Illawarra — buy or sell

Breed history: Illawarra is a breed of cows that was developed in Australia, in the Illawarra region, south of Sydney, in New South Wales. In the early 19th century, Australian cattle breeding was focused on meat production. Cattle of various breeds were brought to the Illawarra region, including Longhorn Durham, Shorthorn Durham, Red Lincoln, and Jersey. One of the main influences on the development of the breed was the Osborn family, who moved from Northern Ireland in 1829. They laid the foundations of the region's dairy industry. Since the 1840s, milk production began to develop as a separate industry. The gold rushes in Australia and California increased the demand for dairy products, making Illawarra a center for milk production. In the 1860s, breeders began to pay more attention to breeding data. In 1898, the lifting of the import embargo on breeds contributed to the mixing of local cattle with Jersey, Guernsey, Friesian, and Ayrshire breeds. One significant event was the involvement of an Ayrshire bull named "Count Bickonsfield," which improved the genetics of the local herd. In 1910, dairy producers from the region gathered in Kiama to create a breeding book for the new breed. The first breeding book for the Illawarra breed was published in 1919. In 1930, the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn Society was established, uniting breeders from across the country. Subsequently, the word "Shorthorn" was removed from the breed's name to avoid confusion with meat breeds. Today, Illawarra is found in many countries due to the export of live animals, embryos, and semen. The breed is known for its high productivity and quality milk. Exterior: Illawarra is a medium to large-sized cow with a strong bone structure. The body is wedge-shaped, gradually widening towards the rear. Dairy cows have a refined build, without excessive fleshiness. The weight of cows ranges from 550 to 650 kg, while bulls weigh from 900 to 1200 kg. The color is usually red, sometimes with white spots or completely roan. Black and piebald colors are undesirable. The skin and mucous membranes have dark pigmentation, which makes the animals resistant to skin diseases and sunburn. The hooves are strong and dark in color. Both cows and bulls usually have horns. The udder is large but not pendulous, well-attached at the front and back.