Ashvale Station

Ashvale Station is located near Harlin, QLD. The cattle operation is run over a 4047 hectare property plus lease a further 5261 hectares on a joining block.

Thompson Longhorn was chosen to build the yards as they offered designs with the latest technology and design concepts for safe cattle handling - Tim Collins, Station Manager

Feedback from operators indicted that focusing on separating staff and cattle from being in yards together, plus the use of an air-operated yards system, has greatly improved livestock handling safety.

On the northern end, there are feed pens and bunks where the operation plans to create feedlot pens once approval is authorised. Closer towards the yards, there are drafting and weaning yards plus holding pens. On the western side, it feeds into the cattle yards to air operated cattle drafting pound and lane leading to the weigh box and then restrainer, with all air operated gates throughout the entire facility. The yards can also draft cattle five different ways without an operator needing to manually change gates, and concrete has been stamped in all high cattle traffic areas to help drain away liquid and manure.

Increasing safety was a big priority for management. The main solution was to reduce the amount of time that workers have to be in yards with cattle, which was accomplished with a catwalk around the core equipment and remote operated air gates, so they didn’t have to be in a yard to open and close gates behind cattle. These yards also feature a double-deck truck ramp to increase the efficiency of loading and unloading livestock. A medium-size shade roof over the core centre equipment provides relief for workers and animals during the humid summer months.