CATTLE producers are being encouraged to "hang on" in the face of a "rotten drought" by one of the industry leaders.
Geoff Teys, executive director livestock with Teys Australia, told the audience at the 2019 Central Queensland Carcase Classic in North Rockhampton on July 26, the future was looking brighter.
"This ceremony is getting bigger and bigger and it's just fantastic that we are showcasing the beef capital of Australia in Rockhampton," Mr Teys said.
"Here tonight with the high number of people and the 600 or so exhibits, including some with children involved, tells me it doesn't get any better.
"It's a great concept and it's a great showpiece for our industry."
Mr Teys said he wanted to thank the committee who had worked tirelessly to produce the event, as well as the Teys team that helped put it on.
"I would probably just like to say that while it's a rotten drought that we've got, if you can hang on and look to the future, the future looks very, very bright," he said.
"With the dollar going down and the Chinese market after protein there are opportunities.
"Certainly there will be a shortage of cattle - we all know that with what's happening - and there is certainly going to be some returns for people who can hang on."
Mr Teys also spoke about a new computerised room being put in at the Teys' Lakes Creek facility to start mechanising the industry.
"We are passionate about this industry and I have been in it all my life and the technology is out there and we know how to do it and we have a pretty good idea how we are going to do it and of all the plants in Australia we have selected Lakes Creek," he said.
"It seems right that we're doing this upgrade there in the heart of the beef capital.
"We will be getting in robotics to start cutting the costs and to enhance our industry.
"It will change the way we do things and will help our staff.
"It won't cut staff. In fact we can't get enough."
The $32 million beef boning automation research and development room will enable the existing DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) objective carcase scanning technology and CT scanning technology to provide additional information on yield and quality.
It is understood a number of robotic arm 'cells' will be installed, tackling certain parts of the primary boning operation, based on guidance on each carcase provided by the DEXA and CT scanners.
Teys staffer Chloe Gould won special mention at the Carcase Classic awards dinner from Committee chairman Glen Kelly.
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
