Macka's
Finest Angus Genetics & Carbon Neutral
The story of Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef started back in 1884 when Archie Mackenzie began running cattle in the Port Stephens area of New South Wales in Australia.
Macka’s is a fully vertically integrated Angus breeder, utilising top 1% genetics in Angus breed, carefully curated over 5 generations. Stress-free cattle handling ensures the bright red meat colour and highest quality of the product, with excellent marbling, with all cuts aged for at least 21 days. Their seeding stock is constantly upgraded, with recent record-breaking purchases of seeding bulls and cows.
Macka’s care and focus on sustainable farming and practices helped them achieve truly carbon neutral status.
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Macka's Pillars
Carbon Neutral
Macka's collaborated closely with Hayden Hollis from Agricore to implement his innovative Fieldcore technology, a standardized soil-mapping solution. This technology kickstarted their soil management and pasture improvement process, offering a comprehensive overview of their soil variability. Using ground and aerial equipment equipped with specialized sensors, Macka's gathered data on soil texture, differentiating between sand, silt, and clay. Additionally, Lidar technology was employed to map the land's contours. They introduced multiple pasture species with specific root structures, designed to drive carbon deep into the soil, further enhancing soil health and sustainability. Macka's is observing increased weight gains, highlighting their success in converting grass into kilos of beef while simultaneously sequestering carbon. They have achieved an impressive 94% conception rate in their cow herd within an eight-week joining period. Additionally, their cattle display a noticeably healthier appearance, with shinier coats reflecting their well-being.
Heritage
The Mackenzie family is now entering its 6th generation of owning and developing an innovative, fully integrated paddock-to-plate Angus Beef cattle business. The Macka's story begins in 1884 with the first generation of cattle farmers in their Family, Aunty Audrey and Aunty Bella, who raised their nephew, young Archie Mackenzie, on their property and tended to the growing herd. Running cattle was in Archie’s blood and the quest to produce the highest quality cattle became his passion. Archie passed the first property, and the passion, down to his son Bruce Mackenzie who helps to run the properties today with his only son, Robert and his two boys, James and Jack. The Mackenzie family's vision is to build upon the foundation laid by their Grandfather and Great Grandfather, and elevate their beef operation to new heights through the adoption of best practices and sustainable farming techniques.
Land
Macka's operation spans across eight properties, two of which are located in Port Stephens, NSW, where they run a portion of their commercial cow breeding unit. The remaining six properties are situated 150 km north in the Blue Ribbon region of Gloucester, NSW, where the balance of their commercial and seedstock operation is managed. Macka's believes that soil health is a fundamental aspect of their farming operation and crucial to fulfilling their commitment to the land while running a productive and sustainable farming business. They closely monitor the health of their soil, conducting over 2,600 soil tests during the past two years. Macka's carefully tracks improvements in soil health and identifies areas where further enhancements can be made for optimum productivity and inter-generational sustainability. Healthy soil means healthy plants, which, in turn, ensures quality feed that converts into quality beef.
Seedstock
This program was primarily developed to enable Macka's to breed the type of bulls they require for their commercial operation in large numbers. Their seedstock operation is a pivotal part of their program, and it all begins with genetics. Macka's philosophy is simple: pedigree, phenotype, and performance. As they run a fully integrated beef business, the consistency of their product is paramount. They select genetics from all over the world to continuously build what they believe to be the strongest maternal base, aligned with their environment and end product. It is crucial for Macka's to ensure they breed cattle that perform at every step of the way. They utilise leading technologies to measure and record data, which supports them in making informed future breeding decisions.
Commercial Operation
Macka's commercial breeding herd is another key arm of their business. They currently run 3,500 commercial cows, which are used to breed consistent, high-performance cattle capable of efficiently converting grass into beef. Maternal strength is their focus—fertility, longevity, and a high level of year-in, year-out performance. Macka's expects their cows to calve unassisted, rear top calves, and get back in calf every year. The sires they use from their seedstock operation continue to enhance maternal strength and improve carcass performance. This results in increased yield, easy-doing cattle that can put down fat and improve marbling. Consistency of product remains a crucial driver for their program.
Meat
Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef reflects their commitment to protecting and enhancing the Angus breed through the Verified Angus program. The Verified Angus program provides validation for Black Angus claims, backed by Angus Australia and all Australian Angus producers. Angus Australia is the only independent verifier of Angus breed claims for beef products within Australia. Alongside the Verified Angus program, Macka's is dedicated to going above and beyond within the Angus breed. They have embarked on a focused journey to develop the best Angus genetics within their operation, tailored to their customers' needs. Raising high-quality, high-marbled Verified Angus animals in a pristine environment ensures that Macka’s beef is consistently enjoyed worldwide with every meal.
People
At Macka's Black Angus, they are incredibly grateful for their hardworking and dedicated team, whose efforts make their operation possible. Every individual plays a vital role in the success of Macka's business, from their skilled workers to their knowledgeable staff. They are committed to providing a positive and supportive work environment where team members can grow and expand their skill sets. Macka's dedication extends beyond their team—they are committed to supporting their local communities through active involvement in events and initiatives, building strong relationships with neighbors, contributing to the local economy, and participating in educational programs. By sharing their knowledge with schools and young people in the industry, they aim to inspire the next generation in agriculture.
