Dog attack injures SBC's Queenslander cattle and halts Show season

After the high of Beef Australia 2018 and the St Brendan’s College Brencol Queenslander breed cattle being introduced to the beef industry, the College and its Cattle Club had a significant blow last week in Yeppoon, when a dog attack at the St Brendan’s College Agricultural Centre resulted in significant injuries to eight cattle and two horses.

St Brendan’s College Principal Mr Robert Corboy said the incident was a cruel blow for the staff and students involved who had given so much time to prepare for the Show season, and were looking forward to taking the Queenslanders out and about through Central Queensland on the Show circuit.

“After quite a lot of positive feedback about our Cattle Club students and St Brendan’s College’s involvement in the new Queenslander breed at Beef, this incident is a sad blow for all involved,” Mr Corboy said.

“An injury to any beast is distressing, but the number of cattle and horses injured was a shock for our students and staff,” he said.

“At this stage the incident is being investigated by Livingstone Shire Council and we appreciate that the owners of the two dogs involved are cooperating in this matter,” Mr Corboy said. 

“I would like to commend the students of our SBC Cattle Club, particularly Year 8 students Bryce Voll and Alex Creevey who heard the commotion at the yards during their Study Period on Thursday evening and raised the alarm for staff to investigate,” he said.

“We called on vets to come and inspect and treat the cattle and horses and this will be ongoing over coming weeks.”

“We hope they will recover, although at this stage the planned Country Show schedule for our St Brendan’s College Cattle Club around Central Queensland is on hold until further notice. Unfortunately some of the cattle will now carry permanent scars into future show rings.”

“Our staff will continue to be vigilant on campus and we urge the community to ensure that their dogs remain controlled at all times,” he said.

Picture: St Brendan’s College Farm Manager Emily Demaine-Beale with students Alex Creevey and Bryce Voll  with some of the cattle injured in the dog attack at the College last week.