Buoyed by record cattle prices and welcome rain, Upper Hunter beef producers attended workshops at Merriwa and Scone last month for timely advice on planning a successful spring production and marketing program for their prime cattle.
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Hunter Local Land Services funded the ‘What’s Your Beef?’ workshops through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme to promote sustainable agricultural management providing landholders the opportunity to network with industry professionals, enjoy practical pasture tours and livestock assessments in the paddock.
Senior Land Services Officer, Sarah Giblin said the events were designed for local graziers to gain a better understanding of their beef production system, the importance of managing livestock health and feed inputs, matched with a targeted marketing program, all key elements of improved productivity and farm returns.
Independent livestock consultant and workshop presenter, Alastair Rayner of RaynerAg encouraged producers to pay close attention to their beef product market requirements to reap the benefits of production compliance and assurance programs for their targeted market.
"Why worry about compliance? The Australian beef industry loses $127 - $163million per annum due to carcase downgrades, condemns, animal health and disease issues," My Rayner said.
The Australian beef industry loses $127 - $163million per annum due to carcase downgrades
- Alastair Rayner
Meat and Livestock Australia’s Livestock Data Link (LDL) system of online feedback was promoted as a valuable and accessible, yet under-utilised, management tool for producers to track their own progress.
Producers logging into LDL can identify individual animals meeting processor specifications, thereby collecting real-time information for on-farm decision making.
Ellerston property manager, Robert Teague impressed Scone participants with a presentation on the productive temperate and sub-tropical pasture systems established on the large scale Upper Hunter beef cattle operation under his management on the ranges north-east of Scone.
Tropical pastures grazed in Ellerston’s beef production system were reported to have outperformed temperate species four to six-fold over summer growing seasons creating a flurry of interest.
A pasture tour at Dartbrook guided by Daniel Clydsdale, Clydsdale Rural, and Frank McRae, AusWest Seeds was a highlight of the Scone workshop with producers viewing the relative performance of pasture varieties in the field following an enviable season start.
