Published Wednesday, 11 June, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Beef officer developing state’s north-west industry
Three months into his job as a beef industry development officer, the experience and expertise of Ian Gray is being felt across north west Queensland.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said Mr Gray, who is employed under the Future Beef initiative, was making his mark on the region’s cattle industry by instigating plans that would benefit the region well into the future.
“For instance, Ian is assembling a group of beef producers to help determine the systems and processes that will help produce cattle that meet the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) compliance standards,” Mr Mulherin said.
“This will enable cattle producers to implement the eating quality program, which is expected to deliver a greater return and provide consumers with a better product.
“I understand that JBS Swifts for example has recently introduced MSA grading at its Stuart plant and are offering a 10 cent per kilogram premium for cattle which meet MSA specification.”
Mr Gray was involved in workshops in Mt Isa yesterday and is in Cloncurry today to assist producers to relocate drought-affected stock.
“These are part of a series being coordinated by DPI&F throughout regional Queensland,’’ Mr Mulherin said .
“Ian has also thrown himself into the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS), and is investigating its uptake on local properties and promoting the on-farm management benefits.
“He has held numerous on-property meetings with producers already to emphasise the importance of individual cattle identification to assist producers to optimise their herd management processes.”
Mr Mulherin said Mr Gray was making himself known to the people of the north-west by attending several events, including the upcoming Richmond Field Days, with a focus on opportunities to demonstrate to producers the benefits of semen assessment on their bulls.
Mr Gray is also been assisting the department’s Dr Geoffry Fordyce to investigate the effectiveness of practical vaccination protocols for reproductive wastage in north Australian breeder herds, which is being funded by the Meat and Livestock Association (MLA), said the Minister.
Media: 3239 6530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said Mr Gray, who is employed under the Future Beef initiative, was making his mark on the region’s cattle industry by instigating plans that would benefit the region well into the future.
“For instance, Ian is assembling a group of beef producers to help determine the systems and processes that will help produce cattle that meet the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) compliance standards,” Mr Mulherin said.
“This will enable cattle producers to implement the eating quality program, which is expected to deliver a greater return and provide consumers with a better product.
“I understand that JBS Swifts for example has recently introduced MSA grading at its Stuart plant and are offering a 10 cent per kilogram premium for cattle which meet MSA specification.”
Mr Gray was involved in workshops in Mt Isa yesterday and is in Cloncurry today to assist producers to relocate drought-affected stock.
“These are part of a series being coordinated by DPI&F throughout regional Queensland,’’ Mr Mulherin said .
“Ian has also thrown himself into the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS), and is investigating its uptake on local properties and promoting the on-farm management benefits.
“He has held numerous on-property meetings with producers already to emphasise the importance of individual cattle identification to assist producers to optimise their herd management processes.”
Mr Mulherin said Mr Gray was making himself known to the people of the north-west by attending several events, including the upcoming Richmond Field Days, with a focus on opportunities to demonstrate to producers the benefits of semen assessment on their bulls.
Mr Gray is also been assisting the department’s Dr Geoffry Fordyce to investigate the effectiveness of practical vaccination protocols for reproductive wastage in north Australian breeder herds, which is being funded by the Meat and Livestock Association (MLA), said the Minister.
Media: 3239 6530