Improving the profitability of livestock in the Wimmera and Mallee will be the focus of the 2016 Birchip Cropping Group Sheep Management Showcase.
The one-day event, which has been especially designed for graziers and mixed farmers in north west Victoria, will bring together highly regarded researchers, farmers and industry professionals to share their knowledge and expertise, and provide information on how to increase profits from sheep.
Key speakers booked for the day include livestock consultant and Western Region chair of MLA’s Southern Australian Meat Research Council (SAMRC) Tim Leeming.
Mr Leeming, who runs a prime lamb/cropping farm at Pigeon Ponds, said he is excited by the untapped potential of livestock businesses in Victoria’s north west.
“The north west represents the industry’s biggest opportunity for potential growth,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to meeting producers and discussing how they stand to benefit from robust sheep markets and an increasing demand for lamb.”
Consultant Ken Solly (Solly Business Services), who is also presenting at the Showcase, will drill down into the financial returns producers can expect from investing in their sheep, including genetics as well as infrastructure.
Based in Naracoorte, SA, Mr Solly has been consulting for industry and producers for 15 years. He specialises in farm management consulting, agricultural training and education, rural journalism, coaching and mentoring.
Ken’s focus in recent years has been the cost of production and helping producers to identify investments in their sheep business that will deliver the most profitable returns.
Other topics to be discussed at the Sheep Management Showcase include abattoir surveillance (Patrick Kluver, Livestock Biosecurity Network), scanning (Raquel Tyler, OnTrack Livestock Scanning), intensive livestock opportunities (Buloke Shire Council) and monitoring technology, UAVs and virtual fencing (Nathan Scott, Achieve Ag Solutions).
New VFF Livestock Group President Leonard Vallance will challenge producers on the status quo and Catherine James will cover why producers should get involved in the Livestock Health and Biosecurity Victoria project.
The day will also feature a number of interactive product demonstrations from Gallagher, Clipex, Advantage Feeders and Stephen Pasture Seeds.
The 2016 BCG Sheep Management Showcase will be held at Birchip Leisure Centre from 9am to 3.30pm on Wednesday, August 17. A full program can be downloaded here. Entry is free for BCG members and $40 for non-members. A lamb lunch is available for purchase on site. Please RSVP online at: https://www.bcg.org.au/events/bcg-sheep-management-showcase/
