YOUNG South East Hereford breeder Georgie Beighton has doubled the size of her Karmoola stud, winning one of the major prizes at Herefords Australia’s National Youth Expo in Qld last weekend.
The 19-year-old from Penola was the recipient of the Most Potential Hereford Breeder Award, given to an entrant who shows the most potential to breed whiteface cattle and have a positive impact on the breed.
Ms Beighton said she was “lost for words” to win August 2016-drop heifer Yagaburne Amy M197, donated by the Glasser family, Goodnwindi, Qld.
“It is a very, very nice heifer and the type I am looking for in my herd,” she said.
Ms Beighton established her stud early this year after receiving a heifer from her aunt and uncle, Annie and Andrew Bell’s Red Gum Herefords, Millicent, for Christmas.
“I have grown up around the commercial side of Herefords,” she said.
“We have been buying bulls in NSW for a long time because we have very specific requirements with high eye muscle area and low birthweight, as well as a nice phenotype which we can’t find in SA.
“I want to breed well-muscled bulls to use over our commercial herd to improve our intramuscular fat, especially with the new JBS brand (Hereford Boss), we need to have a good quality herd.”
Ms Beighton is studying a Bachelor of Animal Science at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, and is keen to pursue a career in livestock genetic research.
Earlier this year, she was the co-recipient of the CM Hocking Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Herefords Australia.
The four-day event hosted by the Qld Youth Group attracted 81 entrants, aged seven to 25 years, from across Australia.
Qld Herefords Youth Association president Kate Reid said the group was thrilled with the successful event.
The program included parading, junior judging and public speaking sessions, as well as presentations on nutrition, cattle analysis, safety, MSA grading, animal health and advertising.
Champion parader was Aleacea Nixon, Dulacca, Qld.
