Shamrock Shorthorn Stud was started in 2004 to complement the Dwyer family’s existing commercial herd.

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The Dwyer family have been breeding Shorthorn Cattle since the 1960’s when the late D J (Dinny) Dwyer began his long and proud association with the breed. ‘D J’ as he liked to be called ran his herd on his farm “Foxdown” at one stage registering a stud prefix using that name. Sires were purchased from many sources including the Job family at Cumnock and the Kaluga herd at Murringo.

The Foxdown cattle were and still are a feature of the drive between Boorowa and Yass and the tradition continued under the stewardship of Dinny’s widow Iris following his passing is 1995. Under her management awards were won for steers at the Boorowa show and long term clients were established for the sale of surplus females.

It was a logical progression for the next generation of Dwyers, Pat and his family, to build on that strong foundation by establishing a registered herd on their farm “Tipperary” to compliment the already renowned commercial herd. The stud name Shamrock Shorthorn was chosen to embrace both the proud Irish ancestry of the family and the continued faith in the future of one of Australia’s pioneering beef breeds.

Iris passed away in 2012 and ownership of the “Foxdown” herd was passed to her sons Peter and Pat. Half the herd now are absorbed into the Shamrock Shorthorns herd while Peter is having great success in crossing his cows with Charolaise bulls, providing first hand evidence of the profitable possibilities that can be explored crossing shorthorn cattle with other breeds.

 

 

A 1980s photo of the late DJ (Dinny) Dwyer pictured in the cattle yards he built at 'Foxdown' in the 60's.

 

The yards were replaced in 2011 with new yards built by his grandsons, Sean and Christopher.