After 20 years of breeding South Devon cattle, Chris and Leonie Daley, The Bend, Mirboo North, are retiring from farming.
The duo, who have been one of the most prominent South Devon breeders in Victoria for many years, sold their 98-hectare property just two weeks ago, and will be moving to a smaller property nearby.
“We’re not getting any younger, and we’re both just ready to move on to the next chapters in our lives,” Mrs Daley said.
“It’s been a big decision, about 12 months in the making, but we believe now is the right time.”
Mr and Mrs Daley moved to Mirboo North 14 years ago, from a smaller property in Moorooduc South on the Mornington Peninsula.
“Our family had grown up, and we were in a big house with a small acreage, and we decided we wanted to get more involved in breeding,” she said.
Since then, Mr and Mrs Daley have become passionate promoters of the breed.
Mr Daley has represented the breed at Stud Beef Victoria meetings for a long time, has participated in Beef Week for many years, and was recently nominated to the Beef Week Committee.
We’ll miss the cows, we really will miss them terribly.
- Leonie Daley, The Bend South Devon Stud
Mrs Daley was national president of the South Devon Cattle Society for three years, a role which she has only recently resigned from.
They’ve been the only stud to represent the breed at the Melbourne Show for the last eight or so years, and have repeatedly put stock on display at Lardner Park’s Farm World.
Mrs Daley said they’ve always enjoyed showing cattle.
“We started back in 1999 with two little heifers, and one of those cows went on to have some really excellent calves, one of them being a bull that won interbreed junior bull at the Melbourne Show in 2003,” she said.
“That was a very special moment.”
Mr and Mrs Daley now have the task of selling their entire herd.
“We reduced our herd by about 30 breeding cows earlier this year, but we’ve still got about 60 females left, and some young bulls too,” she said.
“Majority of buyers so far have come from breeders in QLD, with a few cows sent there to be flushed for embryos that will be sent to WA.”
Mrs Daley said their retirement would have a significant impact on the promotion of the breed in Victoria.
“There are several South Devon studs in Victoria, but most of them are small,” she said.
“I just really hope that some other members of the South Devon society start to get their cattle out there a bit more and continue to promote the breed.”
But why South Devons?
“They have a great temperament, they’re the most placid breed,” she said.
“The females have great maternal traits, and raise a good calf.”
Mrs Daley said they were looking forward to spending more time with their family and travelling.
“We’ll miss the cows, we really will miss them terribly.”
