Passion for Highland breed grows and broadribbons follow for Komachas

What started as a hobby for Jane and Dave Komacha when they moved onto a 40-hectare property in the Upper Hunter has turned into a full-blown passion for the couple.

A life on the land had always been the goal for the Komachas. They wanted to give their kids, Eloise, 10, Violet, 9, and Sadie, 5, all the benefits of a rural lifestyle

They moved to their first property five years ago, after working in the mining industry in the Hunter Valley, which set them up to do so.

That first property was the perfect location and size for a Highland, according to Jane.

"I said, 'if we're moving to a farm, I want a cute cow'," Jane said.

Now, they have not only upsized their property, but also their Highland herd.

The family moved to their 300-hectare property near Nundle about two years ago, and their Hunter Highlands stud herd now sits at roughly 40 head.

Jane's hobby has quickly become a dedication to the breed for both Jane and Dave, and the goal now is to better the breed in Australia.

"I want to target more of the breeding side of things, to be able to breed and sell progeny and have bulls that are actually going to improve the herd in Australia," Jane said.

They have used genetics from all over the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

"That's something that we have based our entire herd on, really good genetics, so that we can breed really good cattle that can hold their value and improve the overall population," Jane said.

In the longer term, they will look at bringing in more international genetics to Australia, but for the time being, they are happy with where their herd is at.

"We're pretty happy with the results we've been getting," Dave said.

"They seem to be working, so we've got a good thing going. I think we'll just keep these lines now and make some progeny out of that."

And the proof is in the pudding.

Along with all the hard work on the breeding side of things, showing has become a part of the repertoire as well.

"It just naturally happened," Jane said.

All the hard yards culminated in a supreme exhibit ribbon at the 33rd Australian Highland Cattle Society Show in Mount Pleasant, SA, in June.

Isobail Caoimhe of Hunter Highlands, an April 2023-drop heifer sired by Samhach Bhuidhe of Bairnsley out of Isla Bow of Macanleister, took out the title.

"We were just on top of the world," Jane said of the win.

"When the judge announced that we won, I think I probably jumped and squealed in the middle of the show."

But there were some nervous moments beforehand.

Isobail didn't handle the 20-hour trip to the show all that well.

"I watched this heifer here walk off the float, and I was very nervous ... she could hardly walk," Dave said.

"And then we gave her some minerals, gave her a rest and a bath, and just let her chill out for a couple of days, and it was just enough.

"Luckily, we got there early. It was enough to get her to walk around the ring."

Dave said Isobail made it known she wasn't happy, but when it came to the time to get in the ring, she shone.

"She just stood out. We're very fortunate to have this heifer," Dave said.

On the commercial side of things, the Komachas said there aren't too many commercial herds in Australia at the moment, but they believe it's only a matter of time before that changes.

"I believe in the future, it will get there because there are people who are determined to get it out there because they know how well they eat," Dave said.

"It's coming, it's definitely coming."

While the Highlands are the Komachas main passion, it's not all they have on their property.

Dave described the property as "a blank canvas" when they bought it, and so far, he's improved about 120ha, where oats are now planted for the cattle to graze on. The plan is to double the size of the planting area.

They have also started up a drone business where they offer air-seeding and fertilising, while they also have roughly 350 Angus trade steers.

They've found all the learnings through their Highlands stud have crossed over to the trade steers as well.

"When you do artificial insemination and embryo work, one of the big things is nutrition for your cattle," Jane said.

"That helped us to be able to understand cattle nutrition better for fertility, but then also for fattening cattle as well."

On the showing front, they have one eye on the 2026 Australian Highland Cattle Society National Show, to be held in Bathurst, "which means only five hours driving", Jane says with a laugh.

Isobail Caoimhe is in calf and retired from showing but the Komachas have a bull that they have high hopes for at Bathurst in June next year.

They are hoping for a strong turnout, including breeders from Queensland, with the central NSW location a much more attainable travel target for them.

"We are expecting over 100 animals to be exhibited there, and that will increase the competition and just really provide spectators and other breeders with a showcase of what is out there in Australia," Jane said.