ARCBA: Hereford breed in safe hands

Miss Stewart finished a Bachelor of Agriculture at Melbourne University last year and has been working at Warwick Court Herefords since January.

Her role involves general farm management and genetic selection, and the breeders have just finished calving and joining.

She's off a small farm and has spent time on family properties around Tooma.

"I just always had a passion for the country, animals and the land, so when this job arose I wanted to give it a go," she said.

"At uni I was interested in biology and genetics so this is a way to put it into practice.

"I've still got a lot to learn but it has been good, and I'm open to other career opportunities in the beef industry."

Miss Stewart said she had more insight into agricultural career pathways following the Intercollegiate Meat Judging competition at Wagga Wagga last year.

"It was amazing, and aside from the competition, the speakers were really interesting," she said.

"It opened my eyes to so many different jobs and areas of the meat industry."

Catherine Coghill doesn't work in the beef industry, but she's hoping to share her skills in finance and corporate governance to help agricultural organisations and breed societies.

Ms Coghill, 35, works full-time in finance for Tennis Australia and her parents own Ke Warra Poll Herefords, based at Moorooduc, Victoria.

The stud has about 50 registered breeders, run on 60 hectares.

Ke Warra stud was founded in 2003 using females from Hilandale Poll Herefords, which was established by Ms Coghill's grandparents in 1960.

She recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

"I'd like to get a bit more involved in the family farm, and the stud, and be involved in the beef industry," Ms Coghill said.

"I'd like to use my finance and business management skills to add benefit to organisations and breed societies.

"The conference was a great networking opportunity to meet other people and learn about their involvement in the beef industry."

Sarah Day's background is in seedstock sheep and cattle, but her career is focused further down the supply chain.

The 23-year-old's parents own South Australian stud Days Whiteface, which has about 300 breeders, and her great grandfather Allen established the Allendale stud in 1949.

Miss Day is now based in Brisbane, working for Meat and Livestock Australia, after studying a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business at the University of New England, Armidale.

As part of the Meat Standards Australia team, she works in research and development, producer engagement and business development with processing plants.

Miss Day has her own breeders at home, and is still involved with some of the genetic decisions, but she's enjoying her career.

She became interested in postitions at the end of the supply chain after studying meat science and having a university placement at Teys Naracoorte.

"I find eating quality and this end of the supply chain really interesting, and it's an exciting space to be in at the moment with research and new technologies being developed to measure different traits in carcases.

"But I'm still very interested in genetics as well because it all links together."

Tim Reid is a familiar face in the show ring, and has experience in stud and commercial operations.

He and his wife Jemma are both fourth generation Hereford breeders, and the couple established their own stud, JTR Cattle Company, in 2014.

The couple now has about 70 Hereford cows and 30 Angus breeders at Roslyn, along with managing an 810-hectare property with 600 commercial Angus and black baldy cows.

After finishing school and his apprenticeship Mr Reid lived in North Amercia for two-and-a-half years, travelling from Quebec to Saskatchewan and throughout the United States.

"I worked for stud breeders, showed for Harvie Ranching and Hamilton Farms Angus stud, and worked at Independent Breeders Services, a semen collection place. I learnt a lot of different things over there and fine-tuned techniques in showing and clipping."

Mr Reid exhibits at local shows and the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and sells bulls through the Dubbo and Wodonga national multi-vendor sales. He hopes to increase numbers in the future and run a bigger commercial herd, but for now he's focused on improving quality.

"We're chasing the maternal aspects of Herefords to build a strong female line.

"We're really pushing bulls carcase attributes like intramuscular fat, yield and eye muscle area, to use bulls with good data to complement our maternal side."

Bart Bowen is continuing his family legacy in whiteface cattle, running Bowen Downs Poll Herefords at Meandarra, Qld.

The stud began in the 1970s and Mr Bowen took over in 2015. Prior to that, in 2003, he started his own small herd.

He was treasurer of the Herefords Queensland Youth Association for about 10 years then served as president, helping to organise annual shows and youth events.

Mr Bowen, 27, also has an off farm career, working as a property valuer for almost 10 years.

"Like most young fellas I wanted to work on farm and be at home but Dad wanted me to get a degree, so I worked full-time as well," Mr Bowen said.

His parents are based on an irrigated cropping block near Warwick, where they run trade cattle.

Stud breeders are run on the Meandarra property, which Mr Bowen purchased in 2014. Drought has had a huge impact on numbers, with the herd cut in half from 100 breeders to 50.

"It's stilll run in conjunction with mum and dad, so the weaners are grown out at Warwick to mature bulls and females," Mr Bowen said.

"We sell bulls privately and we also sell a percentage of the females as first calvers.

"With the drought we've been taking older cows from my place to Warwick to sell them so we can retain the youngest genetics in the herd."