Ardrossan Lowline Stud

18/01/2025

As we have too much grass, we purchased these weaner steers, with the help of our agent, Kris Loughlan, at a weaner sale at Mortlake, where 8000 head were yarded on Thursday. They averaged 299kg and are bred on Murdeduke lines, well known in Western Victoria. When they arrived here yesterday, they had been 48hrs off feed with just water. Peter had prepared our yards with clean water and hay and on their arrival, did not lift their heads!!
This morning Peter and I weighed (they averaged 303kg), drenched, tagged, gave a dose of Multimin and Easi-dose for flies to all 9 and they were the quietest cattle we have ever handled. They were weaned 4 weeks ago and obviously handled expertly.
Our aim is to add about 250kg per head to average 550kg and return them to the prime market in Spring.
I will document their progress.

11/06/2024

Peter and I were very sad to receive the news from Kay last night that Phil Worthington had passed away, after a tenacious fight with his health.
Phil and Kay have been ardent fans and breeders of the Lowline Breed for many years, starting soon after we exported the first live Lowlines to the South Island of New Zealand.
I remember visiting Phil and Kay’s beautiful property as part of a tour of Studs organised to coincide with the ALCA AGM held in Christchurch, the first outside Australia. As I disembarked the bus, my eyes focused on a four leaf clover in the grass and I knew we were lucky to have this couple continually promoting the Lowline Breed through schools in the Ragiora district and beyond, teaching young people all about their cattle.
Phil often flew to Australia to attend meetings and we spent a hilarious evening with him, Gordon Guthrie, also a New Zealander and Julie Knight after the ALCA AGM in Mt. Gambier. We became lost finding a “remote” restaurant and took directions from Gordon’s wife Debbie on the phone in NZ, who had more idea of Google Maps, than we did in Australia!!!
Phil’s presence and advice will be greatly missed in the Lowline world.
Vale Phil.

01/06/2024

For over 40 years I believed that I got the best results when drenching from either an injectable or oral drench, when I knew the product has got inside the animal. Drenched applied these ways gave me good results, as I weighed the cattle pre and post drenching.
Due to an abundance of grass, late last year I purchased some Angus/Wagyu steers, drenched them on arrival with an injectable Vetmec.
However, with no Autumn break of rain, early May I noticed the cattle looking a bit “wanting”. As my oral drench applicator malfunctioned, I purchased and administered a “pour on”, weighing the cattle as they went through the crush.
They needed to go through the yards again for drafting yesterday, so Peter put them over the scales again.
To my amazement, the A/W steers averaged a weight gain of 50kg in 28 days and the two Lowlines, born last year averaged 20kg gain.
Excellent results for an easier option of drenching for me at this stage of life.

03/12/2023

A lovely surprize yesterday, when my filly, Mixed Spice, came 3rd in a metropolitan race at Doomben in Queensland. She started at 101/1 and gave punters a good return for their money.
Only injury was a black eye from a clod of turf thrown up from the soft 6 track.
After her win a fortnight ago, I am excited for her future.

14/11/2023

21 years ago Peter and I became grandparents for the first time, welcoming the arrival of our gorgeous Karlee Joy Stebbins.
Today she celebrates her 21st birthday and we look back on 21 years of following her progress to the beautiful young lady she is today.
Have a wonderful birthday Karlee Stebbins and enjoy all the celebrations, followed by a life full of enjoyment, laughter and love.

28/07/2023

RIP Randy Meisner, founding member of The Eagles after being in Rick Nelson’s band earlier.
You certainly have Taken it to the Limit.
One of my favorite bands.
Thankfully we still have your music.

16/07/2023

26/04/2023

Just received this message and photo from our 18 year old grandson, who is attending University in Melbourne and living in student accommodation.

“Didn’t end up getting to the Carrier yesterday but I did cook one of your t bone (or rib eye I can’t remember) steaks for dinner and it’s the best I’ve had so far, it was better than marshmallow.”

Great commendation for our Lowline beef.

16/10/2022

As you will probably know, I am all about promoting our Lowline breed, especially our bulls to use in a commercial capacity.
Watching Landline on the ABC today and especially the article on the Marriotts and their beautiful Clydesdale horses, reminded me of our beef association Ross, Helen and their son Matthew, especially back in the early 2000’s.
I grew up south of Melbourne and nearby were market gardens, many owned by the Marriott’s. They would drive into my uncle’s Petrol Station nearby and we got to know them by name only.
Time went by and I moved to Bendigo, later breeding Lowlines.
One day I got a call from the late Ross Marriott asking if I had 15 young bulls for use over commercial cattle. At that time I didn’t, but said I would ring around to see how many I could gather from my clients. They needed to be on the big size to cover his moderate heifers and Ross was very particular about conformation.
I can’t remember how many I collected, but they were picked up by Matthew and that started a friendship with us that continued for a memorable time.
Ironically, the Marriotts purchased land down where we are today, still using Lowline bulls over their heifers. After inviting us to their home in Foster to view some of their cattle sired by Lowline bulls, Ross and Helen, together with friends in the beef industry, called in for lunch one day. They were very impressed with our stock, especially admiring the cows’ conformation that produced our bulls, solely on grass.
Peter and I also got to know the other Marriotts, Ross’s brother, through attending Beef conferences in the Benalla area.
I attach an email sent back in 2004 showing how our Lowline bulls played a big part in the Coles Supermarket supply chain and what opportunities are available.

