Rotherwood Farming

The herd began in the late 1950's with 26 heifers bought from 'Glenelg @ Gretna. In 1963 we started weighing calves, calculating weight ratios, and culling cows whose calves underperformed we were probably the first Angus herd in Tasmania to do performance recording. Over the next few years, sires were purchased from Tasmania, Victoria and New Zealand with variable results. Some performed well, but others not so well as home-bred sires. Others had to be culled due to their foot problems along with their progeny.

In the early 1970's an Agricultural Officer suggested setting up a nucleus breeding scheme, with 6 breeders supplying their best heifers to the nucleus and receiving a set ratio of bulls in return. Rotherwood was chosen to host the nucleus herd. The aim was to have a regular supply of bulls of the type the members desired, which would improve their herds, at a reasonable cost. The bulls to be used in the nucleus, or supplied, were chosen at a meeting in June, when the new heifers arrived. This worked well for 33 years until it was wound up because of a drop in the number of herds, owner retirement and property/herd sale, when the gene pool became too small. It had initially been 2,000 cows.

The herd enrolled in Breed plan from the beginning, as an Angus Performance Registered herd. At the time our 200day and 600day weight EBV's were about 20% above breed average until the influence of North American genetics occurred. Our aim is to keep birth weights low, while maximizing 600day weights with improved muscling and keeping our reputation for docile cattle with good conformation. To give us access to the best available genetics we are now using Al. Surplus cows and heifers (EU accredited) have been sold at the Powranna Autumn Commercial Cattle Sale.

After many years selling bulls privately we decided to move to a Helmsman Auction System in 2012 We felt that it would provide the fairest method of selling bulls by auction. The sales have worked well for us and buyers were happy with the type of auction system that we used, as it gave prospective purchasers time to go back and look at the bulls during the auction, and change their preferred animal if so desired.

2023 marks the 61st year of performance recording within our herd. There are not many herds that can claim to have had such a lengthy period, and we are proud to have achieved it.

Rotherwood is in the Ouse Valley, 4kms NE of the village of Ouse - Next to the start of the Central Highlands.

It is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Hobart or 2 hours from Launceston.