Why 170 kids choose to work cattle on their holidays

Early starts on school holidays are just par for the course for this young Angus cattle enthusiast.

The northern NSW centre of Tamworth might be best known as the country music capital of Australia but it’s cattle and not guitars that will gather there in mid-January.

Almost 170 Angus youth members are heading to the town for this year’s roundup in a breed event which encourages young people to be involved in the cattle world.

For Holbrook, NSW, participant Ned Dodds, the Angus roundup will be his first cattle camp.

Ned, 12, found a love of cattle and showing last year when he attended the Royal Melbourne Show with Billabong High School.

“Once I walked into the ring, I really loved it and wanted to do more showing and be around cattle,” he said.

With the backing of his parents, he’s now bought his own heifer, Nabiac Wilcoola Weenie, with the team to make the big trip to Tamworth together.

Ned Dodds from NJD Livestock at Holbrook with his heifer Nabiac Wilcoola Weenie, are heading to the Angus Roundup in Tamworth, NSW for the annual youth get together.

He’s using the 13-month-old heifer to start his stud NJD Livestock, with the cattle to be run on his grandparents farm at Tumut, NSW.

“I’m excited to attend and it is more than just trying to win ribbons,” Ned said.

“The thing I am really looking forward to is how to judge a beast, and that will help me when I am running my stud.”

Ned’s father Justin said the family was keen to back his interest in cattle.

“When Ned was helping to prepare the steers for the Melbourne Show, he was there on his breaks at school, doing things with the cattle,” Justin said.

“Not only does it teach them responsibility but we noticed a difference in how he went at school.

“He’s had offers from other studs asking if he’d like to help them which is great and we are happy to encourage this.”

The muster runs from January 10-14.