Hello!
In this edition of the FutureBeef eBulletin you’ll find information regarding:
- Reducing the impacts of dehorning – next BeefConnect webinar 28 October
- North Queensland’s Best Beef Awards
- Wambiana Grazing Trial Next Gen Field Day
- Professionalism in pastoralism – Bec Cadzow’s story
- How the Treloar family are making every millimetre of rain count
- Virtual fencing update from Kidman Springs
- Economic performance of legumes grown in strips
- Looking out for yourself and each other
- An update from the AridGraze Paddock Challenge
- All-in-one, on farm genetic testing research trial results
- Turning ideas into action at the Northdown Cattle Company
- App upgrade supports primary industries and emergency services in WA
- Have your say on FutureBeef
- ‘Piecing together a plan for pimelea’ webinar recording
- Virtual fencing—worth the buzz or still on the fence?
- 2027 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship details
Happy reading!
Kind regards
Grace and Kym
on behalf of the FutureBeef team
P.S. Let us know what you think of the FutureBeef eBulletin via email or call us on 13 25 23. You can also connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or check us out on YouTube.
BeefConnect webinar: Reducing the impacts of dehorning
New research on wound treatment and management
How can practical wound treatment and management strategies improve animal welfare and production outcomes following dehorning? In this webinar, Dr Dominique Van der Saag from the University of Sydney will present findings from a series of research studies investigating practical, evidence-based approaches to improving outcomes following dehorning in beef cattle.
North Queensland’s best beef celebrated at annual awards
The North Queensland Best Beef Awards brought producers, processors and butchers together to celebrate some of the region’s highest-quality beef.
Hear from guest speaker David Hill and Grand Champion winner Gordon Carcary about what they’ve learnt from matching genetics to country, managing stocking rates and producing cattle that consistently perform.
Wambiana Grazing Trial Next Gen Field Day a success
The Wambiana Grazing Trial Next Gen Field Day brought together 58 producers and industry representatives to see long-term grazing research in action and explore topics including stocking strategies, wet season spelling, genetics, AgTech and succession planning.
The day highlighted the value of learning on the ground, with attendees gaining practical insights, sharing experiences and discussing future opportunities for northern grazing businesses.
Find out more about the Wambiana grazing trial >>
Professionalism in pastoralism
2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, an opportunity to showcase the landscapes and people shaping Central Australia.
From rotational grazing and data-driven livestock management to developing the next generation of land managers, Bec Cadzow’s story challenges the stereotypes around pastoralism and shows the professionalism behind life on the land.
Take a glimpse into Bec’s life as a pastoralist >>
How to make every millimetre of rain count
Fourth-generation western Queensland producers Will and Sasha Treloar have spent the past decade building a more resilient grazing business by improving water retention, landscape function and pasture health.
Since participating in the Lachlan Hughes Foundation program, the couple have gained valuable insights into regenerative agriculture, soil health and personal development, helping them build confidence to trial new ideas and share their journey with others.
Find out how they made it possible >>
Virtual fencing shows promise for mustering at Kidman Springs
A virtual fencing trial at Victoria River Research Station (Kidman Springs) in the Northern Territory has provided an early look at mustering with virtual fencing in extensive systems.
All animals >200kg at Kidman Springs are currently fitted with virtual fencing collars, and at the recent second round muster, they were used to help bring cattle into the yards. Virtual paddocks and coolers were created to bring mobs towards the corner of their paddocks and trap them on water, ready to be walked in. Virtual laneways were also trialled.
Read or watch the research update >>
The economic performance of legumes grown in strips
Dry season feed quantity and quality are major constraints to steer growth in North Queensland’s seasonally dry tropics.
An 80-hectare trial site was established at the Spyglass Beef Research Facility to investigate whether strip planting these legumes into existing pastures can improve productivity and overcome dry season feed limitations.
Here is the preliminary economic analysis >>
Looking out for yourself and each other
We all have times when things aren’t going quite so well, or notice when a mate, neighbour or someone we work alongside doesn’t seem themselves.
Knowing how to talk about it and where to turn for support can make a difference. The Tackling Regional Adversity through Connected Communities (TRACC) program offers training across rural and regional Queensland to build the skills and confidence to look out for ourselves and each other.
AridGraze project – Mulga Park paddock challenge
Mulga Park station owners, Shane and Alethea Nicolle have been involved in the AridGraze Paddock Challenge since 2022.
The challenge is a collaborative research and producer R&D program to define safe carrying capacity for arid Australia, showing how evidence based grazing strategies can improve land condition, climate resilience and profitability.
Read how AridGraze is bringing research and producers together >>
All-in-one on-farm genetic testing proves to be quick and reliable
Researchers from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), in partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Department of Primary Industries, have trialled low-pass nanopore sequencing on three commercial cattle properties.
The technology provides a faster, more practical way for northern beef producers to access key genetic information on-farm, reducing the need for multiple musters and long waits for test results.
Read more about the findings from this research >>
Turning ideas into action at Northdown Cattle Company
From virtual fencing to managing pimelea, the Keene family is always looking for ideas that could work for their Central Queensland cattle business. See how they use FutureBeef to find information, follow research and explore what might fit their operation.
Find out how the Keene family stay connected >>
App upgrade supports primary industries and emergency services in WA
The WA Weather Stations app has been revitalised, with improved functionality, data analysis, device sharing, and alerts now available across all mobile device platforms. Content from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s popular Weather Stations webpage is now on the app, plus a host of additional features. It includes a map of 191 weather stations across WA with real-time weather data, including temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction, soil temperature, dew point, and more.
Get more information about the app >>
Have your say on FutureBeef
Sometimes you need to look back to work out what comes next. Just like a photo monitoring site helps you see what’s working and what might need to change, we’re doing the same with FutureBeef.
As we near the end of the third phase of our project funding cycle, independent evaluators Coutts J&R will be speaking with some FutureBeef users about their experiences, what’s working well and where there’s room to improve. If you’re contacted, we’d really value your input.
See what the interviews involve >>
Have you got a pimelea problem?
Did you miss the last BeefConnect webinar?
You can watch the webinar recording as we unpack the puzzle of pimelea poisoning. You’ll learn how to identify different pimelea species, recognise high-risk growth stages, understand how the toxin affects cattle and how to spot the signs of poisoning early.
Watch the webinar recording (30 minutes) >>
Virtual fencing – worth the buzz or still on the fence?
Researchers from Adelaide University, SARDI and Charles Sturt University want to hear what Australian livestock producers think about virtual fencing – the opportunities, the challenges and what could make it work in practice.
Whether you’ve used virtual fencing or not, your perspective could help shape practical producer resources, including a best-practice implementation guide and return-on-investment tool.
Have your say. Complete the online survey or register for an interview (up to 1 hour via Teams) >>
2027 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship applications now open
Applications are now open for the 2027 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship, giving university students the opportunity to build the skills, networks and industry experience needed to help shape the future of Australian agriculture. Applications close on 13 November.
