That is when a Here-ford heifer from his Centennial Herefords stud will come up for grabs at a charity auction to help the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Mr Rogers offered to donate the now 10-month-old heifer after the fund-raising idea was first suggested by Herefords Australia chief executive John McKew last year.

“The board thought it was a good idea and I suggested that because I had my experience with the chopper I was happy to kick it off and donate the first heifer,” Mr Rogers said.

Two years ago a cow stomped on him in a paddock at his Coolah farm, midway between Dubbo and Tamworth.

“The ambulance driver thought I had spinal injuries so he called a helicopter,” he said.

“I was taken to a helipad in town and the helicopter picked me up and took me to the Newcastle hospital.

“As it turned out I didn’t have any spinal injuries and just had bruised and torn ligaments in the lower neck and upper shoulders.

“But at the time they thought it was a bit more serious.”

The auction is part of tomorrow’s Herefords Australia National Show at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre and will be held at 8.45am, before the main sale starts.

Helicopter service chief Richard Jones said it was an ongoing pursuit to raise money “so we can continue to do our job”.