IDP Committee recently held a road trip through New South Wales with Tom Cochrane lodging the following report.
The trip started at Sydney airport 9am on the 17th June, we drove north 3.5hrs to Denman to visit Brian and Debbie Parkers herd. We looked over the herd to see quite a few animals by PT bulls including ISMC, ISPIMP, SCARLET and ROYALTREBLE, and one other great cow CP Elizabeth(KYBLUE) is the dam of a new bull to go into Semex CP ELMO. He is by Royal Treble.
After a great lunch put on by Debbie, we headed off back down south to Mittagong where we stayed the night. An early start for us with being out on farm at 6.45am to see the Norman cattle at Brad Snowden's property. A fine line up of the Jean family including the reigning Sydney Senior Champion and 3 of her progeny (LANDOVER,REDMONARCH & ROYALTREBLE)
Next down the mountain to the coast to Dave and Ash Henry’s farm to inspect a very youthful herd of cows, that included animals by PT sons like LANDMINE, ISMC, KGSUNRISE and ISPIMP. We also found a quite impressive CROWN PLUM cow that the committee could be interested in.
Back in the car, over the river to Tim & Nat Cochrane’s farm where we looked at the calf shed with young calves by THORPE, ROYALTREBLE and BELAIGO, and also checked out about 35 cows that had been kept back, that included cows by TALENT, VISCOUNT, SCARLET, LANDMINE, ISPIMP & ROYALTREBLE. We also looked at a young bull by STARTRUMP with a far bit of interest.
From there down the road to a welcoming Ron and Sam Grahams Aussie Red Stud, after looking at the herd, we are still thinking that the older FYNAKS cows are the standout, but with interest to see how the next round of young bulls turn out, most of which are Bangkoks.
Like a car with wings we head to Tom and Kyleigh Cochranes for a hearty lunch made by Kyleigh, and on to see the herd in 3 paddocks because a wire was down, we found young cows by ISPIMP, LANDMINE, SCARLET and FYNAKS, we also found a TMOBERG cow with a young ISPINGERLY bull to inspect later. We looked at KGSANDMAN's Dam to find her quite a dairy animal.
A short trip was taken out to Daniel and Rebecca Cochranes new farm to see the sights just before dark. Dinner was at the Archer Resort Bistro (Nowra) with our formal meeting held after tea.
Another early start and on the road heading south to Narooma to Geoff and Graham Hopkins to look at a ISPINGERLY bull, interesting that the Hopkins have tried the Aussie Reds and Holsteins and are back to using all Illawarra bulls now. Next stop down the road to Charles Lucas’ property, driving in we find a great view of the ocean meeting the rolling hills of a valley. Charles had kept back about a dozen cows from their mixed herd for us to look at, he is using some of the young bulls available.
Back in the car to Paul Ringlands and a SHORT visit to see a great family of Poppy cows including one Stelbro Radius cow with a ISPINGERLY son. A herd where LANDOVER has worked well.
The last farm on our travels was Rob and Pip Russells in Bega where the committee drove in past the herd to be quite impressed with the line up of cattle in this herd. A home bred VPRINCE bull has worked well, and there is a KOSCIUSKO cow that is still looking like she has a lot to offer. A quick hot lunch and back on the road to Canberra to see the South Australians make their plane by 5 minutes. All in all a good trip with great cows and good hospitality.
Picture Attached - in photo L to R - Russel Moxey and Committee members Ian Mueller, Warren Doecke, Shane Bourke, Michael Tuhan, Tom Cochrane and Tony Hayes. Photo taken at Robert and Pip Russells, Bega.