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Building a legacy from scratch

Brett and Emily Keeble with two of their successful Hereford heifers at their second show. "We're having a lot of fun and it's paying off," Emily said. Photo: Andy Wilson

Two newcomers to the Hereford scene have brought a sense of freshness to the Melbourne Royal Show.

Brett and Emily Keeble began Legacy Hereford Stud at Zeerust two years ago and have already made their mark on the show scene.

“We have been showing for two years now so we are very, very new as a stud,” Mrs Keeble said.

“We have only our second calves on the ground that now have our prefix.”

With only three heifers taken to this year’s Melbourne Royal Show, the stud punched well above its weight with placing third in both the heifers and heifer pairs class.

Mrs Keeble said the ring judge commended the couple on the quality of their entrants and the future of the stud.

“He liked the length and thickness of Caroway and said she will go on to make a great cow,” she said.

“Then Victoria and Golden Vanity placed third in the heifer pairs and the judge commented that he can see the direction we are taking with our program.”

The couple’s first show was at Canberra in 2022, where their 11-month-old bull won Supreme Hereford Exhibit.

At this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show one of their heifers won Reserve Junior Champion.

The Keebles at present have 30 breeding females and one bull and are using artificial insemination to help build up an initial female baseline.

“We have invested heavily into really good females,” Mrs Keeble said.

“We are calving at the moment and are looking forward to our spring joining.”

“Then hopefully in the next 12 or 18 months we will start looking at selling bulls at Wodonga,” Mr Keeble said.

Although their daughter Dusty, 9, helps out around the stud, she takes a sideline when her parents exhibit.

“She’s not ready yet, but certainly gets involved at home,” Mrs Keeble said.

“This showing is just really for getting our new name out there.

“We’re having a lot of fun, and it’s paying off.”

Emily Keeble with the ribbons and three heifers who delivered on the day. “We have invested heavily into really good females.” Photo: Gabrielle Bail