Fine-tuning beef cattle assessment skills
Note: This content is stored on an archive website and may not be current or accurate. Contact us to clarify.
The New England Angus Breeders’ beef cattle assessment course at the C B Alexander College, Tocal in July offers beef cattle enthusiasts a range of new skills to make better management decisions that ultimately make them more profitable.
Now in its 26th year and open to all beef cattle enthusiasts, the four day course has been widely recognised as the most practical and hands-on beef cattle selection course of its kind.
It embraces both the newcomer and the experienced producer, and covers selecting female cattle and bulls, understanding market requirements for sale cattle, and selecting for carcase merit.
NSW Department of Primary Industries beef cattle officer at Tocal, Ian Blackwood, said the course had a commercial focus – the starting point being meat yield, meat quality and steer performance.
“This is a very ‘hands-on course and during the four days people enjoy the challenge of constantly assessing cattle and having to say why they made the choices,” Mr Blackwood said.
“Over-judges selected from the industry act as assessors, providing students with selection and assessment guidelines for the 16 groups of cattle assessed during the course.
“Whether they are newcomers or experienced producers, everyone gains new skills or fine-tunes existing skills and the feedback received is always positive.”
He said the department’s beef cattle officers presented segments of the program in conjunction with industry people and producers would find the course both informative and enjoyable.
“People involved in the beef cattle industry State-wide are drawn to the beef cattle assessment course at Tocal, and that brings a unique social atmosphere to the course as well.”
The beef cattle assessment course will be held from July 4 to 7, with enrolments closing on June 13. Costs vary from $590 (adult live-in) to $490 (18 years and under live-in) and $155 per day for day pupils.
Primarily the beef cattle assessment course is committed to the education of its participants in all aspects of the beef industry. However, a progressive point scoring system enables participants to further their assessment skills at the National Angus Show and Sale and Wodonga.
Application forms are available from Doug White on (02) 6764 4214 or from NSW DPI’s office at Paterson (02) 4939 8941.
Media contact: Ian Blackwood, NSW DPI Beef Cattle Officer at Paterson on (02) 4939 8941 or 0427 007 508.
Issued by: Annette Cross, NSW DPI Tamworth on (02) 6763 1243 or 0427 201 840.