Red Meat Updates - Tasmania

Summary

Red Meat Updates is an annual awareness raising event, established in 2012, held in Launceston, Tasmania. The event targets anyone involved in the red meat industry but has a strong focus on delivering the latest research and technical advice to Tasmanian sheep and beef producers.

The Red Meat Updates event is developed each year by a working group consisting of passionate Tasmanian red meat producers and industry (private and public sector) researchers and advisors, including two representatives from MLA. The group's in-depth industry understanding, and technical knowledge is critical to the success of the event, both in terms of engaging red meat producers and attracting event sponsors.

Red Meat Updates has continued to be the premier red meat industry event for Tasmania and its success is evident in the impressive number of participants the event attracts each year. Red Meat Updates has consistently attracted 300 plus attendees across the three years of the current contract (2016-2018). For the contracted period the average rating for program quality, relevance and format has been 9/10 each year and feedback from both producers and sponsors has been positive. This result highlights the value producers gain from attending the event.

In 2018, most attendees evaluated intended to make a practice change as a result of attending Red Meat Updates with 57% intending to follow up a MLA tool or resource, 52% intending to participate in a training activity and 34% intending to make a practice change to their business.

Red Meat Updates has been effective at increasing awareness of MLA RD&E throughout the Tasmanian red meat industry and in showcasing what's possible. The event is now in a position where it has a proven track record, an increasing demand from the Tasmanian red meat industry and loyal sponsors. Maintaining the momentum for the event will be critical to enabling it to continue in its current form, for which there is strong support amongst both sponsors and MLA levy payers.