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Southern Beef School

The Southern Beef School is on again this winter following three very successful years as a joint project between the Department of Primary Industries, Glenormiston College and Angus Australia

By Department of Primary Industries - 7th July 2004 - Back to News

Past participants have enjoyed the balance of practical cattle assessment sessions and talks covering a wide range of beef industry developments and their implementation. This year participants will assess over 50 cattle for a range of market requirements as well as participate in bull selection exercises.

Many breeds and their crosses will be used and all beef producers are welcomed. New in 2004 is that some animals assessed ‘on the hoof’ will also be assessed ‘on the hook’ as part of a carcase evaluation session.

The program has almost 20 speakers covering the cattle market, supply chain integration, technology for cattle breeding and selection, efficient cattle production and beef marketing.

For previous participants the program has been reviewed and will not be a replay. Speakers have been sourced from far a field and include Dr Kev Sullivan from Bell Veterinary Clinic, Dr John Thompson from Beef Quality CRC and Meat and Livestock Australia’s Peter Weeks.

Popular sessions such as Cam Nicholson’s "What drives profit in your beef operation" have been retained. Local experts like producers David and Wendy Kelly of Barwidgee Angus and ALFA President Sandy Maconochie will also be presenting.

David McCarthy a commercial producer from WA says, "I attended the 2003 Southern Beef School at Glenormiston, Victoria and was impressed by the quality of the content of the course and the speakers.

"The course covered all the relevant topics for successful commercial beef production and the theory learnt was put into practice on the cattle properties I was managing in WA at the time.

"The two properties, "Joanna Plains" and "Emu Downs" cover approximately 20,000 hectares and at peak run in excess of 10,000 head of breeding and fattening stock with a portion of the production being grain-fed.

"The skills improved at the Southern Beef School aided in the development of the cattle management programs for these properties and it was more than worthwhile attending."

There are also many opportunities to meet and learn from a large number of beef industry participants with between 80-100 registrations in previous years.

The cost of the school will be $210 including food and accommodation or $150 for the course and industry dinner.

People wanting to beef up your future please set aside July 20-22 for the Southern Beef School.

Places will be limited. For booking forms call Glenice or Janet at the University of Melbourne Glenormiston College on 1800 808 542 or email .

For more information contact Emma Weatherly at DPI Hamilton.

5th Bendigo Australian Sheep & Wool Show

Bendigo's 5th annual Australian Sheep & Wool Show is on from 16 - 19 July 2004.

Secretary of the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association Andrew Ternouth reports that more than 400 fleeces from all states in Australia have been entered into the fleece competition which will be judged at the Show. He adds that more than 2,500 animals will be on display, including sheep from all states.

"We've been getting bigger and better each year since we started in Bendigo in 2000, and we hope the trend continues this year," says Andrew.

Sheep from the Elmore 'Merinos to Match' site will be available for inspection at the Sheep Show. The Merinos to Match project has been established to benchmark Merino studs under Victorian conditions.

Developed by DPI in conjunction with the Victorian Stud Merino Sheep Breeders Association, the project is designed to assist producers to evaluate studs in their environment and buy rams with confidence that suit their breeding objectives.

Merinos to Match also have sites running at Hamilton, Stawell and Dookie.

The results from the first shearing at the Hamilton Merinos to Match site have just been released and show that there are considerable differences between the studs in a number of traits.

For wool production, there was a range in fleece weights between studs of approximately 40 per cent of the average, whereas the difference in fibre diameter was surprisingly small, with a range of 9 percent.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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