Beef industry schooled on stock selection

Held at Mount Compass Area Training Centre with visits to local saleyards and producers, the school drew a variety of 70 producers, service providers and students, who all figured in the top 10.

Trainee Southern Australian Livestock stock agent at Murray Bridge Simon Aldridge took out first place, with Tintinara beef producer Justin Hurrell in second and Keith Area School student Carly Gogel third.

"There's a really good mix of producers, service providers and students in the top 10, which is a great reflection on the school as a whole," coordinator Penny Schulz said.

"Although the school's target audience is beef producers, we did have a handful of service providers attend the school, with about three-quarters of the service providers that attended ending up in the top 10.

"It's great to know that the people in our industry that provide advice and guidance for our businesses are not only keen to learn and get involved, but also seem to know their stuff."

The two-day school featured speakers from across the industry including Meat & Livestock Australia market and information analysis manager Tim McRae, RaynerAg principal Alastair Rayner, University of Adelaide School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Prof Wayne Pitchford, Angus Australia breed development and innovation manager Carel Teseling and Meat Standards Australia trade development officer Jake Phillips.

Both hands-on and theory sessions were a feature of the Focus on Females theme and included topics such as hitting the right market specifications, using EBVs and management and breeding tactics to improve female reproductive performance.

Participants were given the opportunity to assess cattle at Mount Compass saleyards and on various local properties.

And for the first time, the SA Beef School was able to provide a recognition of learning for participants in the school through TafeSA.

* Full report in Stock Journal, August 21, 2014 issue.