Macquarie Down’s Open Day 15th and 16th November 2003 The 2nd World Wagyu Symposium held in Toowoomba, Queensland, during the weekend of 15th and 16th November 2003, concluded with an Open Day at Macquarie Downs. Management and staff of Macquarie Downs would like to thank the 200+ guests who participated in the Open Day. Your enthusiasm and active participation in the activities organised for the day, made the day a resounding success! We enjoyed putting it all together for you, and we hope that you enjoyed yourselves on the day, as much as we did. The ‘order’ of the day To cater for the 200+ guests, it was necessary to divide the guests into 5 groups, which, on a rotational basis, participated in 5 organised activities.
Activity 1 How to breed cattle that buyers want This activity looked at the issues that a Wagyu feeder steer supplier should consider to achieve the traits that will increase economic returns, and, included the following topics: (a) Logistical Issues of: lot size, location, evenness within group and feed forward of accurate information. (b) Feedlot Performance Issues: growth, structural soundness, health, pre-feedlot growth and nutrition, temperament and gender. (c) Carcass Performance: marbling,eye muscle area and fat. (d) Cosmetics: for marketing purposes – how the animal should look.
Activity 2 Scanning Demonstration This activity demonstrated using real time ultrasound to measure: (a) Subcutaneous fat (b) Eye muscle area (EMA) (c) Intramuscular Fat %
Activity 3 Bus Tour This tour provided some insight into some aspects of Macquarie Down’s operations, which enable us to grow store and produce 90% of our own cattle feed. This ensures fresh feed is always available for our feedlot, which is a vital key to the production of high quality Wagyu cattle. The bus toured an area of planted crop irrigated via a Linear Move Irrigator, demonstrating the irrigation system undertaken for our crops. Guests were taken to view the ring tank that stores the bulk of our irrigation requirements. Unfortunately, because of drought conditions at the time, the tank was almost empty. Nevertheless, it demonstrated how the irrigation system operated. Thankfully, we have since had some rain!
Activity 4 Feedlot Tour Our guests took a walk around the cattle pens, while Garry Spencer, our Livestock Manager, explained this aspect of our operations. Guests then went on to view the undercover feedlot that house our fullblood steers.
Activity 5 Japanese Cuisine This activity attracted many positive comments. We feel that the guests’ enjoyment met our attempt to provide them with a ‘Wagyu Taste Sensation’! It was our ‘lighthearted’ moment of the day! Our Japanese Restaurant provided seating for each group in a ‘converted’ machinery shed. A light entree style meal was provided, but with a difference! On arrival guests were provided with a small plate of pre-cut vegetables and thin strips of Wagyu beef to cook themselves on individual gas grills. This style of cooking, known as ‘Yakiniku’, is now the most popular form of cuisine in Japan. Following this light introduction to Japanese cuisine, guests were treated to Japanese cooking demonstrations of Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu, and were able to sample these cuisines. The day concluded with a ‘somewhat different’ Australian style Barbecue (BBQ). Guests were served slivers of lightly BBQ’d Wagyu beef laid out on french bread, topped with a variety of toppings, including mustard and sauteed onion.