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26/08/2025
Condamine’s Guy and Nicole Campbell
Thanks to a highly considered approach to business, Condamine’s Guy Campbell is looking well beyond the farm gate, breeding cattle that add value at every point in the supply chain.
And this long-term commitment to genetics has recently earned Guy and wife, Nicole, Champion Carcass Non-HGP in the Royal Queensland Show RNA Paddock to Palate competition.
Aligning values along the supply chain
Guy, who runs 1,200 breeders in a commercial Angus heard, has spent the past 15 years designing a herd that not only appeals to their primary customer – feedlots – but one that also suits processors further down the chain.
“Through leveraging Estimated Breeding Values we aim to breed an animal that can perform well in a feedlot, yet one that can also maintain intramuscular fat for the meatworks, and in turn provide a product with superior eating quality for the consumer,” Guy explains.
“We’re breeding for high IMF and a good growth rate so that cattle keep performing at every step in the supply chain, well beyond our initial feedlot customer.”
“If we sell a product to the feedlot, yet then it cuts with no fat at the meatworks then that’s not good – if our product won’t sell at the end of the chain then what’s the point – we need a win/win scenario.”
By looking further along the chain, Guy is also taking advantage of potential price premiums.
“Our genetics aren’t just about benefitting us, they’re providing value across the board, and hopefully that’s reflected through better pricing.”
Guy Campbell
“We’re trying to aim for high marbling and good performance in the 400-600 day weight range. We’re finding feedlots have so much data on your cattle that if you keep producing an article that they make money on at their end, they’re going to be coming back to you with a premium because they know your cattle can perform and that’s the relationship we want,” says Guy.
Certified non-Hormone Growth Promotants (non-HGP) also enable their product access to the EU market – providing their customers even further market flexibility.
Building a business, not just a farm
In partnership with his parents John and Barbara, Guy and Nicole run an impressive aggregation of five properties in Queensland’s Condamine region, totalling 10,500 hectares.
While the vast majority of the operation is focussed on cattle breeding, 1,600 hectares of cropping supports fodder crops and grain production for dual income.
However Guy admits that his future on the farm wasn’t always a given, and credits Rabobank’s Executive Development Program for energizing him to develop a progressive and data-driven beef operation.
“I took part in the EDP in 2015/16 and it highlighted to me how far behind I was in knowing my numbers, and that there was a real need to concentrate on implementing good systems to monitor cattle numbers, movements, data and genetics – we needed to know what we were working with.”
Guy at his EDP Graduation Event
Goal setting and a business plan developed thanks to the EDP also help set the Campbells' compass towards the future.
“The EDP really emphasised the need to know your customer, and that reputation is everything – and through our breeding program we can now track the performance of each animal, which genuinely underpins our reputation.”
He said the variety of participants at the EDP also offered perspective, and valuable insights for their own business.
“When we first arrived I felt like a bit of an imposter amongst some very successful and high profile farmers, yet by the end of the course I realised we all had the same challenges regardless of whether we had one acre, or a million, and it was an incredible opportunity to network and learn from each other.”
The program also encouraged Guy to appreciate the small tweaks that can have a big impact.
“Those one percenters can lead to significant savings, and the EDP helped me to look small rather than big – which has helped generate significant value in our business.”
Another point of difference the EDP afforded was the opportunity to engage Nicole in the conversation.
With partners invited to participate in the final sessions, Guy said it was motivating being able to discuss learnings, challenges and opportunities together, and within the EDP network, during the tail-end of the program.
“It enables the conversation to begin before the program ends so Nicole and I are both on the same page – rather than me bombarding her with ideas and plans upon my return home!”
Investing for long-term resilience
Guy admits he was unsure where the business was going when he first took part in the EDP, yet the newfound knowledge of its opportunities, and confidence in agriculture gained thanks to the program was the kick-start he needed.
“Mum and Dad helped us into our first farm, which we’re very grateful for,” he reflects. “It gave us skin in the game which I believe is essential for a genuine business mind-set, and off the back of the EDP we began investing in the business.”
