Tough path to the good life as studs

For males of the bovine species getting picked as a breeding sire is a ticket to the good life. They are guaranteed longer lives than their genetically inferior brothers and there are the obvious perks.

But making the grade and getting on the Livestock Improvement breeding team is no easy task.

First up, your mother needs to be sufficiently attractive and productive to get picked from the herds around the country.

From those cows the breeding programme produces 300 bulls a year. Each bull represents an investment of about $30,000.

Of those bulls only 20 or 30 will make the final cut. To decide the final team the 300 bulls get one season of breeding.

They spend the next four years eating and sleeping until their female progeny are tested for productivity.

Those who produce the best-quality cows will join the breeding team.