A 20-year old cattleman has taken his love of Brahmans to the next level after starting up the Northern Territory's newest stud of polled, or hornless, cattle in central Australia.
Will Weir has spent the past few years building the herd up at his family home on Ammaroo Station, about 350 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, and his stud was registered as WTW Brahman earlier this year.
Mr Weir told ABC Rural he has always had an affinity with Brahman cattle.
"I've had poddies since I was little and always favoured the Brahmans and given them a little bit more attention," he said.
"I like the way they look, their personalities, all their little quirks — I reckon they're just the best animal in the world.
"To be able to breed the complete polled Brahman is something I really look forward to trying to do, and hopefully something I can achieve."
Mr Weir became interested in setting up a business during work experience at a Brahman stud in Queensland while he was in high school.
Since then he has bought some bulls and female cattle, and he now has a few lines of younger cattle coming through the herd.
"I'm just starting to build my numbers up now and hopefully over the next couple of years I'll be able to sell some herd bulls either locally or up north," Mr Weir said.
"Hopefully it's something I'll do forever"
Mr Weir said he had been following stud sales closely over recent years and was trying to build a stud herd that was resilient in the harsh central Australian conditions.
"When I try and buy bulls especially I try and buy a well-balanced animal with meat in all the right places," he said.
"They need to be exceptional on their feet because they have to do a lot of walking out here. They can't have long feet or problems with their legs."
Mr Weir said he was able to integrate the stud operation with the family cattle business which spans a number of stations in central Australia and Queensland.
"One of our breeder herds is a Brahman-Brahman cross herd, so I'm very lucky I've already got a market for my bulls if needed," he said.
"I've bred a few already that have gone out to work in our Derry Downs Station herd, so if need be it's always good to have bulls here."
Mr Weir said he planned on developing the stud over many years and was not expecting immediate results.
"It takes a long time to get rewards within the stud game," he said.
"You have to build your herd, your genetics and also your reputation.
"Obviously I've just started now and I've got a lot of years of life left in me."
