Cattle collecting a crucial strategy

WESTERN Creek dairy farmers Warwick and Betty Holmes are not your usual collectors.

Instead of avidly acquiring teaspoons or matchboxes, the Holmeses collect rare and endangered cattle breeds.

Their unusual hobby began six years ago when the couple realised many traditional cattle breeds were at risk of extinction.

"Around the world, people have been re-manufacturing cattle to make them more productive at producing meat or milk," Mr Holmes said.