Registrations open for northern Livestock Advisor Updates

A new series of one-day technical workshops is being launched to equip livestock advisors and professional extension consultants with the latest regionally relevant information to address key issues and opportunities for their red meat producer clients.

With workshops across northern, southern and western Australia, Livestock Advisor Updates are being supported by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and coordinated by Macquarie Franklin.

Registrations are now open for the inaugural northern Livestock Advisor Updates in Brisbane on Monday, 19 August. The event has been timed to coincide with the Northern Beef Research Update Conference (NBRUC), which opens on 19 August.

MLA Program Manager – Adoption, David Packer, said the one-day workshops provide opportunities for livestock advisors to learn about the latest red meat research and development, gain skills, tools and knowledge to increase their offering to clients, and network with peers.

“Livestock advisors throughout Australia play a vital role in supporting red meat producers in many decision-making processes and delivering industry extension programs to help build productivity and profitability,” Mr Packer said.

“The Livestock Advisor Updates project team has worked closely with a technical working group to deliver these events to livestock advisors. Each regional event has a dedicated group to ensure the content is regionally relevant and identifies the right speakers.”

Mr Packer said the Livestock Advisor Updates are open to individuals involved in the red meat industry in advisory or influencer roles including consultants, veterinarians, sales representatives, researchers, NRM facilitators, livestock agents, departmental staff and farming systems groups.

Topics and speakers for the northern Livestock Advisor Updates include:

• Profitable Grazing Systems overview - Desiree Jackson, Desiree Jackson Livestock Management, Longreach, with Geoff and Kate Swanson, ‘Connemara’, Augathella. 
• An overview of carbon trading: agriculture focus - Peter Wilkinson, Verterra Ecological Engineering, Brisbane, and Geoff Murrell, Paraway Pastoral Co, Orange NSW. 
• Revised adult equivalent (AE) system for northern cattle and the implications for their nutritional requirements - Stuart McLennan, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
• Managing nutritional deficiencies: physiological and economic studies of phosphorus supplementation
• The importance of phosphorus (P) supplementation in P deficient country in northern Australia - Tim Schatz, Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources, Darwin
• Improved management of cattle phosphorus status through applied physiology - Rob Dixon, University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Managing the feed base in a variable climate: decision dates process - Jill Alexander, Applied Ag, Western Downs
• Implications of vegetation thickening/regrowth on northern grazing systems - Steven Bray, Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane.

The northern Livestock Advisor Updates workshop will be held at Rydges South Bank, Brisbane, from 9am to 4pm. Cost is $100 per person and includes catering and workshop booklet.

To register for the event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/livestock-advisor-updates-northern-tickets-64515326077

For more information: https://www.mla.com.au/advisor-updates or contact Georgia McCarthy on 0400 763 904.