Beef Australia 2009 celebrated 21 years since the inaugural Expo in 1988 with a record breaking crowd of 68 000 people, including 461 delegates from 32 countries.
Over 400 trade fair exhibitors showcased their wears at Australia’s one stop shop for all things beef cattle related with Australian genetics and technology in the forefront.
It is expected that over $8 million dollars will have been generated into the central Queensland economy from direct event spending when final figures are calculated at the end of the month.
The Expo was a true showcase of beef cattle both on the hoof and over the hook. Over 2000 head of stud cattle from 33 breeds were judged in centre ring showcasing the diversity of Australia’s tropically and temperate adapted breeds with a Hereford bull and a Brangus cow taking out the Champion of Champions titles.
A record yarding of 2300 head of commercial cattle were judged and sold through the ring at the Gracemere Saleyards with a pen of Simbrah steers awarded Grand Champions.
151 entries, totaling 453 carcases were judged in the National Beef Carcase Competition at 13 participating meat processors from 4 states - Western Australia, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland with a pen of Gelbvieh cross cattle from Western Australia awarded Grand Champions.
Industry education activities included a dozen of central Queensland’s finest properties showcased in the Property Tour program with over 1200 people boarding the buses. The four and a half day seminar program featured over 80 speakers, 33 topics and 2000 attendees.
On the food front Beef Australia 2009 hosted 7 celebrity chefs, 4 premium beef restaurants and 20 beef focused catering outlets who served up over 35 000 steaks and steakburgers.
In excess of $120 000 was raised by over a dozen not for profit and community groups who provided services to the Expo. These services included reimbursement for the use of facilities surrounding the Showground’s and Victoria Park, event management and catering.
Beef Australia 2009 Chairman Geoff Murphy said that the figures showcased what an outstanding contribution the Expo made to the local and national economy.
He also praised the patience of residents around the Showground’s and Victoria Park as the normally quiet suburb of Wandal became the epicentre of Australia’s national beef industry last week.
