A range of animal health, reproduction and genetics-related productivity drivers will be discussed at a beef industry production forum in Rockhampton later next week.

Pfizer Animal Health will host the Central Queensland beef production forum at CQLX Gracemere saleyards on Friday November 23.

The comprehensive information day has gathered together a group of recognised experts in their respective fields, to talk about latest developments and approaches in a suite of important beef productivity tools.

Here's a sample of what's on offer:

Analysis of worm egg counts from CQ beef herds

Pfizer veterinarian Dr Lee Taylor will provide a summary of ten years of analysis of worm egg count data from Central Queensland cattle herds.

Pfizer has been carrying out worm egg count testing on faecal samples collected from beef and dairy cattle across Australia for more than a decade. In addition to counting worm eggs in these samples, larval cultures have been carried out, identifying species, where egg counts are above a minimum threshold. This data provided evidence of what worm species are prevalent in different parts of Australia.

Dr Taylor will focus on what has been found in the Central Queensland area and appropriate treatment/prevention measures.

Cutting edge genomic technologies for northern beef herds

Pfizer Animal Genetics’ technical services manager Matias Suarez will outline the existing genomic tools currently available to beef producers for Northern Australia, and provide examples on how to use these exciting technologies.

Before joining Pfizer in 2010, Dr Suarez was a geneticist at the Agricultural Business Research Institute in Armidale, and earlier still, was a veterinarian at the University of Buenos Aires in Brazil.

Production losses from pestivirus (BVDV)

Local Rockhampton district vet and beef producer Dr Neil Farmer will present on the potential productivity losses from pestivirus (BVDV). He will review pestivirus and the way that it can impact on cattle herds, using case studies from his own vet practise experience in Central Queensland. He will also provide examples of management programs he has put in place in clients’ herds.

Having grown up on a family cattle property west of Rockhampton, Dr Farmer graduated in vet science from University of Queensland in 2008. After doing vet locum work in practises around Queensland for several years, he has established his own practise, operating out of his family’s property, Lake Learmonth.

IVF technology: What works, and what doesn’t

Reproductive biotechnologist Simon Walton has more than 20 years’ experience in human IVF biotechnology, working throughout Australia, North and South America, Europe and Asia. Five years ago he established Australian Reproductive Technologies, where he has combined established South American cattle IVF technology with cutting-edge human IVF technology to launch Australia's premier reproductive biotechnology company.

During the forum he will explain the IVF technology and share his experience on what works in cattle IVF, and what doesn’t.

Throughout the world, IVF is rapidly superseding multi-ovulation embryo transfer as the artificial breeding strategy of choice. Reasons include a reduced reliance on hormone administration, less likelihood of rendering valuable donor females infertile, and the opportunity for faster rates of genetic gain. Using IVF for cattle breeding, it is possible to produce 150 calves per donor per year, at a vastly reduced cost compared to current ET methods. Additionally the use of sexed semen allows the added benefit of gender selection.

Planning and Implementing Fixed time AI programs

Pfizer’s Dr Lee Taylor will return to discuss fixed-time AI programs, which he suggests require considerable planning for success.

Dr Taylor will give producers a checklist to assist them in planning and implementing a program to reduce the chance that critical issues are not overlooked. A whole range of variables need to be managed to ensure an optimal result including:

• selection and nutritional management of cows or heifers
• disease management
• ensuring that semen is in the tanks and of optimal quality
• ensuring that the correct drugs are ordered and administered to females at the correct times, with minimal stress and without clashes with other critical events
• ensuring that experienced technicians carry out the actual AI program at the correct times after the treatment protocol has been completed, and
• ensuring that cows are managed appropriately once pregnant to ensure that pregnancy losses are minimised and live calves are delivered.

Northern beef market update & MSA grading opportunities

Brett Campbell is general manager, livestock for JBS Australia, responsible for the supply of slaughter stock and feeder cattle across the company’s ten beef processing plants and four feedlots. He will provide the forum with a perspective on MSA grading opportunities and a northern beef update.

JBS’s grass and grainfed MSA brand programs serviced by company plants from Tasmania north to Townsville now account for an additional 4pc of JBS’s entire Australian kill compared with three years ago, and the proportion continue to grow.

“We are seeing more and more customers all the time requesting MSA as part of their purchasing program,” Mr Campbell said.

He stressed the ongoing need for improved knowledge of the MSA principles, all the way along the supply chain from the chef, back to the producer. MSA producer refresher courses were vitally important for producers to achieve good compliance. “There’s always something to pick up, going back over the MSA principles,” he said.

• The Rockhampton forum will kick off at 9.30am on Friday, November 23, in the Gracemere Saleyards boardroom. Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided. Producers wishing to attend should contact Andrew Bodycoat on 0418 492 289 or email Andrew.Bodycoat@pfizer.com