Professor Peter McGilchrist receives the 2026 Howard Yelland Award from John Gunthorpe, Chairman of ABIF and Sam Inglis, Director, ABIF Education Fund at the Marcus Oldham College NAB Rural Leadership Dinner.

UNIVERSITY of New England Professor of Meat Science, Peter McGilchrist, has received the prestigious Howard Yelland Beef Industry Award, recognising his decades of service, mentorship, and scientific contribution to the Australian beef industry.

UNE meat scientist Peter McGilchrist with his ribs that kept the crowd happy on day one of a 2025 Feeder Steer School.

The Australian Beef Industry Foundation and Marcus Oldham College presented the 42^nd Howard Yelland Award to Prof Prof McGilchrist at a special ceremony at Marcus Oldham College.

First awarded in 1987, the prize is one of the most respected honours in the sector, given to primary producers, scientists, or industry leaders who have gone above and beyond their formal roles to benefit the industry.

The award recognises Prof McGilchrist’s outstanding contribution to the Australian beef cattle industry “above and beyond” his normal role.

Prof McGilchrist has an extensive background in the Australian red meat industry through his tenure at Murdoch University and UNE, and his leadership over an extended period of the ICMJ program.

“It was a great honour, and I was genuinely humbled to receive the Howard Yelland Award,” he said.

“I’m fortunate that my career has allowed me to combine the things I love; meat science, the beef industry and working with young people.”

Peter McGilchrist addressing an ICMJ conference.

Over the course of his career, Prof McGilchrist has mentored the next generation through his teaching and voluntary work, which includes serving on the ICMJ committee for the past 20 years, the last 12 of which he has served as President.

He has also been a vital change-maker, pushing the industry towards measurement, objective assessment and evidence-based decision making.

“My research in meat science, eating quality, Meat Standards Australia (MSA), carcass value and objective measurement has been directed at solving real problems for the beef industry rather than simply producing academic research,” he says.

“Probably my proudest outcome is the development of the MSA Index which is used right across the Australian beef industry for benchmarking carcass quality.”

Mark Inglis, Farm Assurance and Supply Chain Manager at Thomas Foods International, in nominating Peter for the Award said: “As Professor in Meat Science, Peter brings his knowledge and expertise in the red meat industry to the next generation of students in these fields and is labelled a GOAT by those he teaches.

Professor Peter McGilchrist serving up a practical lesson in carcase composition and value at the 2025 Young Beef Producers Forum at Roma.

He has been involved in the research and development of the MSA programs for meat eating quality in beef, sheep meat and goat industries, developing systems of objective measurement for both beef and sheep meat, and developing and promoting genetic breeding objectives for productive and profitable carcase traits.

As part of the United Nations Global Sustainable Development goals, which aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all, Prof McGilchrist has been recognised for his contribution to the ongoing project in Indonesia in sustainable production systems.

He is passionate about the future of the red meat industry in Australia for the next generation.

As National President of the ICMJ, Prof McGilchrist has taken a strong leadership role in continuing the long tradition of promoting the red meat industry by attracting graduates and other young professionals through the ICMJ program.  This program not only provides a transition to the red meat industry but also develops strong leadership capacity within the participants.

This year’s ICMJ competition held in Wagga Wagga saw more than 160 participants from Australia, the United States and Japan compete across  beef , lamb and pork categories.”

Peter McGilchrist

In presenting the award, John Gunthorpe, Chairman of the Australian Beef Industry Foundation, said:

“For his vision and inspiration in the development and ongoing support of the red meat industry through education and research, and his leadership in the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Competition through an extensive program of competition and events as a pathway for encouraging the next generation of leaders in the global red meat industry, we award the 2026 Howard Yelland Beef Industry Award to Professor Peter McGilchrist.  These words are included in his citation.”

Outlining the importance of Howard Yelland to the industry, Sam Inglis, director ABIF Education Fund, explained: “118 years ago in Central Victoria, Howard Yelland began weighing cattle, recording and making selection decisions based on the performance results he obtained.  Information based on measurement was the basis for the mating program decisions he made within his herd.

“Bulls were selected on their own growth performance while the breeding stock were selected on the performance of their calves, a long cry from selection based on showring performance in vogue at the time.

“Glen Trevor Hereford herd was amongst the first beef herds to use performance data to make selection decisions

“In an era well before on farm electronic weighing platforms, computerised ear tags, data terminal uploads, on-line apps, cloud computer data storage, AI (Artificial Insemination), Embryo transfer and semen sexing, “HY” would truck his bulls to the local railway siding to use the railway weigh bridge to measure their growth rates and record their performance.

“Each year, Howard Yelland, our industry’s champion of objective measurement and performance recording for improved selection in the Australian Beef Industry, is remembered with the presentation of the Howard Yelland Award to worthy recipients.  There have been 41 recipients since its inception in 1987.”

The latest award continues a proud tradition for UNE with Professor McGilchrist joining a long list of UNI alumni and staff to receive the Howard Yelland Award, including Dr Arthur Rickards, Dr Keith Hammond, Bob Freer, Dr Rod Polkinghorne, Dr Bernie Bindon, Dr John Thompson, Dr Hans-Ulrich Graser and Dr Christian Duff.

“This shows that UNE’s expertise and impact for the beef industry isn’t just a flash in the pan but a sustained effort over many decades.”

Previous award recipients also include Mike Stephens and Beef Central founders James Nason and Jon Condon. 

Read more about the Howard Yelland Award here.