Drought mitigation was one of the first opportunities Guy identified, and the business has since invested in an 1000 head feeding area, as well as silage, and feedlotting capabilities if required during dry seasons.
Nicole and Guy are building a future-fit farming enterprise
“I don’t believe Dad’s generation had enough safety nets when it came to climatic downturns, so we’ve invested heavily in drought mitigation measures so we can work through seasonal challenges and retain our core genetics.”
“Our genetics are an asset, it takes a long time to get to where you are in breeding, so if you have to sell off those genetics every drought that’s a real kick in the guts.”
Investing in technology also helps Guy “sleep at night”, with tank and water monitors a helpful labour saving.
“When you’re busy it’s so helpful knowing that water management is taken care of, and you can concentrate on the next job at hand – of which there are plenty!”
Taking the bull by the horns
The Campbells traditionally purchase around ten new stud bulls each season, their Angus stud sales of choice include JK Cattle Company, Rennylea Angus, Sandon Glenoch Angus, Clunie Range Angus, Hazeldean, and Ascot Cattle Co.
Their Angus EBVs calculator parametres buying bulls include IMF over +2.5, EMA over +5.0 and 400-day weight over +100kg and no birth weight over 5.5kg.
This year, however, Guy believes their herd genetics are strong enough that he’s going to retain six of his own bulls as “back up”.
“If I’m game enough to keep heifers, then I need to back myself with my bulls,” he explains. “The genetic footprint of a cow over a lifetime is 10 to 12 calves, which is significant, and we’re equally confident our bulls have the genetics to contribute to our continually improving herd.“
Inaugural Ekka success
The genetic strength of Guy’s cattle was validated recently during the Royal Queensland Show RNA Paddock to Palate competition – which is judged across multiple performance indicators including weight gain, carcase traits, and eating quality, and rewards cattle that perform consistently across the supply chain.
Guy and Nicole celebrate their recent Ekka success
This was the first time the Campbells have entered Angus cattle in the competition, with Guy thrilled by their results.
“We see the competition as a valuable opportunity to benchmark, and to determine how we weigh up against others in the Angus breed, and the industry,” Guy explains. “It also provides a mark of confidence in our genetics, and that our investment in bulls has been worthwhile.”
In addition to receiving Champion Carcass, the Campbells also achieved second place in the MSA Eating Quality Competition, and were judged 12th overall.
“It’s very nice to come home with some ribbons, but the best thing about competitions is that it showcases that the whole supply chain is continually improving to deliver a quality offering to the consumer – and that determines all our profits.”
Growing with Rabobank
Another valuable insight Guy learnt from the EDP was knowing the businesses around you, and how they can be leveraged to maximise your own operation.
“From our accountants to our stock agents, we probably took their impact on our operation for granted, but having an understanding of their business, and how that can benefit ours, is crucial.”
And it’s a learning that’s been demonstrated through the Campbells relationship with Rabobank, and their rural manager Alyce Bryans out of the Dalby branch.
Guy and Rabobank Manager, Alyce Bryans, celebrate the recent announcement of Rabobank as RFI’s Most Recommended Agribusiness.
“I’ve learnt to be more open and honest about our business with Alyce, and our strong business plan and vision has been very beneficial in helping our operation grow.”
“We’ve had a lot of development costs in recent years as we invest on-farm in feedlots, silos, and capital assets, and so if there’s a problem with cash flow come bull buying season it’s up to us to make sure Alyce has the confidence and flexibility to back us.”
“Alyce’s interest in our business is genuine, she knows our goals, our vulnerabilities, and she’s working hard to make our aspirations a reality.”
Having enjoyed a number of good seasons now and a strong growth period, Guy said his next priority was to reduce debt and prepare for the next inevitable downturn.
“My grandfather was a shearer in the Warialda and Yetman regions, and bought his first property here in the Condamine region off a sheep’s back,” Guy reflects. “Mum and dad are starting to retire, and now it’s my tenure, which is exciting.”
“My grandfather and father build an incredible business, and with three sons of our own, Hunter, 11, Finn, nine and Archer, six, Nicole and I are looking forward to continuing this strong family legacy backed by data, genetics and a strong business vision.”