HEREFORDS AUSTRALIA has signed a five-year strategic partnership with the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association (ICMJ Association) to promote the breed and build capacity by engaging with young industry professionals.
The ICMJ Association was established in 1990, to address concerns many agriculture degrees were lacking studies about meat science and that students may be graduating without setting foot inside an abattoir or a sound understanding of red meat quality.
The new partnership is a key deliverable in the Herefords Australia 2022-2027 Strategic Plan and will see Herefords Australia sponsor both ICMJ Association’s Northern and National Conferences until 2026.
Herefords Australia Breed and Business Development Manager, Kathleen Allan, said Herefords Australia will attend the Northern Conference in Rockhampton after Easter as its first action since the partnership agreement was signed.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to engage with the next generation of professionals in the beef industry, including students from Australian universities and agriculture colleges, as well as international students coming from some of the nation’s largest trading partners in the red meat sector,” Ms Allan said.
“This partnership is a fabulous opportunity to promote the Hereford breed, not only for its excellent carcase quality, but also as a career pathway for graduates.
“At the same time, we’ll be encouraging and nurturing the talent of those who will lead our industry in years to come.”
A key focus in Rockhampton will be promoting applications for the annual C M Hocking Scholarship, which provides a $5,000 grant for Australian citizens undertaking studies that will benefit Australia’s Hereford industry.
