This week, Holstein Australia will welcome an United Kingdom representative as part of the Holstein UK Australia Exchange program that has been running for three years now.
Aimed at providing opportunities to young people who are looking to make a future in the dairy industry, the exchange allows a representative from each country to travel abroad and be immersed in the industry.
Holstein Australia marketing and communications manager Adam Sawell said the Holstein world is a global one with many opportunities, and the exchange enables recipients to explore some of these.
“Each of the exchange recipients have returned from their respective trips with new ideas to implement on either their family farm or in their own breeding programs,” Mr Sawell said.
“The knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm for the breed and dairying of the applicants has been universally very high, which I see as a positive sign for the future.”
The 2018 Australia recipient was Amabel Grinter, Muckatah, who spent part of September and October in the UK staying with Holstein members and attending the All Britain All Breeds calf show.
Ms Grinter graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science through La Trobe University and is planning a career as a nutritionist in the dairy industry.
She was brought up on her parent’s dairy farm, and has played an active role in managing the farm and artificial insemination programs since her teens.
Currently they run a mixed herd of 60 per cent Holsteins and 40pc crossbreds and Jerseys, with a program underway to significantly increase the number of Holsteins.
Ms Grinter is committed to the sustainability and progression of agriculture, and on the back of winning the Holstein Australia Youth UK Exchange, she dedicated the end of 2018 to learning best practice on farms worldwide.
“I think that international opportunities to compare how dairy in Australia compares to other countries are the best opportunity we have to remain a sustainable industry here,” she said.
“My time in the UK has been the most amazing experience and I cannot express gratitude enough to the people who made this incredible journey possible.”
2019 UK recipient Georgina Moody
From Ingatestone in Essex, UK, Georgina Moody from Designer Holsteins has been awarded the 2019 Holstein UK Australia Exchange and will travel to Australia in January for a month.
With both her parents being dairy farmers, Ms Moody has been involved in the Holstein breed since an early age which allowed her to easily become passionate about the breed and her love for them has only grown stronger over the years.
“Growing up we had a herd of about 250 milking Holsteins and a few Jerseys. I often helped out with calves and jobs around the yard,” she said.
“Although we only have a small herd of elite cattle, we are still involved with the industry through showing.”
Ms Moody has always wanted to travel to Australia and she believes the exchange has given her a unique opportunity to be able to view the similarities and differences in the country’s dairy industry.
She will travel throughout Victoria and South Australia during January, attending International Dairy Week, visiting with breeders and touring genetic companies.
As part of the exchange, an Australian representative will be selected after applications open in May 2019.