THE Australian Lot Feeders' Association hosted its premiere event, BeefEx, on the Gold Coast last week.
Feedlot operaters, cattlemen, and industry professionals from across the nation were herded into the Royal Pines Resort, where they participated in seminars, social drinks and a spot of golf.
The event teed off on Tuesday with the Lallemand Golf Tournament, where participants caught up with friends from near and far.
On Wednesday, it was down to business, with a host of informative speakers about the future of the lot feeding industry.
Meat and Livestock Australia's managing director Scott Hansen and MLA's regional manager, Europe, Jason Strong, spoke of the opportunities the EU market presents for Australia.
Discussion on the suspension of live exports to Indonesia last year continued to draw a crowd. This time a new perspective was offered, that of Indonesian feedlot operators Greg Pankhurst and Dicky Adiwoso.
The ALFA AGM was held on Thursday morning, with Don Mackay elected unopposed as the new president.
While ALFA councillors Malcolm Foster, Toowoomba, and Sandy Maconochie, Hopkins River Beef, Dunkeld, Victoria, retired from the committee.
They spoke of the many changes and tough conditions the feedlot industry has overcome during the past five years.
A contentious presentation by RSPCA CEO Heather Neil sparked more discussion about live exports. McCullough Robertson agribusiness lawyer Trent Thorne spoke of the ongoing impacts of the suspension on northern Australian beef producers.
Despite the economic and commercial challenges the industry faces, there is plenty of cause for celebration.
One initiative highlighting the positive role women can play in communicating messages about agriculture is Influential Women.
WA RIRDC Rural Women's Award winner and national RIRDC Rural Women's Award runner-up Catherine Marriott launched the group earlier this year.
Plenty of memories were captured on film and there is much to look forward to at the next conference in two years.
Click on the image above to see our mega photo gallery from BeefEx.
