AN unforgettable trip to New Zealand has reinforced Emily Attard’s desire to be a large animal veterinarian.
The University of Melbourne agriculture student was the winner of the NZ study bursary at the inaugural SA Sheep Expo held in Adelaide in April.
She says it has “opened doors” for her and given her valuable knowledge.
Last month the 19-year-old from Tyabb, Vic, spent a week visiting farms on the central South Island.
On Ms Attard’s itinerary was NZ’s largest agricultural show – the Canterbury Agricultural & Pastoral Show, which attracts 130,000 people – Charring Cross sheep dairy near Darfield, which value adds their milk to yoghurt and icecream; and Glenfiddich Deer Farms near Ashburton, which sells deer velvet.
She also spent time at Lincoln University’s dairy research farm learning about its pasture and dairy technical research.
A highlight was visiting 3500-hectare high country property The Doone.
Since buying the property three years ago, the Taylor family has completed an extensive fertiliser and re-grassing program, many kilometres of fencing and installed a new solar-powered stock water system.
The Doone is home to Doughboy Romney stud and a commercial Romney flock along with 300 Angus cows.
The Taylors are working closely with Lincoln University to improve their sheep genetics, measuring meat yield, growth, wool quality and fertility traits.
Ms Attard is grateful to the organisers of the expo and sponsors – the Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association and the Sheep Meat Council of Australia – for the opportunity.
“There is a real sense of community in the sheep industry and everyone was so welcoming and lovely,” she said. “I was able to base my trip on the contacts from the SA Rural Ambassador trips, but also spent time pursuing other contacts and googling where I wanted to go for my own interest.”
Ms Attard was particularly impressed by the high fertility of NZ’s sheep flocks and the steps breeders were taking to maximise the number of lambs weaned.
“There has been quite a bit of competition between sheep and the conversion to dairy,” she said. “Those in sheep are making the most of their land, often run in challenging environments.”
Ms Attard’s interest in sheep began in secondary school at Flinders College on Vic’s Mornington Peninsula where they had a Corriedale stud. Earlier this year with friend Kate Methven, she established the Tuerong Valley Corriedale stud with seven ewes.
She is working towards a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
“Although vets are sometimes a rare sight on large rural farms, into the future they will play a big part in developing genetic selection of traits in animals to maximise production, nutritional planning and combating disease and worm resistance,” she said.
“Farming is about making a profit, but farmers also genuinely care for their animals. We need to maximise livestock production to feed the growing population but hopefully I can help them do it without compromising animal welfare.”
Ms Attard says the expo was a great success, covering many aspects of sheep production and great chance to make new friends.
She is enthusiastic about mentoring other young sheep enthusiasts at the 2017 Sheep Expo, to be held from April 19 to 21.
“Hopefully we can get more Vic entrants along to challenge the South Australians,” she said.
“I am looking to give a talk at uni next year to get together a team like we do for the Merino Challenge and Intercollegiate Meat Judging Competition.”
