GENTLE rain greeted about 150 visitors to a field day at Champion Station near Blackall (Central Qld) this morning focusing on how virtual fencing, genetics and emissions reduction strategies are being applied in a large-scale commercial grazing business.

Hosted by Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC and Russell Pastoral Operations, the event is showcasing learnings from the Champion Station Producer Demonstration Site, with a focus on real-world decision-making across pasture management, breeding and technology.

More than 1000 of the station’s 5000 cows are currently fitted with Halter smart collars, while an on-site Flux Tower is also being used to measure the property’s carbon cycle.

Addressing the field day this morning Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC research director Ben Hayes (left) said the good news for producers is that “anything you do to improve productivity on your property is going to reduce methane emissions per kilogram of beef.”

Key levers included increasing fertility to provide more calves from the same number of cows, turning off animals early and focusing on mature cow weight to favour moderate animals.

“Those three things to improve productivity will reduce your emissions per kilogram of beef by up to about 30 percent,” Dr Hayes said.

Speakers at today’s event include Russell Pastoral Operations managing director Adam Armstrong, Cattle Australia deputy chair Adam Coffey, Hewitt Cattle Co’s Ben Hewitt, 3D genetics’ Joe Grose and the ZNE CRC’s Ben Hayes and Claire Mahoney.

Beef Central is there to cover the field day, see who our cameras found this morning, and keep an out for more stories to come in following days.

Mel Armstrong and Marie Mahony.

Amy, Maldon and Troy Huhn, Nickaville, Quilpie.

Bruce and Annette Currie, Speculation, Jericho and Vol Norris, AgForce Longreach.

Rabobank’s Dan Korff, Longreach and Renee Donpon, Roma.

Jago Groat, Pastoral Partners Australia, Brisbane and Vanessa Cule, MLA Brisbane.

Johnelle Stevens, Pastoral Parnters Australia, Toowoomba and Phil Tickle, Cibo Labs.

Ian McLean, Bush Agrbusiness; Sam Turner, AAM and Ken Syme, Noogilla Cattle Co, Mitchell.

Salvo Vitelli, General Manager, Qld Department of Primary Industries and Mark Pawsey, AgCare.

Kendra and Matt Markwell, Champion Station, Blackall and Steve Drury, NAPCo.

Nick Kempe and Lachlan Godson from AgriMix

Beef Central’s Eric Barker capturing the action – keep an eye out for video, The Week in Beef podcast and online reports from today’s fied day in coming days.