Fond memories and heartfelt tributes are being shared following the passing of respected livestock geneticist Dr Michael (Mick) Tierney OAM in Brisbane earlier this month.
Mick as he was affectionately known was an accomplished livestock geneticist who was a significant contributor to the development of tropically adapted livestock genetics in Australia and overseas.
In 2016 Mick was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to rugby league and to dairy and beef cattle production.
He graduated from the University of NSW in 1972 at the age of 24 with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Animal Genetics.
He then moved to Brisbane for a job with Qld DPI, where his career as a geneticist spanned research in the domestic dairy, beef, sheep, goat and poultry industries along with helping to develop livestock breeding programs in countries in South East Asia and the Asian Subcontinent.
He was a key geneticist in the development of Australian Friesian Sahiwal cattle, a tropically adapted, tick-resistant, heat-tolerant stabilised dairy breed with superior milk and reproductive performance, intended for possible export to developing countries to Australia’s immediate north.
The Australian Friesian Sahiwal combined the traits of the Sahiwal, an indigenous dairy breed from Pakistan where it is valued in small holder systems, with the dairy performance of the Friesian.
The AFS program ceased when the genetics were sold by the Queensland Government to Victoria in the 1990s.
Mick receiving his OAM from then Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey in 2016.
Had the herd development program continued Australian Friesian Sahiwal cattle would have been ideally suited today for Indonesia where strong demand for tropically adapted dairy cattle is now emerging in order to meet new President Prabowo Subianto’s national plan to supply free milk to school children.
Beef Central understands the Queensland Department of Primary of Industries has recently undertaken new trials to test Friesian and heat-tolerant breed crosses within the DPI and University of Queensland dairy research herds at Gatton, with the breeding program still in its early stages.
Following his retirement from the DPI in 2002 Mick worked as a consultant where his knowledge and expertise was in demand in many parts of the world. This reporter had the great pleasure of travelling with Mick to Pakistan and India as part of an Austrade delegation in 2007. Mick was greeted with reverence and admiration by Pakistan Government scientists, researchers and cattle breeders at every farm and research station we visited.
Voluntary service was also a huge part of Mick’s life.
He served as a judge and steward at Royal Queensland Show dairy and beef competitions since the 1980s and was also part of the team who weighed and scanned stud cattle before each show.
The cancellation of the Royal Queensland Show in 2020 due to Covid was the first time Mick had not attended the Ekka in 37 years.
Rural journalist and founder of the ABC Landline television program Kerry Lonergan, who also served as an Ekka cattle steward for many years, said Mick was responsible for manning the “fine” tin in the steward’s bar.
“He would ping anybody who used their phone in the bar … he collected a gazillion for charity over the years.”
Mick was also known for his great love for the sport of rugby league. He was a long-serving stalwart of the Brothers St Brendan’s Junior Rugby League Football Club at Rocklea in Brisbane and a passionate and outspoken supporter of the Sydney Roosters NRL team.
Two die-hard Sydney Roosters and Queensland rugby league supporters – Mick and the late Artie Beetson.
He was involved in rugby league administration in Queensland for 50 years, rising to prominent leadership positions including Chair and Life Member of Brisbane Second Division Rugby League and Rugby League Brisbane.
Mick was also a regular at Brisbane’s Davies Park in West End where he volunteered as a ground announcer and timekeeper for Souths Logan Intrust Super Cup matches.
The Brisbane International Tennis tournament and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth were among the many events at which Mick lent a helping hand as a volunteer.
Former DPI senior beef extension officer Alan Laing said Mick contributed greatly to the Queensland dairy industry through the Queensland Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme that operated with the Wacol Artificial Breeding Centre, where Jersey, Australian Illawara, Shorthorn and Friesian bulls were selected from breeder herds and used extensively in cooperator dairy herds.
Mick was also extremely active in the Queensland beef industry by leading the Queensland Beef Genetic Improvement Project for many years.
He actively contributed to the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) development of Breedplan.
“His technical contribution was greatly valued particularly with his northern Australian focus and the need to balance both the temperate and tropical aspects of the analyses,” Alan said.
“Mick co-authored several beef industry production booklets and was always positive in encouraging new staff in documenting best practice principals.
“Mick was active in the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics and also the Australian Society of Animal Production. Both production groups were aimed at collating research and providing the results to further develop researchers and all working in the beef industry across Australia.”
Alan said Mick’s great strengths included his sense of humour and his ability to “gel” teams to achieve desirable outcomes.
“Mick was a great bloke, always humble and down to earth.”
Pat Thurbon who worked with Mick at the Department of Primary Industries said Mick was highly regarded by people involved in genetic improvement of livestock in both Australia and overseas.
“In addition he was a perfect gentleman in all situations and was regarded as such by all he met.”
Mick spent the past 12 years at The Village Yeronga Retirement Community in Brisbane where his natural leadership skills continued to rise to the fore as chair of the Village Residents’ Committee.
He passed away in Brisbane on 20 January 2025 aged 77 years.
A funeral service will be held at Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium East Chapel, 329 Nursery Road Holland Park, Qld, this Friday (Jan 31) at 12:30pm.
For details click here