07/10/2022

As Life Members of ALCA, Peter and I were privileged to be asked to help present the Grand Champion prizes at the Lowline Feature Show at the 2022 Royal Melbourne Show last weekend.
Peter had just had a hip replacement and my health alters from day to day, but we aimed to be there.
We took our youngest daughter and 4 of our grandchildren, in case we needed help and stayed at a local motel the night before, for an early 9 am judging start.
As it is our 30th year of being involved with the Lowline breed, It was great to catch up with breeders from the 1990’s, including Jane and Andrew Ristrom and Gary Turnham, as well as meet new, enthusiastic and upcoming present members.
The quality of the cattle was excellent, all exhibiting many hours of work behind them. It was satisfying to see many of the cattle with Ardrossan genetics behind their pedigrees. One young heifer, sired by Ardrossan Orient, out of a Rotherwood cow going back to a Lilliput cow, both Ardrossan and Lilliput being original Studs, won Junior Heifer Champion and was selected to represent the Breed in the interbreed, which she also duly won. Next day she was auctioned in an All Breed Sale and brought $11,000 for her breeder Matt Cooney.
Interest in our small supply of Orient semen has duly resulted.
Our congratulations to the hard working Promotion Group on the presentation and promotion of the Lowline Breed display. I remember the work breeders put into making the 2000 Lowline Feature Show at Melbourne a success and the many sales that followed. In my view, Promotion Groups are only as successful as the members’ work that is put in.
It was hilarious to hear that some breeders thought I was dead, so I include a photo taken with Jess and Gill after the judging, as well as the presentation to the Grand Chamipn.

29/12/2021

After 30 years of breeding Australian Lowline Cattle, being a Foundation Member of the Australian Lowline Cattle Association, we announce the last of our female herd has been sold and we will not be producing any more Ardrossan Lowline stock.
However, we have two lovely bulls for hire and semen from many of our proven bulls for sale.
The latter part of 2021 has been hard for us due to my ill health, but we continue as Life Members of the Association, believing in and promoting the Breed at every opportunity.
We appreciate and thank all our past and present clients, both in Australia and Worldwide, who have become friends and acquaintances and who have made our journey so enjoyable. We never thought back in 1992, with the purchase of two Lowline cows for our 11 acre hobby farm, that our interest in Lowline cattle would take us on remarkable trips around the Pacific Ocean and supplying Lowline genetics to Europe as well.
We must also thank our American partner, Gary Gilbert, who steered us to many opportunities in the US.
What the future holds we don’t know, but we will continue to be involved in cattle, whether it just be agisted cattle on our farm, hiring our bulls to likeminded producers or offering advice to new breeders.
Agriculture has always been in my blood!!

24/11/2021

With the threat of rain all week, we were holding our breath that our cut pasture would not be ruined by the forecast storm.
During last night I first heard a tractor and then saw it’s headlights shining through our bedroom window and knew our silage was being baled and wrapped.
Thanks to Treble Contractors, who we use each year, our silage was finished just after 2am this morning.
With Peter just having to stack our rolls, we are relieved that harvest is nearly over for another year.

08/05/2021

As we have not got enough recipient cows available, we have
5 embryos from the following mating for other breeders to enjoy.
These Ardrossan embryos are export quality consisting of the mating of -
Casuarina Becky CAS N001 and Ardrossan Richmond ARD R033
who produced Ardrossan Tutu, who was exported as a pregnant cow to the USA where Tutu produced many exceptional calves, both from embryos and live calves, for our American clients.
Becky is also the dam of A. Kudos, one of our great producers of larger framed stock.
Richmond sired Ardrossan Findon, Junior, Grand and Interbreed Champion at the 2000 Melbourne Royal show.
Please PM me for more details.

11/02/2021

As father and son, it is impossible to get Ardrossan bulls Dextor M820 and Impulse P927 closer than this in the paddock.
Dextor, a Wizard son, is 5 years old and here on agistment and Impulse, out of Oo La La, who carries on our Carla line, is 2 1/2 years old.
With no female Lowlines on the property, their days are full of gazing wishfully at the 23 Charolais heifers here on agistment.

22/01/2021

We have just had a dairy farmer admire the plant density of our pastures, something I have taken for granted, as we follow the advice of our Colac Better Beef Group.These photos represent our pasture in the middle of Summer after 23 Charolais heifers have grazed it for a week. This paddock is 2.3hectares or just over 5 acres in size.
I thought the heifers would like to be moved, but they were reluctant to move on, so they can stay there until after the weekend.
The dry grass, wastage, is a result of understocking as our Lowline herd diminished.