The importance of experienced livestock sector employees and those just entering the industry forming solid connections was clearly displayed at the SA Livestock Advisor Update.
Held at the Lakes Hotel, the annual update had livestock industry workers from across the state listen to speakers discuss topics relating to how to build a positive future for the livestock sector.
To conclude the day, a panel session was led by AgConsulting Co Jeanette Long, with speakers Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services, Nathan Scott, Achieve Ag, Colleen White, CWhite Counselling, Emily King, Australian Wool Innovation, and Andrew Morelli, Meat & Livestock Australia.
SA Livestock Consultants Inc member Indi Lamond said the panel offered attendees the chance to hear insights from people in the livestock industry.
With the aim of upskilling the livestock industry employees, she said she hoped each session offered on the day, each attendee learned a skill or technique they could implement in their own business or farming operation.
There are a number of opportunities to improve the livestock industry into the future, as highlighted in the panel session.
"I reckon we've got a really huge opportunity to engage much better with all of our stakeholders across the industry," Ms King said.
"In the grand scheme of things as an industry, we're pretty small on a global scale and I think we could get a lot more done, if we all work together."
For people in the livestock industry, Mr Scott said there is always an opportunity to learn more from others and gain more experience.
"We should always try to get more experience and learn from other people," he said.
"Whether that involves people putting themselves out of their comfort zone or put themselves in circumstances they wouldn't normally find themselves in."
Ms White said at the moment there can sometimes be a gap between the different generations of farmers.
"Sometimes there's a gap between people who've been in the industry for a long time and new people coming in," he said.
"People are going to have employees come into their business from university and the experienced employees need to purposefully work out what they can give them and what the new employees can bring to their business.
"When someone new comes into your business you need to make sure they're bringing something to your business and you're able to train them."
When considering the promotion of red meat products, Mr Morelli said there was an opportunity to offer stakeholders a clearer idea on why MLA is a suitable investment for meat producers.
"With the Australian Lamb ad it's meant to be promoting the business and products, which it does a great job at," he said.
"But everyone's probably looking more at the message from the ad and Sam Kekovich, which has no impact to MLA and the red meat industries."
There is a significant opportunity to improve the decision making of those in the livestock industry, Mr Nicholson said.
"I don't think people know how to make a good decision and they don't know the process of making a good decision," he said.
"I think we assume because we make lots of decisions we're good at it.
"Decision making is a process and a skill."
Mr Nicholson said there was an assumption that everyone could process information and make good decisions.
"I don't think we lack the practices, but we could do with some better decision making."
