THREE GENERATIONS
OF COMMERCIAL & STUD BEEF BREEDING
MERV AND MARJ LAWREY
Founders of Yerwal Estate
The late Merv and Marj Lawrey founded the Yerwal Estate Simmental Stud in 1973 with some of the first Simmental semen used in Australia. After dabbling in Shorthorns and Charolais and with a substantial Merino sheep herd, Merv shifted his focus onto Simmental cattle. Merv’s objectives were simple: “Breeding for the market of the day – big framed, heavy, strong milking cattle”.
The land was part of an original holding owned by Aussie O’Grady of Reid Murray, and was purchased in 1963. Merv and Marj raised three daughters, Marilyn, Loris, and Jennifer, but the family didn’t reside on the property until 1972 after relocating and converting an existing shearer’s quarters.
Prior to this, the Lawrey’s lived in Naracoorte where the girls attended school, and Merv commuted daily. Originally from the Victorian Mallee district, Merv was no stranger to hardship and the highs and lows of farming. With no son to pass on his many words of wisdom, Trevor Burow – married to his daughter, Marilyn – became his proxy; with the two men working side-by-side for decades.
Merv’s grandson Regan showed a passion for the land, and for the cattle specifically. From a very early age, he was never far from his father or Grandfather’s side. Regan became Merv’s “project” and Stud Master-in-training, with Merv passing over the management of the stud to Regan in 1997, at just 21 years of age. From this point on he only gave advice and opinions, leaving the decisions, both good and bad, to Regan. To this day they have a strong bond and passionately discuss the cattle industry at every opportunity.
Sadly both Merv and Marj are now deceased, but their legacy lives on through the Burow family. The road where the property is located is named Lawrey’s Road after Merv and Marj Lawrey. Yerwal Estate also carries the Lawrey name with “Yerwal” being the Lawrey surname spelt backwards.
TREVOR BUROW
Yerwal Estate’s Chief Maintenance Officer
Originally from Robertstown, Trevor Burow, was born into a farming family of three boys. He moved to Naracoorte in 1973 with his wife Marilyn and young daughter Michelle to help his in-laws with their property. Financial hardship was a way of life in these early years and Trevor’s knowledge of the piggery industry became invaluable with the decline of cattle prices.
Trevor introduced pigs to the farm as a way of supplementing their income. They were awarded the salvage rights to the defunct Naracoote butter factory in 1975 and began the slow process of dismantling the building, and using the materials to erect a purpose-built piggery on the farm. The process was completed in 1976 and the building is still in use today.
Trevor and Marilyn added two sons to their young family during these early years – Regan and Jason. Shortly after, Jason’s arrival, Marilyn was diagnosed with MS and following a long and cruel illness, she lost her battle in 1997. Her legacy is three fantastic children who have all gone on to make their mark in the world; Michelle, Regan and Jason.
Trevor has a strong understanding of mechanics and is a natural problem solver; these skills have given him the ‘title’ of Yerwal Estate’s chief maintenance officer! He oversees the feedlot cattle and the piggery operation from a distance, entrusting its daily operation to Lindsay’s capable hands, and also handles the farm accounting. Trevor is also a keen marksman and is Treasurer of the Naracoorte Pistol Club.
REGAN & Connie BUROW
Furthering Growth in the Local Community
Connie and Regan, along with Regan’s children, Mitchell and Lacey, live at Yerwal Estate located in Lucindale, SA. Regan strongly supports the school’s agricultural program and donates steers annually for the future generations of the agricultural industry. Regan and Connie are passionate about their business of stud and commercial cattle production and enjoy the challenge of breeding the best cattle possible. We enjoy scouring the countryside for outcross genetics, both imported and home grown to enhance our already strong herd.
A great deal of research takes place behind the scenes with Regan inspecting the progeny of prospective sires and taking into account maturity patterns, temperament, structure, growth, and carcass traits, before any breeding decisions are made. Regan undertakes the preg-testing and Artificial Insemination of females on farm. He also assists with the Embryo Transfer preparation of donor cows for eggs to be collected each flush by Gary from Genesis.
Regan has embraced the opportunity of taking over from his grandfather, Merv, and has produced some outstanding results across the board. Yerwal Estate is what you’d call a highly diversified cattle farming operation. Not only does the principal, Regan, Connie and his father Trevor, operate both Angus and Simmental studs, they also farm cattle commercially. Regan undertakes all the artificial insemination and pretesting on farm to ensure high fertility and conception rates are maintained. His strict selection and extensive embryo transfer programs have enabled more elite genetics to hit the ground sooner.
Connie also is very hands on the farm and assist with the day to day running. Connie is a qualified Registered Nurse and comes from a stud and commercial cattle operation. Trevor, although very mechanically minded, also assists with the daily stud operations and takes great pride in the Yerwal Estate studs.
THE NEXT GENERATION
Growing the Family Business
Regan’s children, Mitchell and Lacey, live on the Yerwal Estate farm and attend Lucindale Area School. Mitchell has a passion for mechanics and assists with the day-to-day operations when required. Lacey enjoys the farm and has a very nurturing passion for the animals at Yerwal. Mitchell attended his first SA Junior Heifer Expo in 2021 and looks forward to continuing to learn more about the cattle industry.
