Clive Shepherd
Born in the far north of England, just 40 miles south of the Scottish border, Clive Shepherd developed a lifelong fascination with Highland cattle. After emigrating to Australia in the late 1970s, he joined the Royal Australian Navy and enjoyed a distinguished military career spanning both the Royal and Royal Australian Navies. As a highly qualified Helicopter Warfare Instructor, he taught tactics and weapon systems to helicopter aircrews and participated in military flight testing. Following his transfer to the Naval Reserves, Clive was qualified to fly, instruct, and examine aircrew on the Seahawk, Sea King, Squirrel, Wessex, and Iroquois helicopters, concluding his flying career as Chief Observer Examiner for the RAN Fleet Air Arm before turning his attention to breeding high-quality cattle.
A self-confessed romantic, Clive purchased his first Highland cow as a gift for his wife, Kay, laying the foundation for the Ennerdale Fold. Applying the disciplined, systems-based approach developed during his aviation career, he spent more than 20 years selectively sourcing elite females—particularly from the Durness Fold—and using carefully chosen AI sires and parent verification to steadily improve the herd. This measured breeding program has produced what is arguably one of Australia's finest collections of Scottish Highland genetics, earning numerous Supreme and Champion awards, including an outstanding third place against 27 breeds at the Canberra Royal Show. However, Clive's primary goal has never been show success, but the long-term improvement of the Highland breed in Australia through measurable, repeatable genetic progress. In keeping with Scottish tradition, Ennerdale cattle are registered with the UK Highland Cattle Society.
Kay grew up in the far north of New Zealand’s North Island on a coastal property surrounded by dairy farms, where her love of cattle began through raising and training calves for the annual school Calf Club Day. That lifelong passion led us to Highland cattle in 2002 with the arrival of Bonnie of Durness, an outstanding cow from the renowned Durness Fold. Bonnie arrived in calf, marking the beginning of Kays' Highland breeding journey. Since then, Kay and Clive have developed our fold through careful selection, performance scanning, and the introduction of elite bloodlines, including the National Champion Seonaid of Ennerdale. Years spent studying Highland cattle in Scotland and importing quality genetics have strengthened our herd. Today, our breeding programme is founded on the UK Highland Cattle Society Breed Standards, with a strong focus on structure, temperament, functionality, and preserving the true character and integrity of the Highland breed.
