ABOUT "KURRAJONG"

Kurrajong, the property is almost 3000 acres of undulating country on the edge of ancient volcanoes that rose from Australia’s inland sea giving rise to mixed soil types from sandy to heavy black basalt.

The climate is hot in summer  but mild in winter with an average rainfall of 650mm (26") distributed evenly throughout the year however falls have been well below average in the last few years (the most severe drought in one hundred years). Around one quarter is cropped with lucerne and winter cereals but the grazing land is unimproved native pasture. Kurrajong trees dot the landscape providing shelter and drought fodder reserve.

STUD HISTORIES

VIX DEVONS

The Edwards family have been Devon breeders in Australia for over 150 years, the early generations had highly prized teams of oxen hauling Cedar from the forests, which was pit sawn and then transported by bullock drawn wagons to towns and seaports for cabinet making or export.

Vic is the first to breed registered Devons founding the Palinga herd with his family in 1985 by selecting the best performance recorded Devons available from herds in Tasmania (Lewisham, Longacres, Rathmore and Roseneath) and NSW (Coppermine, Havilah, Tirranna and Wombramurra). In 1987 Palinga won Grand Champion female at Sydney Royal Show with Lewisham Linda 88 and the following two years Reserve female Champion with Wombramurra Brassy B49 and continued to win major awards at successive Royal Shows.

Fred Edwards Bullock Team

Vix Devons began in 2003 from the equal division of the Palinga herd, moving most of the herd to Kurrajong. However part of the herd is run on his 500 acre property, “Zeinegers”, near Stroud in an 1100mm (44”) coastal rainfall zone.

Vic has spent all his working life breeding animals of many different breeds for himself and the many clients of his extensive Artificial Breeding business of over 40 years. Kurrajong is also base for Vix Stock Breeding an artificial breeding service, and Kurrajong Breeding Centre, a licensed export quarantine area for semen and embryo collection.

Lewisham Linda

Wombramurra Brassy at 14 years of age

GOWAN ROSS DEVONS

Alison founded Gowan Ross Devons in a small way on a property of the same name in the Blue Mountains surrounded by a spectacular World Heritage wilderness.

Original females were purchased from Palinga followed by some from the Havilah and Ashwood dispersals and some sound aged matrons from Belar, Longacres and recently, Benoak.

Three particular cows have had a major impact on the herds development produced outstanding offspring. Palinga Jenny S71, a prolific top bull breeder, Palinga Amy U39 who bred the Chocolate family line and GR Zapper. Havilah Atlanta 4th  whose excellent progeny include GR Magnum sire of Belrieve Rifle and Vix Bomber B52.

Ally with Zapper Z88 (P)

POLL DEVONS

The Australian beef industry is increasingly demanding hornless cattle. Gowan Ross and Vix herds have moved towards dehorning most of their cattle through genetics.

Ally and Vic were fortunate to obtain from the late Keith Lober MBE the progeny of his reserved best cows for their last 6 years. These calves made a great foundation, sound functional breeders and yielded two homozygous poll sires in Lone Pine and Xception to the Rule.   To these were added some selected cows of Havilah and Belar breeding.

Semen from British and New Zealand poll sires has complemented our program, the latest addition being Tapuwae 635 (P).

Glen William Sommer (P)