Alex and Barbara McLachlan commenced the Airlie Charolais herd in 1978. To ensure the herd reached the highest available standard, genetic material was introduced from New Zealand, Europe and North America. Foundation females were purchased throughout Australia and New Zealand. Through the use of Embryo Transplantation (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI) the herd has advanced to the stage where over 400 females are calved annually.

Significant sires in the development of the herd have included Brookfield Reagan, imported from New Zealand, an outstanding sire who swept all before him in the show ring including the Hordern Trophy at Sydney Royal. Reagan's breeding ability led the principals to import his dam to commence a Full French breeding line.

Fleets Rascal, an AI sire imported from England, has had an enormous impact on the Australian herd and has left a line of outstanding breeders.

AI is utilised wherever possible and the best young Airlie sires are used within the stud.

With over three hundred calves a year the ability to cull heavily guarantees the standard offered for sale is high.

We stand behind our cattle as breeders and are confident that an Airlie animal will perform for you. It is pleasing to us to see females and sires from our herd working so well for other herds both Stud and Commercial around Australia and New Zealand.

We have the ability to offer Full French, Polled, Red Factor and Bulls of all grades.

TheAirlie herd has now been enrolled on Group Breedplan and figures can be viewed on the abri site as well as when viewing the animals on our website.

In 1995 with after 17 years of experience and great success in shows and sales with Charolais the decision was made to branch into Angus and started the Talis Angus stud. The herd was started with two Merrigrange Milicent females, MGGG110 & VMGM120, acquired from the Glanarland dispersal. These Dams are still active in our herd today and have produced some champion Talis animals.

To ensure the herd reached the highest available standard all foundation females were purchased from dispersals. We have acquired foundation females from well known studs which include Sparta, Masterton, Willsbro, Fellwood & Comfort Hill.

Our breeding programme utilises Embryo Transplantation (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI) to advance our genetic programme.

McLachlan Group has continued the same pattern of success that it achieved with its Airlie Charolais Stud. We have won the Hordern Trophy at the Sydney Royal multiple times and have won the interbreed at the Royal Queensland with both breeds. McLachlan's Talis animals continue to win awards and in August 2005 they won the Royal Queensland Interbreed with Talis Yaaper Y509. This was not an unexpected result, Talis have had the runner-up in the female interbreed competition twice in the past four years.

We are members of Angus Breedplan and the Talis herd has also been enrolled on Group Breedplan.

We welcome your enquiry about the Airlie and/or Talis programme and offer herd inspections at any time by appointment.