JAD Speckle Park
JAD Speckle Park Overview
JAD Speckle Park is a cattle breeding business launched in late 2016 by Justin and Amy Dickens. The business operates on a 1206-hectare (2985 acres) livestock grazing operation located at "Greenvale," Yeoval, between Dubbo and Orange in Central West New South Wales (NSW). Their mission is to improve the efficiency, resilience, and profitability of their herd while delivering high-quality beef products to consumers.
Business Practices
JAD Speckle Park emphasizes a regenerative approach to land management to maintain a healthy business. This includes extensive perennial pasture improvement and high-density rotational grazing practices. The company's breeding philosophy focuses on optimizing cow size, maximizing return per hectare, and enhancing profitability. The breeding program utilizes advanced technologies such as embryo transfer (ET), artificial insemination (AI), and genomic analysis to achieve genetic gains.
Background
Justin Dickens has extensive experience in the cattle industry, having worked on various commercial and seedstock properties. He has a background in managing Angus cattle and has undertaken various training programs in farm management. Amy Dickens has a background in journalism and public relations, and she has been actively involved in agricultural communication and public relations.
The business has a commitment to using science and data to improve decision-making processes, ensuring that all practices are measured and analyzed for continuous improvement.
Community Engagement
JAD Speckle Park is dedicated to engaging with the community and industry stakeholders. Justin Dickens was elected as a Director on the Board of the Speckle Park breed society, Speckle Park International (SPI), and has played a significant role in the breed's development.
Amy Dickens created the 'Speckle Park Cattle: Info & Classifieds, Australia' Facebook group to facilitate knowledge sharing among breeders and enthusiasts. Although this group was shut down, she later established the Australian Speckle Park Breeders Discussion Group.