About Norfolk Blue Cattle
The story and name for the Norfolk Blue line of cattle began in 2003 when all of the unusual blue/blue grey cattle roaming the roads on Norfolk Island, were purchased and relocated to 100 Acre Farm with a view to replicating their unique physical appearance and quiet temperament through a dedicated breeding program. One of the main contributors in 2003 was the late Bubby Evans, from whom we purchased the majority of the "Blues" and including a young 15 months old bull who became know as "Mr Bull - the Legend", for without Bubby Evans and Mr Bull, this story would never have been told.
What followed was a labour of love by both Jap and Robyn Menghetti spanning more than 2 decades during which time they operated their own slaughter house to provide a "conception to plate" offering through their restaurant and café at "Norfolk Blue Restaurant Grill and Bar at Homestead" located on 100 Acre Farm and "The Blue Bull Café" in Burnt Pine. Norfolk Blue Farm Tours also operated from 100 Acre Farm.
With the sudden passing of Jap in 2021, the breeding program at 100 Acre Farm came to an end. However, with the help of many locals, the herd still exists and has been dispersed across many farms. To honour the promise made to Jap, every effort has and is being made to ensure the Norfolk Blue line continues to flourish on the island as the unique breed it is. Hence this cattle register will provide all the necessary tools for those who wish to continue the breed or for those wishing to become a new breeder, for the long term betterment of the island. This website is dedicated to both Jap Menghetti and Bubby Evans as the real pioneers to this story.
The History of Cattle on Norfolk Island
The British colonised Norfolk Island in 1788 and remained here during what is known as the British Colonial Settlement, until 1814 when the island was abandoned. They returned in 1825, this time staying until 1856, in the period known as the British Penal Settlement. They brought with them all the domesticated livestock they would need. When the Pitcairn settlers arrived to live on Norfolk Island in 1856, they were bequeathed a generous legacy: buildings they could use, cleared fenced land, stores of grain, and livestock, which included 433 head of cattle.
The cattle left for the Pitcairners were old British breeds such as Devon, Hereford, Shorthorn and Angus (from Scotland).
The History of Norfolk Blue Cattle
From the time the Pitcairners arrived in 1956, the cattle on the island remained a closed herd for many years until around the mid 1900’s when a blue bull was brought to the island by local Gilly Bailey. It is not known where that bull came from, but probably Australia or New Zealand. As the locals do on Norfolk Island, that blue bull was nicknamed “Dr Blue Suit”, so named for his distinctive colour. He is thought to have been a Angus/Shorthorn cross. The island cattle roamed freely with little or no fencing. Hence Dr Blue Suit brought new genetics to the island’s closed cattle herd.
In 2003 Jap and Robyn Menghetti married and settled on Paul’s 100 Acre Farm where he ran a small beef herd and together they set about acquiring as many of the “blues” from other cattle owners. By 2006 they had managed to acquire all but one of the blues. The acquired herd consisted of:
- Ten (10) cows
- Two (2) heifers
- One (1) calf and
- One (1) young bull, who was to become known as “Mr Bull” the Legend, for without him, this story would not have been told.
Soon after, they started a program to develop a heritage herd which they called “Norfolk Blue”, initially crossing the herd with the black white-faced baldies on 100 Acre Farm and then through a combination of line breeding and intermittent artificial insemination using straws from the BlueE line of cattle bred by Jon Wright from Coota Park, Woodstock, New South Wales.
Since 2003 more than 450 Norfolk Blue and XNorfolk Blue cattle have been bred with every animal's genetics being recorded and maintained.
The Future
Sadly in February 2021 Jap passed suddenly, leaving Robyn to continue their goal of preserving the Norfolk Blue heritage herd as a unique line of cattle for the island and to honour their shared promise to each other.
As Robyn's chapter on Norfolk Island draws to a close, this website has been created in honour of both Jap Menghetti and Bubby Evans, and to arm those interested in continuing the line or becoming a new breeder with the necessary genetic information and other tools to assist in that endeavour.
The vision has always been that the Norfolk Blue line of cattle will continue as an icon of the island (as it did during the operation of the Norfolk Blue Restaurant and the Blue Bull Café) and in the years ahead will equal the success of the King Island beef story.
The hope is that the island’s cattle breeders will embrace and celebrate the work carried out over the last 20 plus years in honour of both Jap and Bubby and their shared desire for the Norfolk Blues to become a feature of Norfolk Island and a significant drawcard for visitors, long after we have all departed this planet.
Do you want to know more?
If you have any general questions or comments regarding the Norfolk Blue breed, please use our General Enquiry Form.
