USA trip opens eyes of young Brahman breeder

As last year’s recipient of the Edgar Hudgins Memorial Scholarship, Amy spent three months this year travelling America to learn about their Brahman breeding, cattle and rural industries.

She said after spending most of her time in Texas and then travelling through Florida and Louisiana, the trip was one she was not likely to forget.

Amy was given the chance to spend most of her time at the J.D. Hudgins Ranch in Texas, but also visited the Houston Stock Show.

With almost 1000 head of Brahmans showed over two days she said the stock show was a definite highlight of her trip.

Now safely back at home on Australian soil, the 21-year-old said she is focused on completing her final year of her occupational therapy degree before returning to the bush to work in rural medicine and hopefully back at home. 

She said most of the knowledge she took from the trip surrounded management strategies and cattle handling, but knowledge of different genetics and possible semen importing opportunities were also exciting.

At home Danarla stud do not import semen, but generally buy progeny off other stud breeders who used imported semen.

She now wants to step forward in the family business and seriously consider importing semen themselves. 

“I was definitely looking into that and the opportunities that are there in the near future,” she said. 

Another learning opportunity Amy said was seeing the way American cattle industry embraced the future generation.

“I myself have been involved in the industry since I was very small,” she said.

But, she added the American approach to youth was a lot more hands-on; money was much more freely flowing and encouragement for youth was rife. 

Now, Amy said she wants to see similar programs started in Australia, not just for Brahman breeders, but for the entire industry. 

While Danarla stud have both registered Red and Grey Brahmans, Amy said her passion has always been the Greys. 

After being the associate judge at the Monto Brahman Feature Show on Saturday, Amy hopes to stay involved in judging at local agricultural cattle shows.