Jason and Amanda Butt know a thing or two about hard work. Between them, they’ve clocked decades in the mining industry and they’ve seen it all: underground, open-cut, greenfield sites – you name it. But beyond the mining industry they have always been drawn to the land and that affinity sparked Victory Cattle Co., a breeding operation that’s been quietly making waves.
Amanda started in mining in 2013, first as an operator with Resco before moving into training coordination with Thiess. She worked at Glencore’s Integra Underground and when that wound up, she moved to Ravensworth where she is now the Training Coordinator.
Jason’s mining journey goes back to 1998 at Cadia Hill Gold Mine with Newcrest. Over the years, he’s worked across NSW and WA in gold, coal and nickel – at both greenfield and established sites – and along the way he has risen from operator to trainer, Mining Supervisor and now Mining Superintendent at Glencore’s Bulga Open Cut.
“There’s a lot of opportunities in the industry, but they don’t just fall in your lap,” Jason said.
“I did a carpentry apprenticeship in a roof truss factory as a teenager and essentially it was cheap labour. At the end of four years, I had no skills and I was pissed at the world.
“When I got into in the mining industry I really wanted to make something of myself. Well.. actually I wanted to be the boss!” he laughed.
“I went in with a clear vision of getting to the top and that’s why I moved everywhere and chased everything. I would always look at things and think, ‘is this going to help me be a boss? Yes. Do it. No, don’t do it’. It was that easy.”
“Now I look back and feel incredibly grateful for the life that the mining industry has given me, us.”
“It is only because of the mining industry that we’ve been able to chase our dream on the land,” added Amanda.
And the dream was always there. Amanda grew up with horses, studied at Tocal College and worked as a vet nurse. Jason comes from a farming family in Dalton where his grandparents ran sheep and cattle. Mining gave them skills and financial stability, but the call of the countryside never faded.
It started modestly: a few cows, some farming equipment and of course a couple of horses for Amanda. Then they discovered Speckle Park cattle – a hardy, feed-efficient breed with eye-catching coats.
“They just had an outstanding temperament compared to other breeds,” said Jason.
“During drought they held condition better than others which really proved their resilience. Even in tough times, these cows just keep going.”
Jason was so impressed with the speckles he decided he wanted to have a go at breeding and putting his own calves on the ground and in 2020, Victory Cattle Co. was born.
Their first herd included eight heifers and a bull to kickstart breeding. From there, they slowly expanded, experimenting with artificial insemination, selective breeding and embryo transfers. Every detail mattered – from early mornings checking cattle to prepping them for vet procedures to managing their nutrition through tough seasons.
Running a cattle operation alongside full-time mining work isn’t easy and Amanda jokes that having a cow is like “having a really big, really expensive dog”. Early mornings, late nights, weekend grind – it all comes with the territory.
“In the middle of winter in the pitch dark and freezing cold Jason will be out at a quarter to four in the morning, bringing in the cattle to have them ready for the vets so they can put in embryos. And that’s before he starts work.
“It’s a balancing act. Mining provides the means and the land provides the meaning.”
Jason said that mining taught them discipline, safety and teamwork which are lessons they now apply daily in the business, in the paddock and at sales.
“Whether managing pits, crews or a herd of bulls, the principles are the same,” said Jason.
“Pay attention, plan ahead and get the best out of what you have.”
Like any new venture it wasn’t without risks, requiring significant investment to get it going and a huge amount of hard work. But it all paid off recently when their bull, Victory Unforgiven U09, sold for $24,000 and achieved top-priced bull honors at a multi-vendor sale in Colinton, Queensland. At just 30 months old and weighing in at a whopping 888 kilograms he is now headed to a Central West Queensland cattle station.
“He was the first bull we’ve put to auction and watching him go under the hammer was incredible though it was nerve-wracking,” Amanda admitted.
“You spend all that time clipping, feeding, prepping, travelling… and then you hope someone sees the value. To have such a massive success really made all that work we had put in worthwhile.”
Jason agreed, “It was like everything we’d been doing for five years came together in one moment. All the long days, all the work in the paddock before shifts, it finally paid off.”
Victory Unforgiven represents more than a sale. He symbolises the Victory Cattle Co. approach to cattle breeding: patience, quality and a long-term vision. It wasn’t just a financial win – it was validation of everything they had worked for.
Speckle Park cattle aren’t just visually striking – they grow efficiently, are feed-friendly and thrive in harsh conditions. That makes them ideal for commercial operators across Australia, particularly in drier regions where traditional breeds like Angus and Hereford can struggle.
Jason is on the board of directors and serves as secretary of Speckle Park International which helps guide breeding standards, herd book management and the future direction of the breed.
“We want cattle that make a difference for other studs and farmers, not just our own herd,” Jason said.
“They have to be good-looking, good-tempered and deliver excellent meat. One day when you order off a menu we hope you will see the name Speckled Park sitting above Wagyu!”
Droughts, early sales and building a reputation have tested them, but focusing on quality over quantity has paid off. Their cattle now go to South Australia, NSW and Queensland and each success reinforces their philosophy: patience, persistence and careful planning. From the start, they planned for long-term success, investing in quality genetics, breeding programs and the right infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Amanda and Jason hope to expand their herd and maybe one day in the future make the stud their main focus. For now, mining and farming coexist perfectly.
“Victory Cattle Co. is more than a business to us, it’s a legacy,” said Jason.
Image caption: Jason and Amanda with daughters Alissa and Isabel. IMAGE CREDIT: La Bella Vita Photography
