ICMJ competitors assessing meat cuts in the 2023 competition. Image – ICMJ Facebook.

GOAT carcase assessment will be introduced to the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association’s conference program for the first time in Wagga Wagga New South Wales this week.

The 2025 ICMJ National Conference 8-12 July at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW brings together university students from around Australia, Japan and the United States for a week-long program to develop and inspire future meat industry professionals.

Participants will attend seminars, workshops, a career expo, take part in networking opportunities and compete in the ICMJ National Meat Judging Competition where they’ll put their industry knowledge to the test.

The ICMJ program has well-established training and meat judging components for pork, lamb and beef and this year will include an introduction to goat carcase judging by ICMJ Asian tour coordinator Kieran Smith & alumni and schools coordinator Nick Van den Berg. Some speakers will also cover aspects of goat meat marketing and processing.

Key presentations and speakers at the conference will include on Wednesday:

Driving processing efficiency in Australia’s red meat industry – Edwina Toohey, AMPC;

The implementation of Tech into the JBS business – the wins, the losses and the lessons! – Sean Starling, JBS;

Aligning the cattle we feed to the markets we seed! — Grant Garey, Teys;

The value of small goods in the Australian meat industry — Robert Wadland, Primo Foods and;

The value of feedback – How feedback drives change in the lamb value chain — Michelle Henry, GMP.

On Thursday presentations will include:

‘Why is the USA such a great market for Aussie beef, lamb & goat?’ — Dr Mark Miller, USA;

Japanese beef industry – the rise of camera grading and ET in the dairy industry;

ICMJ Southeast Asian tour — Kieran Smith and;

World Butcher Challenge — Brett Laws.

Friday’s presentations will include:

The terms of trade for Australian meat – Staying calm in turbulent times — Tim Ryan, AMIC;

Opportunities with re-building a new beef plant and owning a goat abattoir in the outback — Jack Thomas, TFI;

Phenotyping to improve genomic understanding – how to identify key animals — Isabele Roberts, Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets;

People, Pigs, Planet: SunPork’s approach to corporate social responsibility — Dr Darryl D’Souza, SunPork and;

Your career, your impact: Challenges, change & opportunity ahead – Michael Crowley, MLA.