Phibro Animal Heath's global cattle forum visits Queensland

In all, 80 participants from seven countries had earlier attended a two-day forum in Sydney with interactive discussions and learning about the global outlook for both the beef and dairy sector from each country. 

The tour then split with the dairy participants travelling to Victoria, while the beef sector toured our Darling Downs. 

“Phibro’s objective of starting this initiative was to work closer with our key business partners within and outside the local country to build more of a global network of knowledge and experience,” Phibro’s ruminant sales manager for feedlots in Queensland and northern NSW, Marty Rowlands said. 

“It really is about the shared best practice between countries, professionals and our business partners.”

On the first day the participants visited JBS Beef City, near Toowoomba, Grassdale Feedlot, Dalby and Performance Feeds Plant near Kingsthorpe.

On the second day, they toured the Whyalla Feedlot, near Texas, next was the John Dee owned Yarranbrook Feedlot at Inglewood, followed by their processing facility at Warwick and the nearby Ascot Charolais and Angus stud.

John Dee CEO Warren Stiff said his company is passionate about showcasing their feedlot, processing plant and branded beef products. 

“We believe our own John Dee branded beef and those of our branded contracts are the best in the world,” Mr Stiff said.  

Jim Wedge of Ascot Angus Charolais and Angus Stud, near Warwick, said the group was keen to compare against how they do it in countries like Brazil and South America. 

“It was an opportunity for us to keep abreast of what’s happening with animal nutrition,” Mr Wedge said.

While some had visited Australia before, the first time visitors said they were impressed with the cattle farming practices and associated procedures that are in place to ensure a clean and quality product. 

“The tour showed international participants our beef industry from where it starts with the seedstock producer all the way to the meat processor,” Mr Rowlands said. 

Final stop was to University of Queensland’s Gatton College to hear the role of MLA and the MSA gradings.