The Angus breed has enjoyed outstanding growth in recent times.

It has achieved what is arguably an unequalled level of consumer recognition throughout a range of markets, from high end marbled prime cuts through to the everyday affordable hamburger. The breed has also proved to be adaptable and commercially viable in QLD.

The QLD Angus Forum is a unique and first-time opportunity for QLD beef industry members to experience valuable information and discussion on Angus cattle from a wide range of highly regarded presenters, while strengthening supply chain alliances.

We invite all members of the beef industry, including commercial producers, backgrounders and processors, to join with us in the rise of the Angus breed.

Click here to view the print version program (PDF - 3.2mb)

Guest Speaker: Senator Barnaby Joyce

‘Overcoming the challenges for an ever-increasing voting minority group’

Our identity, our heritage and our voting voice seems to increasingly diminish each day.

While many of us don’t want to be looked upon as ‘whinging farmers, lifestyle farmers, too wet or too dry’, there are definitely issues in the bush that get pushed to the side if constructive debate is not voiced.

So the challenge has been accepted by Senator Joyce to answer our questions and enlighten us on how we as progressive farmer/graziers overcome the challenges of an ever increasing voting minority group. In terms of gross domestic product we are by no means a minority group, in fact if it wasn’t for our strong sector, Australia would not have thus far survived the effects of the recent global financial crisis.

Senator Joyce is the Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Infrastructure and Water. He is also the Leader of the Nationals in the Senate and the LNP Senator for Queensland.

Angus & Angus Cross Cattle: Why there are Premiums & Market Flexibility Advantages

Brett Campbell, Livestock Manager, JBS Swift

Grain fed, grass fed, from hamburgers to the Japanese B3 market, through droughts and floods. Market flexibility is a must in our Australian climate and Brett Campbell will outline why there are premiums for Angus and Angus cross cattle. With land and the general soft commodity prices the way they are, improving your gross margin by targeting a wide range of markets and getting a premium may be an option.
Brett’s current role with Swift Australia is Livestock Manager-Beef, which he commenced in September 2009. Prior to this role, Brett was Livestoch Manager-Feedlots for 10 years. He has worked with Swift and previously AMH since 1998.
Swift Australia is a division of JBS, Brazil’s largest multinational in the food sector, and the world’s largest meat company. JBS, a family owned company, exports to more than 110 countries and attributes its success worldwide to ensuring that all its facilities and processes are fully compliant with the demanding international market.

Angus & Angus Cross Cattle: In the Feedlots

Jim Cudmore, President, Australian Lot Feeders Association

When choosing to market your cattle into feedlots, how do you maximize your chance for win/win scenarios for both parties and how do you build up a reputation for highly sought after cattle? Australian Lot Feeders Association president, Jim Cudmore, will seek to answer all these questions and more.
Jim is currently employed as General Manager Beef Operations by the Hart family, who own and operate Kerwee Feedlot at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs in Queensland. Kerwee is licensed to feed 9171 standard cattle units, and focuses primarily on the high end table beef market, both locally and overseas. The lot feeding facility concentrates on feeding regimes that enhance the Stockyard branded product which is distributed throughout the world. A proportion of the cattle on feed are custom fed specifically to customer requirements, with a strong focus on desired consumer outcomes.

Certified Grass-Fed Beef: The New Natural Standard

Justin MacDonnell, Producer, AgForce Cattle Board Member

Justin MacDonnell is a young cattleman from the Arcadia Valley in Central Queensland. Justin and his wife, Pauline are part of a family operation, ‘Brigalow Beef’, that run 3000 head of crossbred cattle on two adjacent properties. Brigalow Beef proudly produces ‘MSA Graded’ grass finished cattle for the export and domestic market under a cell grazing regime.
Justin is a director on the AgForce Cattle Board and is also a councillor on the Cattle Council of Australia. Justin represents the Australian beef industry on both the Marketing Taskforce, which overseas MLA’s marketing budget, and the Environmental Taskforce which develops the beef industries environmental policy. Justin has been heavily involved with Cattle Council’s work on developing a standard for Grass Fed Beef. He will provide an update on the development of the standard and the criteria underpinning it. He will also outline the reasons behind Cattle Councils enthusiasm for developing the standard as well as some of the market opportunities that exist for a certified Grass Fed product.

Certified Australian Angus Beef:
The Branded Beef Success Story

Phil Morley, CEO, Certified Australian Angus Beef

Branded products: many have been established but few have had the success CAAB has had. Formed by the Angus Society of Australia in 1996 and with the dedication of a few Victorian producers in the early days, CAAB is now a well established company with an extensive clientele and several beef products to choose from.
CEO, Phil Morley, will tell the success story of CAAB, give an overview of success and failures in the branded product marketplace as well as the current and future opportunities for Angus beef. Phil has extensive experience, having previously held the positions of national retail manager-meat for Coles and Bi Lo supermarkets, national business manager-meat and seafood for Dairy Farm Holdings International and state meat merchandise manager (QLD & NSW) for Woolworths. He has also held numerous industry positions as a board member of QLD Livestock & Meat Authority, MLA and Aus-Meat. He was a founding committee member of the Industry Eating Quality Assurance Scheme, now known as MSA.

