MLA’s Meat Profit Day at Gympie on 25 July

What is a Meat Profit Day?

Meat Profit Days provide red meat producers with an opportunity to exchange information and ideas in an informal environment. Meat Producers and other stakeholders can find out about the latest industry research, new products and trends for achieving greater profitability within your business. Meat Profit Days provide access to research results and technical information. Since 1993 over 20 MPDs have been held, covering every state in Australia. MPDs are held 2-4 times a year. They usually attract around 500 people and are a great social and business networking opportunity.

Meat Profit Days are organised by Producers for producers with the assistance of The Meat and Livestock Association of Australia. The next MPD is to be held at Gympie on 25 July 2008.

In Brief

• Gympie MPD aimed at practical solutions and big industry trends
• Ideal for smaller to medium producers (50-500 head)
• Climate change, carbon trading,  making more from less are key issues
• Animal and family health will also be addressed

Big challenges and many opportunities lie ahead for beef producers; knowing the difference between the two is often only found with greater understanding. Helping producers to not only improve their bottom line but to discuss issues such as the effect of climate change and carbon trading are the main aims of the Gympie Meat Profit Day (MPD) to be held on 25th July.

These highly practical days continue to be extremely popular for producers, because they are organized by producers for producers.  MPD committee chairman and local producer Jim Viner has helped put together some of the best minds in the business to discuss the latest industry developments.  For example, Mick Keogh of the Australian Farm Institute will tackle the latest science regarding the role soil carbon has to play in the global carbon cycle.

As Australia moves towards a carbon trading scheme it is still unknown whether farmers will be disadvantaged or indeed gain advantage from such a scheme. Much of the debate to date has revolved around carbon emissions from animals, but that is the only part of the story.

“We will be presenting not only the latest science, but just as importantly at the moment, we can give farmers a better idea of where the politics lie with this at the moment,” said Mr Viner.

“The best known predictions relating to carbon change and how it is altering our rainfall will also be a subject that I know many will want to find out about,” he added.

More practical sessions on nutrition, grass fed beef into Meat Standards Australia and livestock handling, in particular low stress stock handling, will also be a big part of the day. With first hand experience at low stress livestock handling, Mr Viner can vouch for the fact that it can increase production through increased growth rates, better temperament animals for sale to store buyers and decreasing stress on both the animal and its owner.

South East Queensland is home to many non-commercial beef producers, those that have an off-farm income as their major support, and it is for this reason that Mr Viner hope the day can help get some of these producers up to speed on issues in the beef industry.

“In many cases I find that you often don’t know what you don’t know… if you know what I mean! And getting along to the MPD might highlight what we don’t know.”

“It’s really aimed at people running between 50 and 500 head as these businesses are an important part of the Australian Beef Industry. The day is a great chance to get practical information about how to increase production without raising your costs and find out about the major industry trends, and at the same time have some fun and meet new people.”

Other sessions on the day will cover more thought provoking subjects such as livestock marketing at the farm gate, communication and issues that affect many in the rural industry, like succession planning and personal health.

The Gympie Meat Profit Day will be held at the Pavilion, Gympie Showgrounds Complex on 25th July 2008. Cost for attendance is $20 for MLA members and $30 for non-members and all enquiries can be made through both the MLA website at www.mla.com.au or the MLA hotline on 1800 675 717

MORE INFORMATION
Liz Allen, MLA
Phone: 02 9463 9184
Email: lallen@mla.com.au 

The Merkin Group have recently held various meetings with interested and qualified partners in respect of  The Merkin Group and NISER crystallising regional socio and economic benefits as well as environmental values from the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, carbon trading and soil sequestration of carbon as it relates to sustainable and holistic farming practises in the beef industry.  We hope to announce the first of these projects shortly.

For more information contact info@merkin.com.au or info@niser.org.au

Meat Profit Day…article here