The Angus Family, from Dawson Vale, Charters Towers.
We are the Angus Family, a multigenerational beef producing business. Located at Dawson Vale, south of Charters Towers, Queensland, we produce grass-fed, hormone free beef in a natural environment.
The sustainable and ethical production of flavoursome, tender, grass-fed beef is our passion.
Three generations call Dawson Vale home - Neil and Narelle (Grandad and Grandma), Kurt and Mellissa (Dad and Mum) and their children. Together, we love our animals, our food and what we do each and every day.
Neil and Narelle have been involved in the beef industry for over 40 years, running successful and sustainable operations that they are passing on to the next generation with love and pride. They understood the importance of having quiet, cooperative cattle that would end up being an enjoyable eating experience on someone’s plate from the very beginning. Their philosophy’s will stay with the future generation’s ensuring that these attributes are never lost.
Kurt and Mellissa, with their children, aim to blend both history and tradition with modern management practices. The aim each and every day is to continue to improve what they do. The production system is ethical and sustainable, understanding the importance of preserving landscapes and leaving them healthier than they found them.
In 2024, we embark on a journey to share our passion directly with likeminded people through the commencement of Red Diamond Beef Company. From our paddock to your plate. We aim to deliver consistent, flavoursome, tender, grass-fed and hormone free beef produced in a natural environment.
Come along on this exciting new journey with us where your food is our future.
“We enjoy eating quality beef - no exceptions are made for tenderness, juiciness and flavour - we expect a satisfying eating outcome every time”
How we raise our beef -
Landscape management
We are mindful and focused on grazing land management to ensure our animals have access to adequate pasture at all times. In a grass-only system, it is imperative that we are always striving to improve the land and our pastures. We are always actively undertaking land management practices to improve the condition of our soils and landscape. These actions improve not only the natural environment and biodiversity present, but also lead to healthier, more productive native pastures for our animals to graze.
Herd Health
The health, happiness and well-being of our herd is very important to us. Our management practices are carefully considered with this in mind.
We work with veterinarians, animal nutritionists and agronomists to ensure we are covering all bases, and our animals are cared for by the highest standard. We believe in the use of vaccinations and medications to prevent disease and treat common diseases endemic to our location here in Northern Queensland. When seasonal conditions are less favourable, we supplement our livestock with extra nutrients to ensure their health and wellbeing, We are not a registered ‘organic’ business for this very reason. Being certified ‘organic’ means that livestock cannot be treated with any vaccines or receive any treatments or be fed any product that are also not organic. Whilst we still make conscious choices around what treatments and supplements our livestock receive, we are able to source suitable livestock feeds in times of need. We are also able to prevent common diseases through simple, industry best practice vaccination programs and treat sick and unwell animals accordingly. Organic beef systems cannot use these common vaccinations or feed supplements leading to suffering in some situations. They also have difficulty accessing organic feed sources which often means in those production systems, the livestock simply go without.
Whilst we still maintain a grass-fed only, hormone free, natural environment regime, we do not wish to limit our options when it comes to raising healthy, happy livestock. Our management system and the use of supplementation for limiting nutrients is adequate to maintain a grass-fed certification and meet market specifications and eligibility requirements.
Animal Welfare
The welfare of our animals is extremely important to us. Our animals are respected and cared for by the highest standard. Neil Angus has been selecting cattle for over 40 years with a focus on temperament and polledness. For decades, the animals selected for breeding must have sound behaviour, be docile and willing to work with us not against us. Mustering livestock and processing them through yards is a simple, enjoyable process for us and our livestock. It means the livestock are safe and so are the humans working them. Our children take part in the day to day operations of our business and their safety is paramount to us. Having wild or fractious livestock is not acceptable by our standards. We work our livestock in a calm, quiet manner to ensure they are never stressed or scared and therefore are unlikely to react in a negative way to our presence.
Neil’s careful selection of ‘polled’ livestock has meant huge positive animal welfare outcomes. Less than 3 percent of our livestock are born with horns. This means that they cannot hurt each other or us and we do not have to use de-horning practices to manage their welfare.