Angus in QLD - Pure or Cross:
Adaptation & Management of Angus Bulls

Don Nicol, Breeding Consultant & Principal, Breedlink

With Angus numbers in Queensland on the rise, Angus Australia commissioned Brisbane-based cattle breeding consultant Don Nicol to undertake a study on the adaptation of Angus bulls in northern Australia. Don will share his findings and discuss the role of Angus bulls for crossbreeding in Queensland, and the adaptation and management of Angus bulls for different climatic zones. Don works across Australia and internationally for his company Breedlink Pty Ltd, first formed in 1986. He has advised hundreds of cattle breeding enterprises in Australia and overseas on the design and breeding strategy of their seedstock & commercial breeding programs. Don’s previous roles have included managing cattle ranches in Venezuela, beef adviser with the QLD DPI&F, supervisor of the launch of BREEDPLAN whilst national coordinator of extension for the National Beef Recording Scheme, breed development consultant to the Angus Society, Divisional Manager and consultant for the Australian Agricultural Company.

The World of Genomics:
The 50 000 DNA Marker Breakthrough

Peter Parnell, CEO, Angus Australia
Terry Farrell, Senior Sales, Pfizer Animal Genetics

50 000 markers are soon to be released by Pfizer and while gene marker technology has been commercially available for a number of years this may be the first step towards productivity gains being made.
Peter Parnell, CEO of Angus Australia (pictured), will give a brief overview of how the Angus Society will implement gene marker technology into its existing objective measurement system. Dr Peter Parnell has over 30 years experience in research, extension and application of technology in the beef industry. He has worked previously with Angus Australia as Breed Development Manager.

Terry Farrell from Pfizer Animal Genetics, will outline the 50 000 markers and the future ahead. The new DNA test, HD 50K, is designed specifically designed for black Angus cattle, and provides MVP’s on 13 traits using more than 50 000 DNA markers, providing the most reliable genomic predictions today.

Moving Forward In the Current Agricultural Economy

David Brett, NAB Head of Agribusiness North

Change will always occur and in the current world economy who knows which direction it will actually take. Since the GFC the all ordinaries are nearly back to where they were, the Australian dollar is approaching parity, the mineral resource sector is all go and the talk is all the same as before the GFC. So rather than looking into a cloudy crystal ball, let’s assume land and soft commodity prices stay the same and interest rates will rise. David will discuss the shape your business needs to be in if you want to continue to grow.

David has a passion for agriculture. Following a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Sydney, David worked in a variety of Regional Manager Roles in Agribusiness & Business Banking before taking up the position of Head of Agribusiness for NSW, QLD and NT at NAB. This role requires David to manage approximately 270 staff across all three States and a book boasting 10 Billion in lending and 3 Billion in deposits as well as various transactional services.

The Human Element:
Personal Performance for Greatness

Jill Rigney, Senior Consultant, The Right Mind

Personal Performance = Business Performance
The human component of a business is a key pillar in business performance. Jill Rigney has extensive experience working in the area of business performance, and her original specialties were initially business and production benchmarking, financial performance and strategy. Jill’s presentation will put a new dimension on business success, by combining the areas of human and individual performance and its influence on optimum business performance. Components of this human element that Jill will cover include mental toughness, managing high emotions and managing stress and pressure.
Jill is regarded as a dynamic speaker both in Australia and overseas. Jill and The Right Mind specialise in areas of capacity building for business and individuals with a specific connection to the rural industry. Jill now specialises in the area of engagement, self mastery, family communications, succession planning, conflict and negotiation.

Queensland Angus Forum Chair

Arlie Douglas, Rural Reporter,
ABC Radio Southern Queensland

Arlie Douglas is quickly developing a reputation for herself as a highly regarded chairperson. Her quick witted thinking and extensive understanding of the agricultural industry combined with her outstanding public speaking skills allow her to facilitate forum proceedings with ease.
Arlie is currently a rural reporter for ABC radio based in Southern Queensland, after stints with the ABC in Mt Isa, Longreach and Rockhampton. She has lots of experience in the rural field having studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Queensland and has worked in rural training in the Mount Isa area. Arlie went off to boarding school at the age of eight, which she loved, and was very involved in sports, including rowing and touch football. Arlie is enjoying rural reporting and is looking forward to bringing some unique stories to listeners. While in the region, Arlie also hopes to take advantage of the terrific opportunities to get out and attend a few of the great social functions in the area.