The Gascoyne Catchments Group Inc recently hosted a two-day, hands-on stock handling workshop at Lyndon Station, led by renowned stockman and educator Steve Burke. The training aimed to upskill the regional pastoral workforce – especially the next generation – with practical, science-backed techniques for working with cattle.
Seventeen participants from across the Gascoyne region came together to improve their understanding of cattle behaviour, pressure and positioning, and calm handling methods. The workshop combined theory with practical sessions on mustering, yard work, and drafting.
What participants took away
Attendees walked away with valuable insights, including:
The cattle are always right – working with their behaviour, not against it
Combining science and instinct to better understand how cattle think and move
Letting go of old habits and adopting more effective, low-stress techniques
Staying calm and connected – because calm people make calm cattle
Recognising how mindset, energy and movement influence livestock and team dynamics
Networking and peer learning opportunities with others in the pastoral industry
Why it matters
Workshops like this one support several key priorities for the Rangelands region, including:
Improving stock handling to reduce transport shrinkage and ease the transition to finishing
Better understanding of stocking rates and their environmental and economic impacts
Supporting adaptive management strategies
Helping pastoralists make informed business decisions using cost-benefit principles
Supported by the Future Drought Fund
The workshop was made possible through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, delivered via the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and its Regional Node Rangelands NRM.