Jeff’s happiest among his cows

In October, Jeff’s decades of commitment to the industry were recognised when he was awarded a distinguished service award from Holstein Australia.

Adam Dee from Clydevale Holsteins told the large crowd Jeff was recognised for his integrity, generosity and his advancement of genetics, which have left a lasting impact on the Holstein community.

“Jeff has been a mentor, educator, breeder and advocate, inspiring generations of young people and contributing tirelessly to the promotion, development and preservation of the breed,” Adam said.

“It is for this exceptional service, his mentorship and his unwavering commitment to the Holstein breed and community that we proudly recognise and honour Jeff Harrower for the Holstein Australia Distinguished Service Award.”

Jeff was honoured to receive the award and remained ever humble, brushing aside his impact and all that he has achieved in the industry, which started when he left school at 14.

Jeff grew up on the 18-hectare family farm on Gunbower Island which he still owns today.

Over the decades, and under Jeff’s management, the farm expanded to include three neighbouring properties and milked 170 cows at its peak.

It is fair to say Jeff’s love for cows started when he was very young. While he can’t pinpoint any specific moment, he says he has just always loved being out in the paddock among the cows.

He remembers the family going out on Saturdays to play sport and he would happily stay home on his own.

“We had a Roan shorthorn cow and I would sit underneath her to milk her. People would freak out if we did that today,” Jeff said.

When Jeff left school, there wasn’t a Holstein in sight in the family herd.

They were milking shorthorns, although the purchase of a bull, Ingleston Sylvester, opened up Jeff’s eyes to what good genetics could do.

Mind you, he was only 10 at the time.

“We crossed the bull with the shorthorns and I was amazed at how good the cows were,” Jeff said.

As a youngster, Jeff used to wander around the local agricultural show with stars in his eyes looking at the Holsteins from Elmar.

He credits old Marty Hore with giving him the encouragement and inspiration to take the plunge into the show ring.

“I started showing with the Rathjen family’s Glenjoy herd from South Australia. After that, I went over there with my next-door neighbours, the Garner brothers,” Jeff said.

“I fell in love with their cows and I was 19 when I wrote to the Rathjens asking if I could help.

“I ended up spending many years conversing with them via letters and talking about cows.”

Jeff became a registered member of Holstein Australia in the early 1960s and, soon after, started showing cows in his own right.

“Back then the goal was to try and beat the cows from Elmar. That was the challenge for everyone in the district,” he laughed.

In1969, Jeff took over the farm, milking about 80 cows.

Looking back now, Jeff can’t believe how committed he was to showing.

He would often get up at 3.30am to milk the cows and pack the show cows into the truck and head off, coming back late at night to milk again.

Over the years Jeff has exhibited at local shows, Melbourne Royal, Sydney Royal, the Victorian Winter Fair and IDW, earning numerous ribbons and champion awards along the way.

His most memorable win was in 1987 with four-year-old Beltana Elevation Dream VG88, the first Victorian cow to take a champion ribbon at Sydney Royal.

“She was a great cow and Sydney was a fantastic old showground back in the day,” he said.

It comes as no surprise to learn Jeff was one of the founding members of the North West Sub Branch when it was established in 1980.

“Our region has always had a strong Holstein representation. We started out with a hundred members and it has always been well supported,” he said.

Jeff has remained an active and committed participant of the sub-branch, attending meetings, sales, shows and social events and sharing his wealth of knowledge on pedigrees, breed history and cattle management.

Adam said Jeff had been a long-standing supporter of youth and emerging breeders, generously sharing his expertise and mentoring countless individuals over the decades.

“He has employed and guided young breeders, cattle fitters and photographers, helping develop the skills that have contributed to the growth of the Holstein community,” Adam said.

“His encouragement of young people and new members has nurtured enthusiasm and fostered strong connections across the North West Sub Branch and beyond.”

While there have been many great cows over the years and Jeff struggles to pick a favourite, he names Beltana Royal Rose as his top cow.

She has the prestigious honour of being the cow immortalised on the entry sign to Leitchville. She also gave him four daughters.

In 2000, Jeff made the emotional and difficult decision to sell the herd.

“I kept the cows that were unsaleable and have been playing around with them ever since,” he said.

He is currently milking a dozen cows which take up one side of the old herringbone dairy.

Jeff said he tried to only milk about eight cows, but it just never quite worked out that way.

And you can see why when walking among the herd — his affection for the cows is obvious as they each come up for a scratch and a pat.

Jeff has a story for every single cow.

There is the cow Jeff decided to take a chance on after she was attacked and nearly eaten alive by a dog.

The vet told him to put her down, but Jeff thought she had a shot and would make it, and there she stands in the herd today.

And then there is the big, white Holstein who started life after a difficult calving.

Jeff went down the paddock the next morning expecting her to be dead, but instead she was up running around, and it was her mother who had died.

“I have a long history of loving cows and I have never really been able to put my finger on why. But one thing I do know, is if you love what you are doing, it never seems like work,” he said.