Science and agriculture have combined for Caitlin Williams, 26, to help her carve out a career in the industry she loves.
Working at the Shrublands Estate stud and commercial herd, on 121 hectares of river flats at Thornton, in the State's north east, Ms Williams has a massive interest in cattle genetics.
“My interest was initially probably more the human side of things, more IVF and that sort of work,” Ms Williams said. I did some work at Melbourne IVF and didn’t really love it, my father bought the farm and he needed someone to look after it, so I came up and it rolled on from there.”
Ms Williams said she completed a Bachelor of Science at Monash University, majoring in genetics, in 2012. She said she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where her interest came from. “I’ve always loved the reproduction side of things, and IVF, which is a strange thing to get involved in, as a kid.”
Shrublands now runs both Angus and the ancient British White cattle, after being established in 2009 with 30 commercial Angus cows and calves. In 2012 it grew to 100 stud and 50 commercial breeding cows, following the purchase of Burnbend Angus Stud.
“I was always interested in animals and it ended up working out quite well – it’s a bit more fun, as you get to see your work and a result automatically.”
She said he had picked up the British White to cross with the Angus.
“It’s interesting to see different attributes, which carry across – you get a lot of their temperament that’s showing through.” If she hadn’t brought the British White into the stud she said “I would probably have dabbled in something else.” The British White is derived from White Park cattle in the UK and parts of Europe.
In 2013, Ms Williams visited some of the large American Angus studs, to learn about their breeding methods. She said her aim was to use AI (artificial insemination) and ET (embryo transfer) to increase the strength and soundness of the maternal side of the Shrublands herd.
The 2013 trip followed another US visit, the previous year, to Texas, where Ms Williams went to well-known breeder Jimmie West, J West Cattle Company - sparking an interest in the British Whites breed. Ms Williams said she had extensive data on both the British White and Angus cattle, at Shrublands. “I think it’s important to take up the genetics behind the herd, definitely,” Ms Williams said. “Realistically, everyone wants to improve their herd in some way, shape or form – you can get some very valuable data.”
She encouraged young men and women to look at genetics, as a worthwhile option. “At my age and younger, it’s a rarity to see in farming – it definitely needs to happen more, I have been working in AI and ET and there are not many young people coming into it. But the technicians need people to train up.”
