Illawarras are one of the top ranking dairy cattle breeds in Australia. They have taken their name from the Australian aboriginal word for a piece of land 50 miles south of Sydney, between the Pacific Ocean and a near impenetrable escarpment to the west. Early settlers leared the Illawarra area with the assistance of convict labor.
The Australian dairy industry began 1840's. Cattle grants from Government and private herds reached the Illawarra. These included Longhorn Durhams, Shorthorn Durhams, Red Lincolns, Red Ayrshires, and Jerseys. However, three members of the Osborne family from Northern Ireland had, since 1829, laid the foundations of a dairy industry, and in doing so, the evolution of the Australian Illawarras. The Osbornes imported the best cattle, promoted the first Agricultural Show at Wollongong and encouraged others in forming a dairy industry.
The Australian and Californian gold rushes provided the impetus for an expansion of the industry and the Illawarra area took up the demand for butter and other dairy products, and dairy has remained an important Illawarra industry ever since.
The Illawarra breeders were credited with having a flair for stockbreeding and an “eye for a good beast”. The 1860's saw increased recording of breeding details and facts, which noted the importation of several outstanding bulls bought to suit the environment. In 1898, breeders introduced Jersey, Guernsey, Kerri Dexter, Friesian, Shorthorn and Ayrshire bloodlines and it was from this amalgamation that the Australian Illawarra dairy cattle descended.
One Ayrshire bull, from Victoria, named “The Earl of Beaconsfield” proved outstanding when mated with cattle of the Illawarra. The progeny was magnificent and amongst the most celebrated was a cow named “Honeycomb”. Claimed to be the Best Dairy Cow in the world in the early nineties, she was also invincible in the show ring and winner of all the milk and butterfat awards. This was the cow that inspired the Illawarras, and the breeding programs began revolving around Red and Roan Shorthorns and Ayrshire bulls. Studs became more prevalent and spread to many other parts of Australia including Queensland.
In 1910, dairymen met at Kiama to establish another Herd Book, under the title Illawarra Dairy Cattle. Milking Shorthorn and Illawarra Dairy Cattle Societies continued to flourish and expand throughout all Australian States. In Queensland, the two breed Societies amalgamated to form the Illawarra Dairy Cattle Association of Queensland. This led to further interstate amalgamations until, after protracted negotiations over many years, a national body called The Australian Illawarra Shorthorn Society was formed in Brisbane in 1930. For many years they were referred to as the Illawarra Shorthorns, or “the A.I.S. cattle”.
Now the term Illawarras is commonplace and the Society is called The Illawarra Cattle Society of Australia. The “Shorthorn” was dropped from the name because it caused confusion to some overseas buyers, who associate Shorthorn with dual-purpose animals. International recognition has consolidated the breed worldwide.
Illawarra cattle can be a rich red color with a bit of white on the flanks or roan, other colors such as broken colors or black and brindle are not allowed. The breed has strong dark hooves and dark pigmentation which helps protect from skin cancers and sunburnt teats. They are a medium sized animal with a confirmation that increases in depth towards the hindquarters with a sharp, clean outline.
Illawarras produce large quantities of milk in excess of 40 liters per day, the milk has moderate fat and high protein. Other favorable attributes of this breed are its adaptability to varying climatic conditions, the calving ease being one of the most noticeable features as they calve unattended and their pelvic formation being suited to the job. Illawarra cows can keep producing calves every year into their early teens which overall provides a very sound investment.
About Illawarras Cattle
