2025 Team Te Mania Workshop — Future-Focused, Profit-Driven
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From the ground up: Building better beef businesses through knowledge, genetics and trust.
Te Mania Angus hosts a workshop annually for the valued cooperative of the Team Te Mania Herds. This year’s event, held in Colac, Victoria, brought together members from across the network under the theme ‘Grassroots’, focusing on practical insights, innovation, and collaboration in Angus cattle breeding. The event featured industry-leading speakers, on-farm demonstrations, and producer-led Q&A sessions.
It was a milestone to celebrate this year, marking the 30th year of Team Te Mania since its foundation in 1995. Many of the original team member herds attended the workshop, joined by some new members and local beef producers.
The farm tours included a visit to Team Members Scott and Belinda Stewart, from Araluen Pastoral Co in Birregurra, and a special trip to the birthplace of the Te Mania Angus stud at ‘Pardoo’ in Barrongarook West, now owned and operated by Team Members Matt and Ange Joyce as Pardoo Cattle Co.
The 2025 Team Te Mania Workshop, held at COPACC in Colac, VIC, brought together industry leaders, scientists, and beef producers with one shared goal — to shape a more profitable, sustainable and socially responsible future for Australian beef.
Following the momentum from last year’s Orange workshop, the 2025 program continued to explore the key drivers of long-term productivity, with grassroots insights into animal welfare, consumer behaviour, markets, and innovation in genetics.
Putting Welfare and Public Trust Front and Centre
Dr David Beggs, Director of the Australian Veterinary Association and Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, opened the day with a compelling look at the concept of “social license” — the level of trust the public places in our industry.
David challenged the room to think differently about animal welfare: not just what we do, but how our animals feel. With welfare now formally recognised in law through Victoria’s Animal Welfare Action Plan, and animals acknowledged as sentient beings, the industry has an opportunity to lead with transparency, science, and empathy.
“Welfare is about how the animal is coping — and it’s our job to ensure they are not just surviving, but thriving.”
Photo by @mimmccormack
Understanding the Consumer Mindset: It’s Complicated
Next, Howard Parry-Husbands from Pollinate cracked open the contradictions in consumer behaviour. While only 5% of Australians identify as vegetarian, nearly half of those still eat meat — proof that “truth” in food consumption is rarely black and white.
Pollinate’s data-driven approach revealed a growing cohort of flexitarians motivated by health and cost. Yet deeper drivers — such as guilt, climate anxiety, and disconnection from farming — show that our messages about sustainability and animal care must be both honest and accessible.
“55% of Australian school kids have never set foot on a farm. Our job is to close that gap — not with marketing spin, but with real, relatable stories.”
Global Outlook: 2025 is the Season of the ‘Have and Have Nots’
Ripley Atkinson, Australian Livestock and Commodities Manager at StoneX, provided a sharp analysis of the domestic and global beef market.
With liquidation continuing in the south, and a strong season cushioning the north, producers face a complex 2025 shaped by export volatility, processor capacity, and producer confidence.
“The market drivers this year will be about readiness and responsiveness — those with condition and flexibility will be in the best position to capture value.”
Renowned animal genomics expert Dr Alison Van Eenennaam from the University of California, Davis, brought global perspective to the future of cattle breeding.
Alison explored the transformational potential of gene editing and advanced reproductive technologies, underscoring how modern genetics can improve productivity and resilience while reducing environmental footprint.
“Selective breeding and gene technologies can help us meet consumer demands, environmental targets and productivity goals — all at once.”
Photo by @mimmccormack
Team Te Mania’s Collaborative Edge
The Team Te Mania program unites commercial Angus breeders like Scott and Belinda Stewart (Araluen Pastoral Co) and Matt and Ange Joyce (Pardoo Cattle Company) to share knowledge, test ideas, and make data-driven breeding decisions focused on profitability, fertility, temperament, and carcass quality. Workshops like this keep members connected and informed in a fast-changing industry.
The 2025 workshop showed that profitable beef production is not just about breeding better cattle — it’s about breeding better understanding. From genetics and biotech to market strategy and public trust, it remains a crucial forum for science, insight, and collaboration.
Here’s to breeding smarter, farming better — and doing it together.
Meet the Te Mania team. We have an approachable team who are brimming with passion and energy for the beef industry. Our team know what we do is important and work hard to provide high quality and profitable breeding herds.
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