About Us
About Kunderang
Building quality livestock through careful breeding, strong genetics and practical performance.
Our Story
A passion for quality livestock
Located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range at Nundle, NSW, Kunderang Angus & Black Simmental Stud is dedicated to breeding high-performing, functional cattle for Australian conditions. Since purchasing the property, Alkoomie, in 2010, we have focused on breeding Angus and Simmental cattle using advanced reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer, to consistently produce award-winning, genetically superior livestock.
Our breeding program draws on elite bloodlines from renowned Angus studs including Millah Murrah, Booroomooka, Rennylea, Baldridge and Gardiner, alongside leading Simmental genetics from Wombramurra, Lancaster, Gateway and Hook's Simmental. Our objective is to combine outstanding phenotype with proven genotype, capturing the hybrid vigour of both breeds by blending Angus traits such as carcass quality, efficiency and fat cover with the muscle, structural soundness and maternal strength of the Simmental breed.
Cattle are raised in hilly country, ensuring they possess the structure, constitution and foraging ability required to thrive in commercial Australian environments. Following weaning at 7 to 8 months of age, young stock are grown out on improved pastures and forage crops. The herd is joined during both autumn and spring over 6 to 7 week joining periods.
Kunderang cattle have achieved outstanding success in both educational and industry competitions. In 2023, we supplied a steer to Pymble Ladies' College for the Sydney Royal Easter Show Hoof and Hook competition, leading to further entries with both Pymble Ladies' College and Calrossy Anglican School cattle teams. Our cattle have also competed successfully in the Teys Feedlot Feedback Trial, Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza and the AMPC National Beef Carcase Competition. A major milestone has been winning Champion ribbons at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in both 2024 and 2025, reinforcing the strength of our breeding program and inspiring the establishment of Kunderang Stud. With the Zoetis Angus Expo on our doorstep, it was a natural next step.
Richard is passionate about cattle breeding and livestock genetics and is always happy to discuss breeding programs, genetics or help answer any questions.
Breeding Philosophy
Four pillars guide every decision
Performance
Livestock must perform in real-world environments.
Fertility
Strong reproductive performance is essential.
Temperament
Quiet, manageable animals create better outcomes.
Longevity
Genetics that remain productive for years.
Heritage Stock Horses
Kunderang Heritage Stock Horses were founded when the Fitzgerald's settled the 110,000 acre property 'Kunderang' East of Armidale between 1892 and 1972. Joseph Fitzgerald and his family moved to 'Kunderang', which is now part of the Oxley Rivers National Parks. Horses were essential to mustering and day to day life out in the hilly scrub country, which called for horses with stamina, heart, sure footedness, temperament, stock sense, and intelligence.
The Fitzgerald's originally cross bred from Arabian horses, thoroughbreds, and ponies. Joseph's son 'JP' bought an imported Arabian stallion Kaytan, which to this day can be seen in the Kunderang breed. The Kunderang horses were well respected and sought after in the New England and coastal regions. One of the most notable stallions to reside at Kunderang was Radium for about four years. Most of the Kunderang breed can be traced back to Radium and his sons.
The Fitzgerald family branched out and moved from Kunderang to the black soil plains' property 'The Prairies' northwest of Moree, bringing some of their horses with them, whilst also continuing to breed horses back at 'Kunderang'. They became known under the registered prefix of 'The Prairies' in the early days of the Australian Stock Horse Society. When the family partnership of four brothers dissolved, John Neil and his son Richard changed the prefix to 'Kunderang' and continued to breed horses with outstanding cattle sense, stamina, trainability, and good looks.
The Kunderang breed has proven to be very versatile, with outstanding performances from pony club to the show ring, eventing and showjumping, to campdrafting and polocrosse. Since moving to Nundle, the breed has proven invaluable when mustering steep country and continue to be highly sought after for work, sport, and recreation in both Queensland and New South Wales.
Some recent highlights have been second overall in the 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity at the Australian Stock Horse Nationals (Kunderang Last Drinks), Pony Club Nationals 2019 (Kunderang Portia), ABCRA Campdraft Finals in 2017 (Kunderang Portia), Polocrosse Championship State representatives (Kunderang Campari, Kunderang Midori, Kunderang Martini), and multiple Interschool successes and Working Horse Challenges (Kunderang Portia, Kunderang Apollo, and Kunderang Last Drinks).
Angus and Black Simmental Cattle
At Kunderang, our focus is on breeding high-performing Angus and Black Simmental cattle that combine exceptional genetics with practical functionality. Our breeding program is built on elite bloodlines from leading Angus studs including Millah Murrah, Booroomooka, Rennylea, Baldridge and Gardiner, alongside renowned Simmental genetics from Wombramurra, Lancaster, Gateway and Hook's Simmental.
By combining the best qualities of both breeds, we harness hybrid vigour to produce cattle with outstanding carcass quality, growth, structural soundness, maternal performance and temperament. Every breeding decision is carefully considered to strengthen both phenotype and genotype, ensuring our cattle not only look the part but consistently perform in commercial and stud operations alike. Through the ongoing use of artificial insemination and embryo transfer, we continue to develop genetics that deliver productive, functional cattle suited to Australian conditions.