Sheep Industry Business Innovation

Big crowd flocks to Bewety and the Feast

On 31 May 2017, the Sheep Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) project hosted an Open Day titled “Bewety and the Feast” at the Katanning Research Facility. The event  hosted more than 185 sheep industry participants, including producers, researchers, students and other industry stakeholders.

Presentations from SIBI team members, the University of Western Australia (UWA) and Murdoch University researchers highlighted advancements in research and technology within the WA sheep industry.

DAFWA Research Officer Beth Paganoni ensured her presentation was interactive by dressing in an eye-catching retro tutu and wig combination, and creating ‘Siri’s rave cave’ with fox deterrent lights doubling as makeshift disco lights in her ‘data disco’.

Tyne Logan from the ABC interviews DAFWA staff member Beth Paganoni
Tyne Logan from the ABC interviews DAFWA staff member Beth Paganoni

Other DAFWA presentations included a talk on new on-farm technology by Research Officer John Paul Collins and a presentation on sheep genetics by Research Officer Johan Greeff.

Sheep Industry Development Director Dr Bruce Mullan said the event provided a key opportunity for sheep industry stakeholders to discuss a variety of relevant topics.

“Events such as these are important to highlight new innovations in the field and to build relationships with stakeholders in the sheep industry,” Bruce said.

“Regional events allow DAFWA to have a hands-on approach and show advances in the field in a practical sense, rather than just theoretical knowledge.”

The event concluded with a sundowner sponsored by Landmark, CSBP, Elders, Tru-Test and AgriWebb. Catering included delicious dry-aged mutton chorizo and pastrami from Moojepin.

DAFWA staff member John Paul Collins during his presentation
DAFWA staff member John Paul Collins during his presentation

The Open Day has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, and the date for the 2018 event has been set as 30 March 2018. To download a copy of the proceedings, please visit the Bewety and the Feast webpage

The KRF Open Day was made possible by DAFWA’s Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, supported by Royalties for Regions, and in partnership with the Sheep Alliance of WA.