What We’ve Been Up To: A Summer Recap 2025

Our team at Neogen Australasia spent the late winter and summer months actively supporting our clients across Australia. From dairy farms to sheep studs and cattle properties, we’ve been immersed in the heart of the agricultural industry. Here’s a recap some of our key activities and highlights.

Playing our role in developing the next generation of beef industry enthusiasts, Neogen livestock genomics team members have been actively engaging with producers of all ages to equip them with knowledge of genomic technologies.

At the 2025 NH Foods Angus Youth National Roundup at Tamworth in early January, Hannah and Harry facilitated an educational session with the intermediate and senior groups focused on the analysis and practical use of Angus HeiferSELECT and Angus SteerSELECT results within the beef supply chain.

Participants were required to select the best group of cattle, based on their genomic predictions, to fit the breeding scenario or market specifications outlined.

The following week Harry and Sophie attended the Santa Gertrudis National Youth Camp, Warwick, Qld, to volunteer their time and catch up with producers. They helped in preparing participants for judging and parading events and offered support to the Santa Gertrudis office staff as needed.

Neogen marquees were also supplied for the children to sit under during their technical sessions.

The same weekend, Hannah was at the Northern NSW Hereford Youth Show, Glen Innes.

As part of the Cattle Australia National Beef Leaders Program, southern beef genomics specialist Hannah Powe visited Canberra in February where she attended Parliament House and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

While there she gained insight into key areas of focus of government, underwent further professional development sessions, and took the opportunity to understand where our governing bodies believe genomic technologies fit, particularly the role they play in sustainability, biosecurity and gene banking, and export.

Engaging in an evening of networking at the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) Parliamnetary Friends of Red Meat and a roundtable discussion with leaders from Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA), Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia, Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council (ALEC) and National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Hannah gained insight into pathways into leadership, advocacy, and the importance of building and strengthening connections throughout industry.

In February, Harry and Sophie attended the Cattle Australia Industry Update and Breed information Nucleus Field Day at Warraka Station, Wandoan, Qld, where producers gathered to hear the latest industry insights and explore advancements in genomic technologies. It was fantastic to see so many engaged producers keen to learn how data-driven breeding decisions can drive herd performance and profitability.

A highlight was seeing firsthand the Repronomics and BIN project animals, which Neogen Australasia proudly provides genotyping for. These projects are delivering more accurate genetic evaluations for northern beef breeds, giving producers the tools to make smarter breeding decisions and accelerate genetic progress.

Last month new employee, Laura Garland, had the opportunity to attend the UNE Feeder Steer School, a biennial three-day course delivered by the University of New England in partnership with Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, CSIRO and supported by AgSTAR Projects.

With 250 participants, the course aimed to provide producers and industry with the latest information to better produce and generate value for feeder cattle. Speakers from across industry presented updates on markets, supply chains, genetics, animal health, pastures, nutrition, meat science and carcase value.
Highlights included presentations by Brad Hine on genomic tools for commercial beef producers, Brad Wamsley giving an update of the Southern Multibreed Project and Alex Ball speaking on the tools available to accelerate herd recovery and performance post-drought.

The interactive workshops held were valuable, with sessions on visual assessment and selection for bulls, heifers and steers, livestock handling and yard weaning, developing breeding objectives and utilising EBVs, a carcase breakdown and tour of Tullimba Research Feedlot.