How will genomics change the beef industry over the next 10 years?  What opportunities exist to import or export beef cattle genetics? What are the prospects for beef in the face of competition from other meat products in the global market?

These are some of the many questions that will be tackled at the international Beef Cattle Genetics conference to be held at the Central Queensland University in Rockhampton during Beef Australia 2012 in May.

Conference organisers have mustered a panel of more than 20 leading geneticists, agricultural scientists, commercial cattle producers and market analysts from Australia, Argentina, Brazil and the US to speak at the conference.

The targeted two-day event will look at the subject of beef cattle genetics from a diverse range of angles with relevance to people across the industry, from stud and commercial operators to intensive and extensive production systems.

Two keynote addresses will headline the event. The first will be delivered on the morning of Sunday, May 6, by Peter Barnard, general manager of international markets and economic services with Meat and Livestock Australia, on the subject of international market opportunities for beef.

The second will be presented by professor Mike Goddard from the University of Melbourne and DPI Victoria on the morning of Monday, May 7, on the topic of development of genomic predictions for BREEDPLAN and major research results from the Beef CRC .

Program highlights include discussions about the opportunities for import and export of superior genetics, latest developments in genetic and genomic research, and case studies of how genomics can add value throughout the beef supply chain.

Included will be discussions of developments in artificial insemination techniques for the delivery of elite genetics by Dr Gabriel Bó, of Argentina’s Institute of Animal Reproduction, plus the international launch of the MateSel Mate Selection Technology by Professor Brian Kinghorn, from the University of New England.

Beef Australia 2012 will provide a valuable opportunity to develop new international markets, with the impact of the genetics conference to be extended through a Genetics and Reproduction Technologies Marketplace, hosted by Bayer Australia, which will run from May 7-11.

The Marketplace will provide an ideal venue post conference to see in detail how the latest research is applied and to follow up on concepts and contacts from the conference.

• The Bayer & Bioniche International Beef Cattle Genetics Conference program, speaker profiles and registration form are available by clicking here