Herefords are tough in cold conditions

And given the cold conditions in his part of the world, he reckons you can’t beat Herefords to fit the bill.

The lifelong Hereford breeder, “Spring Vale”, Omeo, usually runs around 190 breeders on his 607-hectare property, but not all his cattle spend their time at home.

In the summer months, once Mr Flannagan has run an eye over his calves, cows with keeper heifers on them head to his high country leases.

Mr Flannagan’s heifers calve in late April, with his main herd following close behind. Then around Christmas time, he combs through his calves and chooses his best future breeders. These cows and calves are driven about 20 kilometres to the leases. And he takes them himself on horseback with his Kelpies. “I do all my stockwork on horseback,” he said.

He said taking the young heifers to the leases had its advantages. “It toughens them up. And then when they go up as mothers themselves, they are acclimatised to it,” he said. 

Calves are weaned in the third week in January, and steers and cull heifers head to the weaner sale at Omeo in mid-March. Mostly his weaners are sold to feedlots.

Mr Flannagan said he had tried a number of other cattle breeds, such as Shorthorn and Angus, but they didn’t cut the mustard.

“The Herefords have proven to be hardy cattle,” he said. “In the cold country, it can get down to minus 12 degrees, and the Herefords ‘hair up’ well. 

“There can be a foot of snow for a couple of days, and they can take the cold conditions. They are a good-natured beast. They are easy to handle. Once you get a good bloodline, you become proud of them.”

Mr Flannagan is pretty used to making the trip to Wodonga for the national show and sale, this being its 53^rd year. “I reckon I’ve missed a couple,” he said.

He said Wodonga had a great selection of bulls. In the past he has bought bulls from Sugarloaf Creek stud, Corryong, Glendan Park stud, Kyneton, and Mawarra stud, Longford.

Mr Flannagan said one of the best parts of the show and sale was meeting breeders.

“There are some great cattlemen there, and it’s good to have a chat,” he said.