2024 Master Breeders

Congratulations to our nine members recognised as Master Breeders in 2024.

The Holstein Australia Master Breeders Award recognises the long-term achievement of individuals who have bred at least 300 registered animals over a minimum of 20 years.  The total number of points must exceed the total number of females bred within the 20 year period.  The eligibility for this award includes; continuous membership of Holstein Australia for a minimum of 20 years, minimum registration of 10 females in each year and a minimum registration of 300 females over 20 years.

On this page you'll find the points tally for each of this year's Master Breeders, along with videos and photographs from the National Awards dinner held at Lake Tinaroo Resort on the Atherton Tablelands. Look out for in-depth stories on each Master Breeder in forthcoming issues of the Australian Holstein Journal.

Ambrewlea Holsteins, vic

Congratulations to Brett Cirillo and all at Ambrewlea Holsteins, Bungador in Victoria’s Western District.

A 3rd generation dairy farmer, Brett has spent a lifetime breeding and developing Holsteins, milking on the family farm from the age of 15.

Commenting on Ambrewlea achieving Master Breeder status Brett said: “I’m very proud of the journey, where we started and where we got to. We’ve just worked consistently, stuck at it, focussed on keeping the herd pure. In a way it was a bit of a shock when I found out. It’s a real honour, and also really pleasing to achieve it at a relatively young age.”

Avalon Holsteins, VIC

Congratulations to Clare & Stu Modra, who attended the National Awards Dinner with daughters Astre and Kendal.

Commenting on their Master Breeder Award, Clare & Stu said: "There have been many highs and lows over the past 20 years but we’ve enjoyed doing what we love and sharing it with our children Astre & Kendall. In the past 20 years 85% of the cows we’ve bred have classified Excellent or VG which is something we’re very proud of.

"Our favourite families include the Mandy’s & Samantha’s which go back to the ‘Glenjoy Madeline’s’ and ‘Samantha’s’. As well as the Madison’s, a family we developed through the appendix system. Avalon Winluke Madison EX-92 4-E STP 8* LIFE 2 was Avalon’s first excellent cow, and bred 2 EX-91 daughters and 6 VG (3 VG89) daughters, with the family still going strong to date. The Josephine family is another favourite which began for Avalon with the purchase of Holbrook Juror Josephine VG89 1* - the best cow we've ever purchased to this day.

"Australian cow families are what we love, cows with deep pedigree’s that have proven they can flourish in Australian conditions."

Albion Park Holsteins, QLD

"Achieving the Master Breeder Award really means a dream come true for me. It is a fantastic achievement in my eyes, something I had set a goal to do, but didn’t think I would make it, seeing I went out of dairying just lately. I thought my time had run out," says Bernice Jannusch.

"Oh my God, what a thrill it was when I found out I had achieved my goal! I couldn’t believe it for a while. It had to sink in. Then I got very emotional, and still do, when I think of what I did. I’m sitting here at the moment with tears in my eyes, just so estatic that I have achieved the Master Breeder Award. I am definitely over the moon, no words can describe the feeling…..thrilled to bits!"

Gleneriffe Holsteins, QLD

Ian and Cathy Scott have been at the helm of Glenriffe Holsteins for 40 years, with the herd history going back more than 70 years under Scott family ownership. Ian and Cathy both spoke at the Awards Dinner, reflecting on a lifetime's work and what it means to be recognised as a Master Breeder.

Arabella Holsteins, QLD

Congratulations to Daniel Holmes and family from the Darling Downs in southern Queensland.

Arabella Holsteins held its final dispersal sale earlier this year. Arabella cows that will be familiar to many members include the famous Ding family, along with many females bred from Ekka Supreme Champion, Glenalbas Goldwyn Olivia EX92. Also members of the Tammy family bred down from Tamrook and Woodside Park and several from the Canadian Dottie family.

It was fitting that on their last showing at the Ekka, Arabella won Intermediate Champion, Reserve and Hon Mention Intermediate Champion. Finally, we cannot mention Arabella without noting the tremendous success they have had down through the years with offspring of the mighty Brood Cow Plana Inspiration Donna, VG, 18 SBC.

Esjay Holsteins, SA

Steven and Verica Seeliger own and operate a dairy in Flaxman Valley, milking 220 head on 150 hectares. They milk large numbers of dairy cows twice a day. Steven and Verica accepted their award in person at the National Awards Dinner at Lake Tinaroo Resort in late Octobber.

Ashen Plains Holsteins, vic

Mark and Megan Meyland expressed their thrill and honour at Ashen Plains becoming a Master Breeder herd, with it being a real recognition of their breeding over the years. Mark and Megan took over the farm in 2014 from Mark's parents, milking many families today from the 1970's when Mark's dad first began milking.

Starcrest Holsteins, VIC

Hayden and Danielle Dodd and family milk 300 cows on their property in Jindivick, Victoria. Acknowledging their award, Hayden said that they nver really set out to be a Master Breeder, they just wanted to breed the best cows possible, with the points just adding up over the years as they focused on the cows.

Harklaje Holsteins, VIC

Harklaje Holsteins is now a two-time Holstein Australia Master Breeder. Back in 1983, when Terry and Janine Clark purchased their first registered cow, Kardinia Rockbuster, they never imagined that they would be receiving this award. But here we are 41 years later very grateful that our commitment to the Holstein breed has been recognised.

Achieving this award for a second time means a lot to both of them. their focus over the years has been on wanting to breed a better dairy cow, with the enjoyment it has given them over the years being considerable, especially when a favourite has a heifer calf, the people they have met and the friends we have made on the way. In total they have bred 1,439 cows.