History

As a seventh-generation Australian farmer, Glenn Bowman has livestock breeding in his blood. The Bowman family settled in Rosedale, Victoria in the late 1870’s, farming their renowned property ‘The Ridge’, which was established by Glenn’s great-great grandfather. Prior to this, the Bowmans pioneered extensive pastoral runs in both Tasmania and South Australia, dating back to 1831.

Glenn recommenced the property’s 80-year-old ‘Ridgeview Hereford’ stud in 1993, sourcing bloodlines from this original stock which still run through his herd to this day. He has spent decades building up this stud, never losing sight of the fundamentals - feet, fertility and structure. Glenn cemented the foundation of his herd with the record purchase of Hunter Lakes Lion Heart, for $65,000 in 2015. This outstanding sire forms the basis of his next generation of Hereford cattle being bred at ‘The Ridge’.

Bowman Angus

Glenn has since branched out with his Bowman Angus operation, purchasing a new run - ‘Crystal Brook’ - in the lush and fertile hills in Neerim South. There he has spent time nurturing his world class sires, including Ayrvale Bartel E7, S Chisum 255, LD Capitalist 316, EF Complement 8088, Sydgen Black Pearl, SAV Renown, Millah Murrah Klooney K42, Bowman Australia K2 and Koupals B&B Identity.

Genetics

With a global approach to ensure high quality genetic material, Glenn travels annually to the United States, amongst other countries, to research and personally assess each bull that will be included in the stud operation. 

Starting with phenotypically identifying key traits, Glenn then refines the breeding with accurate data sets behind each animal.  ‘Estimated Breeding Values’ provide a detailed picture of each animal’s characteristics, which allows Glenn to focus accurately on performance-oriented qualities.

In his experience, the aim is to finish bulls on grass, striving for soundness over ‘pumped-up’ or over-fed animals.  By grass finishing them, he promotes greater longevity, producing a fit and athletic bull. The focus is for each bull to have ‘doing ability’, docility, low birth weight and calving ease.  A low-birth-weight to high-growth-rate spread, is the highly sought after ‘curve bender’ each stud aims to achieve.

With dramatic improvements in how carcasses are assessed, beef breeders are chasing high MSA (Meat Standards Australia) scores, which measures the intramuscular fat content, meat colour and tenderness, amongst other key attributes.  These advances mean producers like Glenn must continue to seek out top genetic material to achieve good returns for their future cattle.

‘Crystal brook’, Neerim South, Victoria

Spread over more than 300 acres in the Baw Baw Shire’s enviable emerald isle, Glenn has based the bull unit of his Angus stud operation on this magnificent grazing property in West Gippsland. With high rainfall and nutrient-rich soil, there are 35 rotational paddocks for his cattle enterprise. The farm also has its own reliable water supply from the permanent Red Hill Creek, and a four acre 26-foot deep lake.