Gallery of log for A LOAD OF BULL RACE
My 1000th GCA find.
Australian Illawarra Shorthorn.
Decided I should locate a breed synonymous with the agricultural area I live in so chose the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn or as it is better known nowadays, The Illawarra.
The breed was first developed in 1898 by the Osborne Family who migrated from Northern Ireland. Their descendants are still dairying in the Illawarra region today. The breed was given national importance when the NSW Milk Board opened the Graham Park Artificial Breeding Centre in 1958 near Berry. The Berry facility occupied 75 hectares including bull yards, buildings & a quarantine area. It closed in 1991. Locals still refer to it as ‘The Bull Farm’. The centre bred the finest AIS bulls & the Illawarra breed became one of the highest milk producers across Australia.
I knew of Graham Park from my school days in the 60s when I was living on the Darling Downs in Queensland. My aunt & uncle had an AIS herd on their mixed farm at Westbrook near Toowoomba. The Illawarra is still a popular breed today. I had forgotten about Graham Park until I moved to the Shoalhaven in the late 70s & drove past the centre one day.
Graham Park transported semen by rail in large insulated canisters in straws surrounded by liquid nitrogen. Stud breeders today use the same process but by road. They also remove ovaries & sell these. There is a sign at the gate of a local dairy farm which states "400 eggs for $400" & there's not a chicken in sight!
My bull is on a dairy stud at Terrara which is a rich dairying area just to the east of Nowra. Terrara is also the locality where the first winner of the Melbourne Cup came from. The bull was occupying himself with the task given to him by the farmer & judging by the bellowing of his cows & numerous calves being weaned, is a capable fellow.
I've added a photo of a large herd of Illawarra cattle waiting for the gate to be opened.
This bull has that classic thick neck, powerful full body & reasonable sized lungs - he's a youngster. Obligingly a swish of his tail revealed his manhood.
As usual I forgot to include my GPSr (which I blame on age & now Waymarking).
Thanks OldSaint.
Australian Illawarra Shorthorn.
Decided I should locate a breed synonymous with the agricultural area I live in so chose the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn or as it is better known nowadays, The Illawarra.
The breed was first developed in 1898 by the Osborne Family who migrated from Northern Ireland. Their descendants are still dairying in the Illawarra region today. The breed was given national importance when the NSW Milk Board opened the Graham Park Artificial Breeding Centre in 1958 near Berry. The Berry facility occupied 75 hectares including bull yards, buildings & a quarantine area. It closed in 1991. Locals still refer to it as ‘The Bull Farm’. The centre bred the finest AIS bulls & the Illawarra breed became one of the highest milk producers across Australia.
I knew of Graham Park from my school days in the 60s when I was living on the Darling Downs in Queensland. My aunt & uncle had an AIS herd on their mixed farm at Westbrook near Toowoomba. The Illawarra is still a popular breed today. I had forgotten about Graham Park until I moved to the Shoalhaven in the late 70s & drove past the centre one day.
Graham Park transported semen by rail in large insulated canisters in straws surrounded by liquid nitrogen. Stud breeders today use the same process but by road. They also remove ovaries & sell these. There is a sign at the gate of a local dairy farm which states "400 eggs for $400" & there's not a chicken in sight!
My bull is on a dairy stud at Terrara which is a rich dairying area just to the east of Nowra. Terrara is also the locality where the first winner of the Melbourne Cup came from. The bull was occupying himself with the task given to him by the farmer & judging by the bellowing of his cows & numerous calves being weaned, is a capable fellow.
I've added a photo of a large herd of Illawarra cattle waiting for the gate to be opened.
This bull has that classic thick neck, powerful full body & reasonable sized lungs - he's a youngster. Obligingly a swish of his tail revealed his manhood.
As usual I forgot to include my GPSr (which I blame on age & now Waymarking).
Thanks OldSaint.
Rated: for Overall Experience.
