The Australian cattle industry is hosting the annual Five Nations Beef Alliance conference this week, which will include meetings and industry tours in Brisbane, western and Central Queensland and Cairns.

The Five Nations Beef Alliance brings together industry representatives from five large beef producing countries, which account for over one third of the world’s total beef production and almost half of the world’s beef and cattle exports.

Hosted this year by the Cattle Council of Australia, the annual conference will also be attended by representatives of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas of Mexico, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association of the United States of America.

The Five Nations Beef Alliance meets every year to discuss shared issues  of importance for all member countries and strategies to ensure global beef trade increases.

Key areas of focus include working jointly to eliminate non-scientific and political barriers to trade; advocating science-based animal welfare codes and environmentally sustainable beef production systems; urging strong Government vigilance against exotic diseases that affect beef production, and supporting the ongoing development of animal identification systems to aid in the eradication of animal disease, the management of animal health concerns and to provide confidence to consumers.

This year it is the Cattle Council of Australia’s turn to host its international counterparts, and president Andrew Ogilvie said the council was looking forward to showcasing the Australian cattle industry to the delegates.

“We thought it fitting that we travel in Queensland, Australia’s largest beef producing state, with our guests,” he said.

“We are travelling from Emerald to Roma, doing property tours, visiting a drover, stopping at the Roma Saleyards, Australia’s largest saleyard, and the JBS plant at Dinmore.”

He said Cattle Council was also keen to highlight the industry systems that make the Australian industry unique including the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), the National Residue Survey (NRS), Livestock Production Assurance (LPA), National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) and Meat Standards Australia(MSA).

To demonstrate the role that MSA plays in the Australian beef industry, delegates will to experience a ‘Nose to Tail’ Beef Appreciation Night at the Pig N’ Whistle in Brisbane. They will be joined key industry leaders and dignitaries as they work their way through six courses of Blair and Josephine Angus’ ‘Signature Beef’.

See Beef Central's earlier article and video on the 'Nose to Tail' event here.

Mr Ogilvie said key priorities for the conference include discussion on market access and trade, particularly the Trans Pacific Partnership, sustainable beef production, animal welfare and the cost of production.

Twelve ‘Young Ranchers’ are also participating in the tour.

They represent the youth development programs of the FNBA members. The Young Ranchers will be making a presentation to the Five Nations Beef Alliance during the conference.

Stay tuned to Beef Central for more reports from the conference later this week.