Neogen Future Flock 2024

Earlier this year, Neogen offered young Australians an opportunity to take part in the country’s largest sheep industry event as our special guests for the inaugural Neogen Future Flock Program.

We were looking for the next generation of sheep farmers who embrace science and wanted to see their industry not just survive but thrive into the future.

To find the right people, we asked them how technology could improve their sheep business and what role they thought genomic testing would play.

The response was overwhelming, with entries received from all over the country.

Many of the applicants were already using some level of genomic testing to improve their flocks, but all showed an interest in discovering how far the technology could take them.

Todd Heaysman, from central Victoria, was one such applicant who took a very proactive view.

“With genetics I love to know what’s there and what we can use,” said Mr Heaysman. “If we can measure it, then we can manage it, and we can breed towards what we want to breed.”

Miranda McGufficke from Cooma in NSW was also passionate about using genomics and data for productive gains.

“I think there’s a lot of potential in the data world and the advancement of what genomics can do,” said Ms McGufficke. “So, if we could have a more performance-based kind of influence instead of just preference and influence by trends, I think that would benefit the industry.”

Eventually, we selected 30 people under the age of 35 who demonstrated the characteristics we were hoping to find, and who were willing and able to make the trek to LambEx 2024 in Adelaide.

Neogen’s Genomics Sales Manager, Hannah Bourke said while it was difficult to have to turn down some high-quality applicants, it was also a great sign for the industry to have so many young people engaged in its future.

“This was our first time doing something like this, so we weren’t sure what to expect,” said Ms Bourke. “But we were thrilled with the quality of applicants, and their passion for innovation and the future of the sheep industry in Australia. I’d say the future of the industry is in really good hands.”

Not only did the successful applicants receive all-inclusive tickets to the full three-day conference, but in partnership with the event organisers, Neogen arranged for them to meet privately with a number of the keynote speakers.

These experiences were very popular with our Future Flock.

Twenty-three-year-old Jo Notting from Bathurst, NSW said it was amazing to just sit down and listen to such high-quality presenters.

“I’m at the start of my professional career so just getting to see people I look up to and be like ‘ok, one day I could be up there’ that’s been the standout,” said Ms Notting. “Fan-girling over a few people in the industry. That’s been pretty cool.”

The group also shared enthusiasm for many of the recurring themes that came out of the event such as the need for the industry to control its own narrative and general optimism for its future.

Bernie Kealy from Edenhope in Victoria particularly enjoyed hearing market predictions by international analyst, Brett Stuart.

“He’s quite bullish about the meat markets going forward and that we won’t be able to supply enough globally, which is nice,” said Mr Kealy. “It would be a good turnaround from where things are at the moment.”

The shift toward producers being compensated based on meat quality as an industry strategy was also well received by the Neogen Future Flock.

“It seems to me like it makes so much common sense to break lamb down into categories,” observed Angus O’Neill from Mendooran, NSW. “I’m pretty excited to see it go that way, that producers be paid and rewarded for selecting genetics that do perform for eating quality.”

LambEx 2024 attracted a record crowd with more than 1300 delegates attending a forum encompassing the entire supply chain from producers to processors, exporters, researchers and service providers.

The feedback we have received suggests the opportunity for Neogen’s Future Flock to be involved has not been wasted.

Members of the Future Flock Program have enthusiastically embraced exchanging experiences with their peers from all over the country, meeting key industry players, and learning about where the industry is now and where it is headed.

South Australians, Daniel Pring from Freeling and Angus Croser from Penola both summed up why the group’s attendance was so valuable for themselves and the future of the sheep farming.

“It’s events like this where, you can be surrounded by people that are like-minded and just want to see the industry do as well as it can, and just be a part of it,” said Mr Pring.

“Putting the best advice and the best speakers in so everyone can learn and improve, ultimately leads to better farming for everyone,” agreed Mr Croser.

LambEx will next be held in 2026. We’ll see you there!