There will be plenty of opportunities to inspire, advocate and innovate at LambEx 2024 in Adelaide this August. LambEx 2024 Chair Jason Schulz is confident there will be business changing lessons, and connections, for everyone in the lamb supply chain at this year’s event.
One of the key goals of the event will be to open the industry’s minds to opportunities never considered before.
“We’ve got to get out of just being a commodity and we’ve got to start thinking a little broader,” Mr Schulz said.
“If we want to seriously compete in the red meat space, we need to take note of beef breeds life Wagyu ... that’s all achievable in the lamb industry.”
He said to do this first the industry needed to identify which carcasses are elite and which markets we can tap into.
Here’s a taste of what some of the speakers will be exploring during the conference.
The carbon conversation
Conversations around carbon will feature during the three-day event. Mark Wootton from Jigsaw Farms will provide a case study and talk about the dos, the don’ts, the traps and the benefits of carbon neutrality.
He has achieved carbon neutrality in the past - even selling carbon neutral wool - but is not currently achieving the status.
Dr Steve Weidemann, from Integrity Ag, will be discussing how good farming practices that create efficiency are also good for reducing carbon emissions.
“The hope for a lot of us is that if we’re doing good farming practices, utilising our land in the best way, we’re probably already on the right path and heading towards some carbon targets,” Mr Schulz said.
Value based marketing
There will be a number of presentations about value based marketing, focusing on how farmer assured programs or practices can fetch a premium or create new markets.
Angus Street, from ZQ Merinos, will talk about branding and selling ethical and regeneratively grown wool.
Will Barton, from Gundagai Meat Processors, will present on what they’re doing to measure yield and eating quality in lamb and how that feeds into at premium product for consumers and a premium to be rewarded for effort for producers.
Carcass competition and MSA
For the LambEx AMPC Feedlot Carcase Competition 1500 lambs from 30 producers went through a feedlot for 60 days. The winners will be announced at LambEx.
Dave Packer from MLA’s Meat Standards Australia Program Manager will present on the findings out of that competition, including the MEQ and DEXA data gathered during the process.
Mr Schulz said the technology was available for sheep and lamb to be graded with MSA but was not currently commercially in use.
“The competition proved it is doable, but that there are barriers.
“LambEx is the place to talk about it and hopefully the industry will work towards a solution.
“Where’s the next lever to further improve? You don’t know what you don’t
measure and you don’t know what you’re not told.”
