Delegates from all over Australia and from the United States of America and New Zealand were treated to a program that boasted an impressive line-up of speakers.
Technology was highlighted as the biggest game changer in the beef industry with Angus breeders and the Angus breed at the forefront of this revolution, as more than 180 Angus breeders and industry representatives converged on Ballarat in Victoria for the 2017 #GrowAngus National Conference.
‘The digital revolution is here and we are living it every day, it will change the way we farm.’
This was the opening line from Drewe Ferguson, from CSIRO on the use of digital technologies in the red meat industry, during his presentation to delegates at the #GrowAngus National Conference last week and highlighted a recurring theme throughout the conference as Angus breeders look to the future.
Delegates from all over Australia and from the United States of America and New Zealand were treated to a program that boasted an impressive line-up of speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds, with technological advancements and improvements in marketing techniques taking center stage.
Sessions covered topics in the areas of improving communication across the beef supply chain, the next generation of Angus genomic technologies, the evolution of livestock selling systems, marketing Angus in the digital age, digital disruption and the social media evolution and the health benefits of including beef in your diet, to name a few.
In opening the session, Dr Dan Moser, President, Angus Genetics Inc, St Joseph Missouri, paid homage to Angus Australia and its position as an industry leader in the development of genetic technology.
‘I have admired the Australian Angus beef industry from afar and have been watching closely as you developed selection indexes, long before the USA had dollar values’, said Dr Moser.
Dr Moser highlighted that Angus breeders in both the USA and Australia have adopted genomic technology at a much faster rate than any other beef breed, opening up the opportunities for seedstock breeders to make selection decisions based on the most accurate information.
Garry Edwards, CEO, AAM Investment Group focused on how technology is changing the way livestock is bought and sold.
‘Within the next 12 months we are going to see at least a doubling of animals available for sale online, but also linked to physical auctions, so people sitting at home can get their information in real time and participate in sales’, said Garry.
‘This gives people huge potential to maximise their profits in Angus cattle and I hope to see breeders take advantage of the technology,’ he said.