Welcome to FNQ’s seedstock capital

WHEN the Tablelands Better Beef Open Day was first launched in 2019, it was the first time a group of stud producers had combined to collectively market their cattle.

The original nine studs had a collective ambition to elevate the status of the Atherton Tablelands as a reliable region where commercial producers could source well bred, quality seedstock to enhance their breeding programs. Our ambition was to highlight the fact that to secure top-end breeding bulls producers did not have to head south, pay big money and then struggle to acclimatise bulls to the harsh climate in the tropics.

As we look forward to our fifth year the event is now known as the Tableland Better Beef Open Days – expanding from a single day in its first four years to a full weekend in 2023.

A record 15 studs will open their gates this year with seven welcoming visitors on day 1 (northern zone – Saturday August 12) and eight on day 2 (southern zone – Sunday August 13).

The innovation has taken place after consistent feedback from many of the hundreds of visitors attending each year that they wanted more time to see more studs.

As we look forward to this year’s Open Days it’s clear the committee’s desire to establish the Atherton Tablelands as the beef cattle seedstock nursery of far North Queensland has been fulfilled.

A number of participating studs have firmly established national recognition, selling stock across the country and at record prices.

Most significantly, not only are we seeing less FNQ producers heading south but we are also attracting