A DOUBLE deck loading ramp now in operation at the Lethbridge family’s Amber Station at Mount Surprise in North Queensland was the centrepiece of robust conversation around cattle handling and livestock transport safety and best practice at a field day on the property today.

Around 100 cattle producers and industry service providers participated in the Meat & Livestock Australia and AgForce Qld field day reflecting the growing emphasis on livestock transport and particularly the on-farm role producers can play to improve standards across the industry.

The field day heard this morning that the point of loading is one of the most stressful events for cattle.

Several speakers from producers to livestock transporters and stock agents to workplace health and safety officials presented numerous real life examples demonstrating why many of the problems the industry faces are preventable, and why forward planning, investments in appropriate infrastructure and respect for cattle, livestock handlers and rural truck drivers were of crucial importance for the success of the entire chain from producers to end customers.

Our camera captured some of the faces at today’s event, stay tuned in coming days for more in depth stories on Beef Central.

Dan Slaney from Amber Station, Mount Surprise.

Emma Atkins, Biosecurity Queensland; Abbey Patrick, Amber Station and Jane Lethbridge, Charters Towers.

David Rankine, Bunuro, Torrens Creek and Geoff Fordyce, GALF Cattle.

NQ cattle producer and MLA board member Russell Lethbridge whose family hosted today’s field day with MLA and AgForce Qld on Amber Station near Mount Surprise.

Lara Conaghan, Red Rock Station, Einasleighl Damian Freney, Nutriment, Rockhampton and Andrew Meehan, Qld Rural, Charters Towers.

Georgia Slaney from Amber Station, Mount Surprise and Sharon Dundon from MLA.

Gavin Johnson, Causeway Beef Nutrition, Atherton and Mick Conaghan, Red Rock Station, Einasleigh.

Leo Ballantyne from RTA Transport and Russell Gill from National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Sarah Cook from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland