A BREAKAWAY group of Hereford breeders is threatening to walk away from its own society.
The Weekly Times understands some of the nation's key Hereford breeders are so frustrated they may establish their own association.
The movers include Richard Ogilvie from Millicent in South Australia - who runs a 5000-cow commercial herd and stud - who was voted off the Herefords Australia Limited board at its last election.
The group was so frustrated with HAL and its board that they were in the process of setting up a breakaway association, Mr Ogilvie said.
"We believe we will take about 10,000 registered cattle away from Herefords Australia Ltd when we set up our association," he said.
In latest figures from the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders Association, there were 24,417 Herefords registered.
Mr Ogilvie said he was disappointed in some actions of the HAL board and rejected the suggestion he was a bitter ex-director.
"The breed certainly needs leadership at this time as Herefords have been asleep at the wheel while Angus has cruised past us," Mr Ogilvie said.
"Any new association will be of like-minded people who are sick of petty show-focused individuals who don't care about the future of the breed."
Ironbark principal Adrian Spencer said he did not want to comment on HAL, nor on whether he was considering joining any new organisation.
"All I will say is that you start to wonder what role breed societies are playing in the industry," Mr Spencer said.
Marc Greening from Injemira Herefords at Wagga Wagga, said he would not be joining any new organisation and said the political infighting was "detrimental to the HAL cause".
HAL chairman Steve Reid defended the board and said it was creating strategies to take the breed forward.
"Cattle breeders can choose whether to register and record with a legitimate organisation or do their own thing," Mr Reid said.
There were rumours of breakaway groups "from time to time", he said
Source: weeklytimesnow.com.au
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