A Lasting Legacy An observation of an Australian soldier in the First World War (1914-1918) has lead one family down a love for the Charolais breed that is now in the fourth generation. Bill (William Leslie) Taylor from the Myrtleford region of Victoria in 1919 was stationed in France and saw Charolais cattle. These cattle belonged to the family of his future Belgium wife, Marguerite and formed a lasting impression. Bill married Marguerite and returned to Australia in 1920. He advised his son George that if the breed ever came to Australia he should consider breeding them. When Charolais semen arrived George and his wife, Betty used Crogham Centurion over their dairy cows and produced the families first Charolais in Australian aptly named Myrtle Park Marguerite P born on the 30/08/1972. The family registered their herd through to 1995 when they became a commercial herd. In the early days, the poorer milking Friesian females were AIed to the Charolais as beef females. These crossbred calves were grown out to bullocks with some sold to specialist butchers in Melbourne and Myrtleford. The feedback on the performance of these cattle encouraged the family to continue with the breed. Now in the hands of the third and fourth generation George and Sharron Taylor and their daughter Sarah the family continue their admiration for the breed. When talking to George, Sharron and Sarah you feel that intrinsic connection to the land and livestock. George recalls females that shaped their herd such as embryo donor International Marise back in the 1970s as if it was yesterday. George in his career has worked as an AI Technician and bled cattle for the Brucellosis eradication scheme. George and Sharron met in the Australian high country, use horses for stock work and run a successful leather business trading as SKT Leather. Now based at Boralma just north of Wangaratta in Victoria the herd is again in the growth phase. The home property is 130 hectares of heavy clay soil and another 160 hectares of lease country provides the opportunity to grow the breeding herd. Top: William Leslie (Bill) Taylor in 1914 first observed Charolais in France during World War 1. Left: Bill’s son George and Betty Taylor used Charolais semen in 1971 and commenced the families Charolais breeding program. Seen here at an early Victorian Charolais function. Below: Pure Charolais cows with their heifers calves at Bloodwood just prior to weaning, the future is looking bright.
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January 2022 Charolais Magazine
