AVENUE Range Angus breeders Ben and Samantha Glatz know the grass will grow back in their blackened paddocks and burnt fences can be replaced, but by far the greatest devastation for them from the recent Blackford bushfire was the loss of so many of their stud cattle.
Their property was the hardest hit in the intense blaze, losing between 230 and 250 cows, weaner bulls and heifers and with them 25 years of breeding.
Another 30 breeding females, with minor burns, were sent to the abattoir.
"Instead of calving about 330 females starting in April we will probably calve 130, but the issue going forward is our replacements, there are some big losses in some of the younger age groups," Mr Glatz said.
As well as all of their pastures, the fire claimed 90 per cent of their fences along with two hay sheds, the shearing shed, horse stables, work vehicle, farm machinery, fodder and 450 bales of hay and silage.
It also destroyed the homestead garden and nearly reached both the front and back door of the Glatz family's house.
Miraculously, the home was saved by the aerial water bombers.
Despite these unimaginable losses, the couple still count themselves lucky to have each other and sons Dylan and Jack, as well as their home.
"As much as the fire has devastated us, we have huge sympathy for everyone that it has affected," Mrs Glatz said.
"We don't feel alone, everyone has had huge losses, especially Neil and Chris (Watts) next door that have lost their home."
They say the kindness and support of friends, as well as strangers, has been an enormous comfort for them.
The Glatz family were enjoying a relaxing beach holiday near Geelong, Vic, when they got word there was a fire at home, five hours away.
They are hugely grateful to Greg Fisher, Clover Ridge, Marcollat, who drove up their driveway as the fire front approached to move stock to safety, cutting fences and even putting their dog on the back of his ute.
"He had to cut fences in the north-east corner to get out and in the end the water bomber dropped a load of water on him so he must have been right in the middle of the fire."
But as soon as the fire had passed that afternoon, Mr Fisher was back and the following day he organised the vet inspection as well as the logistics of burying stock.
Mr and Mrs Glatz also cannot thank enough friends and fellow stud breeders Damian Gommers, Keith, and Tom Baker, Furner, who were instrumental in organising and managing stock movements.
Mr Baker and his wife Lizzy have generously provided agistment for the 2021 sale bulls and offered them their Woonallee sale complex at Furner for both Glatz's Black Angus stud's Beef Week field day and bull sale next month.
Remarkably, this year's 70 sale bulls have largely escaped unscathed.
Two other mobs are also on agistment with friends and clients.
"We only have 14 cattle here which we found at the neighbours which are on a bit of green grass by the dam," Mr Glatz said.
"It is nice having them here especially as we are treating them and they are on the improve."
He says they are taking it "one day at a time" but know it will be a long road ahead financially and numbers-wise to rebuild their herd.
They remain committed to breeding top quality Angus cattle, even selling cows that survived the fire but which had pregnancy tested empty.
"It might have been tempting for a lot of people to say we'll hold onto these with such big losses but we have stuck to our rules," Mr Glatz said.
Mr and Mrs Glatz feel very passionate about cattle and what they do and are confident with the help of their sons Dylan and Jack, they can rebuild slowly.
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