- Aug 13

Breeding for Profit: the BeefLinks team visit the Rangelands to deliver a workshop for producers

A visit to the rangelands to meet with producers and industry is always a great experience with networking, collaboration, and outreach opportunities, and our recent trip to Meekatharra and Newman in May 2024 was no exception!

UWA researchers, Prof. Phil Vercoe, Dr. Fiona Dempster and Montana Baddeley teamed up with Dr. David Johnston and Dr. Matt Wolcott from the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit at the University of New England, to deliver “Breeding for Profit” workshops on a Meekatharra station and attend MLA’s BeefUp Forum.

The Breeding for Profit workshop was first conceptualised through the BeefLinks' Feedlot Performance Project’s stakeholder group. The aim was to improve understanding of market options for rangelands cattle and how to breed cattle to target these markets through use of EBVs and selection indexes (improved herd genetics).

The team delivered the workshop to pastoralists from 10 stations across the Murchison and Gascoyne region. A social sundowner provided the group the opportunity to network, discuss the Southern Rangelands Revitalisation Program site visit (facilitated by DPIRD), and watch a demonstration of Optiweigh system for in-paddock data collection.

The BeefUps Forum was held in Newman, 23-24th May 2024, where the team delivered a version of the Breeding for Profit workshop to over 75 producers and industry attending the event. The forum provided an opportunity to hear about other research relevant to the region as well as build relationships with industry. The event also included a tour of Roy Hill yards, demonstration of working dogs moving cattle, and a social dinner.

The trip provided the team an opportunity to share research findings from the BeefLinks Feedlot Performance Project and receive feedback on areas for further research which would be of most benefit to producers.