WAGYU industry stakeholders from across Australia and overseas will use Rockhampton’s Beef Australia 2018 event as a rallying-point this year, as the Australian Wagyu Association holds its popular annual conference in Central Queensland in the days prior to the event.

The 2018 AWA conference will be staged in Mackay from May 2 to 4. At the completion of the conference, a two-day property tour visiting a number of prominent Central Queensland Wagyu breeding enterprises on May 5 and 6 will travel south to Rockhampton in time for the start of Beef 2018 on Monday, May 7.

Mock-up of AWA’s trade display at Beef 2018. Click on image for larger view

The AWA and some of its supply chain members will also mount a substantial trade display during the five-day Rockhampton event (more details below).

Around 500 Wagyu industry stakeholders including cattle producers, lotfeeders, processors and brand managers are expected to participate in the annual conference in Mackay. While the annual gathering always attracts some overseas participants, that is likely to be enhanced this year, because of the ‘pulling power’ of Beef 2018, which is likely to draw more offshore visitors than ever. Representations from up to 20 countries are expected this year.

While not officially connected to the Beef 2018 program, many of the AWA conference delegates will stay on to experience a few days at the nation’s biggest beef industry event.

The AWA’s 2018 Wagyu Edge conference program will commence late afternoon on May 2, at Mackay’s Convention Centre.

The information-packed two-day seminar program will feature international and Australian experts in fields such as Wagyu genetics, animal health, nutrition, marketing and branding, consumer perspectives and production systems.

A theme of the 2018 conference will be Fullblood breeding and management, with demonstrations and explanations on how to obtain optimum performance from Fullbloods in longfed programs. Because of their value, survival rates in Wagyu calves are critical, and one of the breed’s largest producers of Fullbloods will explain how to manage calves to eventually produce carcases of the top value.

Other conference speakers will touch on markets and industry directions, eating quality and product use, producing the right product the right way, making the most of Wagyu genetics and genetic tools, and looking into the future.

The conference proceedings will be supported by a range of social networking opportunities, including conference dinners and luncheons featuring Wagyu beef. The winners of the 2018 Wagyu branded beef competition will be announced at the conference dinner on the evening of May 3.

There will also be a Wagyu International Fullblood Genetics Auction held on Friday, May 4, in addition to a series of Wagyu workshops on 2 May for industry newcomers covering nutrition, record-keeping and registration.

A $110 early bird conference discount applies to registrations received and paid by Friday 16 March. Click here for details.

Trade display presence at Beef 2018

From Monday the following week, the Australian Wagyu Association will have a prominent commercial trade display presence in the Beef 2018 genetics display area, located within the Durack pavilion.

The large trade stand will be staffed from May 7 to 11 during Expo opening times by AWA members and industry supporters, fielding inquiries and answering questions from Beef 2018 patrons, as well as displaying premium, highly-marbled Wagyu beef cuts.

The AWA is seeking display partners to share the Beef 2018 commercial exhibit site, either through static presentations or limited opportunities to display beef in a refrigerated display cabinet setting. Click here for details.

A special bumper April edition of the association’s popular Wagyu News magazine will also be published, as a hand-out to Beef 2018 visitors.