Facilitated by CQUniversity, the one-day workshop formed part of the PhD project Development of Extension Services co-created with Farmers and Stakeholders to Promote Genetic Improvement in Beef Cattle in Northern Australia which is supported by funding from Meat and Livestock Australia.
The event featured presentations from leading industry experts, a panel discussion with experienced beef producers and insights into other CQUniversity research taking place at CQIRP, including a tour of the Animal House facility where the Precision Livestock Management team is conducting trials.
CQUniversity PhD candidate Patricia Menchon says the workshop drew strong attendance from commercial beef producers keen to learn more about the practical applications of genomics and on-farm data.
“It was fantastic to see so many producers engage with the topic and share their experiences,” Patricia says.
“Presentations from our industry partners, including Tim Emery from the QLD Department of Primary Industries and Meghan Anderson from Black Box Co, offered valuable insights into herd data management, genomic testing and how these tools can support more informed breeding decisions.
“The panel discussion gave us the opportunity to hear first-hand from producers about the challenges and opportunities they see in adopting genetic improvement practices and to discuss where agricultural research is heading in this space.”
Patricia says the workshop also shared some of the results of her PhD, which aims to understand what motivates northern Australian beef producers to adopt genetic improvement tools and to co-develop extension services that boost the use of genetic data and new technologies in the industry.
“By working closely with producers, we can better understand their needs and tailor training and support that promotes the use of genetic tools and data-driven decision-making across the northern beef industry," she says.
“Workshops such as this are invaluable for sharing research, learning directly from producers and ensuring our work has real-world impact.”
The workshop concluded with a survey to capture participants’ feedback and perspectives which will help guide the final recommendations for her PhD project.
“Sharing our research and hearing first-hand from industry helps us all work more effectively and sustainably, it’s how we’ll continue to advance beef production across northern Australia,” Patricia adds.
