming couple Daniegh and Matt Kitchen and their two children Grace, 4, and Jack, 2, have made a new start together in the union of marriage. The couple exchanged vows on November 5 bringing together family and friends to their on-farm wedding ceremony in a celebration of the love they’ve shared for the past 15 years.
“In our early days as a couple we used to muster cattle together up north when I wasn’t seeding or harvesting at home,” Matt said. “Now we are raising our young children and having a go on the farm.”
When Matt’s father, John, died in 2018, the farm responsibility suddenly fell on Matt’s shoulders while John’s widow, Flo, continued to keep the farm books as she does now. John and Flo ran a Boyanup dairy and beef farm in partnership with John’s parent’s Jack and Mary and John’s two brothers Ray and Mal.
The Carenda Holstein stud and Carenda Angus stud were established in1960 and 1994 respectively. John’s immediate family made the decision to move to the Wheatbelt to further their farming opportunities while Ray and his wife Donna continued the dairy stud in Boyanup.
The Kitchens settled on a 1015 hectare farm 10km east of Katanning in 2009 to continue the stud with a mix of cropping. Matt and Daniegh now have 110 registered Angus stud cows along with 20 pregnant heifers and also 75 commercial cows along with 25 commercial heifers to keep the cattle side strong and growing.
“Daniegh and I want to build to about 350 cows in total, with an option to feedlot steers,” he said.
“We also have plans to increase our cropping program using leased properties once Grace and Jack are attending school.”
Daniegh, who spent her childhood in Wyndham and worked on pastoral stations later in life, gladly gives Matt a hand with cattle work or harvesting when she is not looking after the children. Before meeting Matt, she travelled a lot with her family and attended the former Burdekin Agricultural College – Ayr in Queensland before returning to WA as a 17-year-old. Matt finished his education at WA College of Agriculture – Narrogin before meeting the girl of his dreams in 2008. They are the next generation of WA farmers to make a living off the land and cautiously taking all the risks that are associated.
Matt carted 22 steers to the Mt Barker saleyards on December 22 and was content with the prices. A draft of 14 steers that weighed an average 349kg sold for 480c/kg and all 22 sold for an average $1677/head. “This was about $500/head back on last year when we received record prices,” Matt said. “I am very optimistic about strong cattle prices.”
The Kitchens are preparing a team of 30 Angus bulls led by new sons of Varilek Geddes for their fifth annual on-property sale to be held on February 23.
“We just finished harvesting our barley, canola and oats with just above-average results this year off a bumper season in 2021,” Matt said. “Last year’s harvest was very favourable and barley went five and a half tonne as compared to four tonne this year.”
While the Kitchens’ main income is from cattle, they crop 120ha of barley, 150ha of canola and plant 38ha of silage as a way of spreading risks and maintaining good soil health. “Our soil structure is some of the best in the district – it responds well with an application of fertiliser and average rainfall (450mm),” Matt said. “Our crops can grow on 250mm of rain, but a dry year is hard on the cows.”
Matt and Daniegh Kitchen celebrated their wedding day with their children Grace, 4, and Jack, 2.
Starting in the new year the Kitchens are excited about their daughter Grace, who will begin riding the school bus to kindergarten. “It’s just one small step, but we feel very blessed,” Daniegh said.
2021 SALE
Carenda Angus top $13,250
Bob Garnant
Countryman
25 February 2021
Carenda Angus stud sold to a stud record $13,250 top-price at the Kitchen family’s annual bull sale at Katanning last Thursday. Overall, of the 28 bulls on offer, 21 sold stud to a record average price of $6595 and an offering of 28 commercial heifers had 24 sold to an average price of $1646.
With the stud record $13,250 top-priced bull, Carenda Quarantine Q45, was Elders stud stock agent Russell McKay, Elders auctioneer James Culleton, buyer Matt Fairbrass, of Bowie Beef, in Bridgetown, Carenda stud co-principal Matt Kitchen, of Katanning, and Elders cattle stud stock specialist Deane Allen.
Credit: Bob Garnant/Countryman, Bob Garnant
The Helmsman auction, conducted by Elders, brought 24 registered buyers, with competitive bidding on the top lots. First-time buyer and Bowie Beef farm manager Matt Fairbrass, of Bridgetown, secured the sale topper, Carenda Quarantine Q45.
“The bull looked visually appealing with a moderate frame and thick body,” he said. “We will put the outcross genetic bull over cows in our 1000-head Angus breeding program.” Mr Fairbrass said he liked that Q45 had positive fat figures important to breed replacement females. The bull, sired by Clunie Range Legend L348, recorded Estimated Breeding Values of +47, +84 and +112 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights and had a rib fat of +1.6 and P8 of +0.1.
Mr Fairbrass also secured two other bulls for $7250 and $6750, both sired by Carenda homebred sires and going back to Booroomooka Yogi Z27 and SAV Renown 3439 respectively.
With the $13,000 second top-priced bull, Carenda Quidditch Q36, was Elders auctioneer James Culleton, buyer Kevin Owen, of Tomasi Grazing, in Karridale, and Carenda Angus stud co-principal Matt Kitchen, of Katanning.
Credit: Countryman
The $13,000 second top-price bull, Carenda Quidditch Q36, sired by Kansas Aberdeen F84, was secured by first-time buyer Kevin Owen, who manages the 500-head Tomasi Grazing breeding in Karridale. “I selected the bull for its visual appeal and softness,” Mr Owen said. “The Aberdeen pedigree will provide outcross genetics for our herd.” The 816kg bull recorded EBVs of +55, +99 and +134 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights. Buying account Hourston Grazing, in Redmond, secured Carenda Quill Q30, for $10,000.
