Things have been getting a little hairier than usual in the Cattle Council of Australia offices in NFF House in Canberra this month.

And no, it’s got nothing to do with looming Senate Inquiries or ongoing restructure debates. 

Rather, some bushier than usual cattle industry faces have been treading Canberra’s corridors of power in recent weeks as Cattle Council CEO Jed Matz and policy director Mark Harvey Sutton do their bit for men’s health.

At the start of this month Jed and Mark formed “Team Movines” and took on the Movember challenge to grow moustaches in the name of raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.

Jed’s soup-strainer remains a work in progress, as he told a gathering of CQ producers at an AgForce paddock to plate forum in Gladstone on Saturday.

Sporting a nine-day-old beard, the cattle advocate explained that he was yet to shave-in his mo of choice, but divulged that he is working towards a handlebar style made famous by Aussie fast bowling great Merv Hughes.

Jed said the added pressure many cattle producers were shouldering this year because of drought meant that Movember had taken on added significance for him.

“It was our policy director Mark Harvey Sutton’s idea that we participate in Movember,” Jed said.

“We thought it was a good way to raise awareness for men’s health, particularly during a drought.

“Certainly cattle producers aren’t always the first to be talking about men’s health, so if by making ourselves look a little bit scrappy and rougher than usual then hopefully it can raise a bit of awareness or encourage people to donate money to better communicate men’s health.”

So far Team Movines has raised $325 for Movember.

To lend a hand to the cause and donate, visit their page on the  Movember website here