The cattle are sold through the Biggenden Saleyards. Now they go to Slack's Hardwood, Gayndah. The Dingles previously sold their logs to the late Arnie Dingle's South Burnett Sawmill. 'It's all about the quality, the diameter and the length of the millable timber. The spotted gum, blue gum and ironbark trees are harvested on about a 15-year cycle, when they achieve a minimum trunk diameter of 40cm. To achieve the ideal density, competing timber is removed about every five years, a job which keeps Arthur and Valerie Dingle's son Clive, daughter Beryl and worker Keely Wedrag constantly on the go. 'I've always said you just have to pick what you reckon is the right path, keep going and do it right.'

'There is also the added advantage that keeping the trees under control means we are able to continually grow the grass required by the cattle. It's hard work dealing with the regrowth and rubbish and keeping the density at the right level.

'Experience shows that if we can keep the density of trees at about 100 stems an acre (240 stems/ha), we can very successfully grow commercial logs. 'The wonderful thing about this Mount Perry country is it can certainly grow trees as well as produce good-quality cattle,' Mr Dingle said.

The 3200 hectare operation, which ranges from fertile creek flats through to moderate and even some steep hills, runs about 1000 high-quality Droughtmaster cattle, including 500 breeders.Īrthur Dingle said being in a 915mm (36 inch) rainfall belt was a big advantage. Long associated with the historic North Burnett town, the Dingles have developed the complementary dual-income system over generations by carefully managing the landscape. MANAGED stands of hardwood timber and Droughtmaster cattle are proving the perfect match for the Dingle family at Arvale, Mount Perry. Clive Dingle and Keely Wedrag in a magnificent stand of managed spotted gums on Arvale, Mount Perry - the result of a landscape management system developed over generations.

Mount and blade cattle disappear