Also sired by Clunie Range Legend L348, the 864kg bull was the heaviest in the catalogue and found competitive bidding throughout the Helmsman time frame. Two bulls sold for $8250, including Carenda Quade Q66, sold to G & S Batley & Son, of Busselton, while Carenda Quince Q75 sold to Bachos Holding, of Manjimup. Another Kansas Aberdeen son sold to Pinjarra buying account Bancell Falls.
Manjimup producer Jim Bogoais was a first-time buyer securing two bulls for $6750 and $4000. “I bought a low-birth-weight bull and another bull to put over cows,” he said. “They both had good conformation and represent new genetics to our 300-head breeding herd.”
Elders stud stock agent Russell McKay said the sale had great buying support through the Elders network. “To have three bulls sell over $10,000 was an outstanding result,” he said. “Bull preparation was a credit to the vendor after two very tough seasons in Katanning.”
2020
ON-PROPERTY SALE
Bull tops $6500 at Carenda Angus sale
Jessica Whyte
Farm Weekly
13 Mar 2020
Carenda stud principals Daniegh Renton (left) and Matt Kitchen, top price buyer Fred Venables and Elders agent Russell McKay with the top-priced bull ($6500) at the Carenda bull sale at Katanning last week.
THE Carenda Angus stud once again opted for the Helmsman style auction at its second on-property bull sale run by Elders at Katanning last week. The stud offered 26 Angus bulls and 28 Angus yearling heifers, which were split into seven pens of four where prices topped at $6500 for a bull.
The auction commenced at 1pm and went for 20 minutes – during that time bidders had the opportunity to bid on as many bulls and or heifers as they wanted and were able to reassess the lots before placing a bid. After the final sound of the timer the seven registered bidders helped to clear seven bulls and two pens of heifers.
Stud principal Matt Kitchen knew it was going to be a tough sale as a result of the challenging season. “We would have liked to have sold more, but we are happy with how it went considering the season,” Mr Kitchen said. “We were really happy with our presentation of the bulls and would like to thank all our returning and new buyers for their support, it was really appreciated.”
The sale topped at $6500, which was $500 more than last year’s top of $6000 and was paid by FG & LV Venables, Yarloop.
It was the Carenda Playa P46 bull in lot one that caught bidders’ eyes, pushing prices up to the sale top. The bull weighed 822 kilograms and had EBV figures of +2.4 IMF, +4 EMA and 200, 400 and 600-day weights of +50, +88 and +117. Playa P46 is by Carenda Prophet M9.
Mr Venables, who was a return buyer to the stud having bought from it years ago at the Supreme Bull Sale at Brunswick, said he was impressed by the bull’s physical characteristics. “He was just an all-round good package,” Mr Venables said. Mr Venables will add the bull to his current program consisting of 220 Angus breeders.
Pinjarra-based operation Bancell Falls was the volume buyer of the sale purchasing three bulls at $4000 each. Elders Bridgetown and Tonebridge Grazing, Kojonup secured one bull each for $4000. In the heifer section TS Dawson & Co, Dumbleyung, purchased two pens of heifers (eight head in total) for $1200 a head.
Elders Katanning representative Russell McKay said the sale went well considering the difficulty of the past two seasons. “It was good to sell the bulls and heifers that we did and to reach a top of $6500,” Mr McKay said. “All of the cattle were presented very well and were in good paddock condition.” Mr McKay has a positive outlook for the future of the sale.
“Having moved from Brunswick to an on-property sale, it has been better for the animals and now it’s just about continuing to build the sale,” Mr McKay said.
2018 Brunswick Bull Sale
Kitchen clan serves up Carenda Angus bulls in Brunswick
NARROGIN OBSERVER
25 January 2018
Picture: Bob Garnant – West Australian Newspapers
Carenda M4, sired by SAV Thunderbird 9061, is one of 21 Angus bulls on offer from the Kitchen family, of Katanning, at the WA Supreme Bull Sale on February 15.
Katanning-based Carenda Angus stud will be offering 21 bulls for sale at the WA Supreme Bull Sale in Brunswick on February 15. The bulls on offer are from proven sires including SAV Thunderbird 9061, Milwillah Gatsby G279, GAR Prophet, Booroomooka Yogi Z27 and S Chisum 6175, plus homebreds including Carenda Elevation K36 (AI) (ET) and Carenda Yogi K42 (AI).
Carenda co-principal John Kitchen said SAV Thunderbird had been used in the stud over the past three years, because the sire was recognised as one of the best to date. “His progeny, male and female, stand true to type. They are well muscled and have low to average birth weight, high growth and positive rib and rump fat in Estimated Breeding Values,” he said… Continue reading
WAGIN WOOLORAMA
Auction steers share $2050 top
Corrina Ridgway
Countryman
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Carenda Angus Stud’s Matt Kitchen, judge Andrew Cunningham, Elders auctioneer Don Morgan, Carenda co-principal Flo Kitchen, Parkinson’s WA representative Randy Baker, buyer Kel Patterson and Carenda co-principal John Kitchen with the $2050 charity steer.
Top-price honours were shared by three individual steers at this year’s Wagin Woolorama Prime Yearling Beef Auction. The grand champion medium weight, champion heavyweight and charity steer sold for $2050 each, in what Elders auctioneer Don Morgan said was a “good, solid, steady auction”.
The commercial Carenda Angus steer was bred by the Kitchen family and finished over 70 days on a hay and grain mix. The registered buyer for the charity steer – donated by John, Flo and Matt Kitchen – was F Ganzer, with all proceeds going to Parkinson’s WA… Continue reading
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