Seeing Red

Frank Kelly wants more Australian farmers to look at Aussie Reds as their breed of choice and he’s helping to promote the breed with his first bull entering the AI system.

Frank’s Winifred Denis – named in honour of his parents – is now available through Genetics Australia and Frank hopes he’s the first of many.

“I’ll be rapt if he does well for my first one up and there’s no reason why we can’t breed a few more,” he said. “We’ve got good enough cows to breed quite a few and hopefully we can add to the genomic base.”

Frank farms with his wife Marianne at Tragowel south of Kerang in northern Victoria, milking 400 Aussie Reds on 500 hectares.

“We’ve been breeding AI cows ever since AI started,” he said. His father Denis was a founding member of Victorian Artificial Breeders Co-op, the forerunner of Genetics Australia.

They previously bred Jerseys and Holsteins and went to Holsteins before converting to straight Reds in 2005.

“The fertility, components and health traits were superior to Holsteins, but the biggest thing with the Reds was their calving ease. With Holsteins we spent half our lives in the paddock but with the Reds, you go out the next day and they’re all up and had a feed and are all healthy.”

Frank has been a strong Genetics Australia supporter for many years and his herd has a strong base of GA genetics.

“Our cows have been crossing over from black and white to red and white and we’re well down the track and now getting proper Reds rather than cross-bred cattle,” he said.

While Frank and Marianne have taken over the family GA membership and continued the farm that’s been in the family for nearly 100 years, they’re not stud breeders. “Our cows have just had a number and we haven’t registered cow families, but in this case, the name was a good way to recognise my parents,” Frank said.

“He has really strong genetics in his sire pathway. His Type has come through really well and other than that it’s all about statistics and everything has come up to a nice spot for him. He is from a really strong cow family in our herd.”

Frank has been involved with the Aussie Red committee for several years, serving as treasurer since 2020.

“I think the breed is travelling fantastically well,” he says. “We’re heading in a really good direction. We have maintained health and fertility in the breed and we’re re-focusing on production and a bit more dairy strength at the moment.

“We had followed down the path of Europeans with cows a little bit smaller but that doesn’t suit us in Australia. We need a bit more strength back in the breed.

“Denis is a newer sire and will help the growth. I always hope more people look to the Reds. They are a fantastic and durable breed for our conditions.”