The Angus Table

Episode Summary:

Scott Wright sits down with Lincoln McKinlay, founder of Linc'D, a studstock sale and marketing business, for a conversation about purpose, positivity and industry pride. Lincoln shares his journey from high school show team at Pittsworth to stud stock auctioneering and involvement with Magic Millions thoroughbred sales.

Scott and Lincoln discuss his exceptional positivity and cup-half-full approach to life, how the Gen Angus program had a transformational impact on his personal development and business direction, and the importance of mentorship and relationships.

Lincoln outlines observations on the 2026 spring bull sales quality and market trends, and maximising Angus breed potential in Northern Australia, as well as post-drought recovery confidence from strong cattle prices and rebuilding opportunity.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for this conversation about building business around people, positivity as a daily practice, and striving to be better every day.

Key topics covered:

• How Lincoln progressed from Pittsworth High School show cattle team through Roma TopX and Elders stud stock to founding Linc'D business nearly two years ago
• Lincoln's auctioneering excellence through Young Auctioneers Competition national title and Calgary rookie championship and involvement with Magic Millions and thoroughbred sales
• The power of the Gen Angus program in transforming personal development, building lifelong friendships, and gaining new perspectives through leadership training
• Why Lincoln focuses business around working with good people, involvement in clients' day-to-day operations, and sharing industry knowledge across regions
• Insights from the 2026 spring bulls, solid quality groups with trends toward balanced phenotype and data rather than genetic extremes.
• Why sending sound, properly adapted Angus cattle with small Bos indicus content through ultra-black is critical to maximising breed potential in tropical northern Australia
• Post-drought recovery conditions, strong cattle prices, and rebuilding phase creating confidence for upcoming bull sales
• Why Lincoln believes the global rebuilding phase, US herd at historic 72-75 year lows, and top-tier Australian beef quality positions market for sustained strong cattle prices
• The importance of surrounding yourself with good people, seeking honest feedback, and being vulnerable and willing to learn
• About Linc’D and how Lincoln is balancing business growth with continuing to support the quality clients he has with personal time
• Why humility, honesty, and integrity as core values drive Lincoln's approach to caring about people's businesses and wellbeing.
• The best beef experience celebrating rookie auctioneering championship win in Calgary with an Australian Black Angus steak

Contact details:

Connect with Lincoln via his Linc’D website https://www.lincd.au/

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

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+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this episode, host Scott Wright, Carel Teseling and Dr. Vinzent Boerner discuss the development and capabilities of Angus GenetiQ.

Dr Vinzent Boerner and Carel Teseling explain the five-year development journey of Angus GenetiQ, including how and why Angus Australia developed its own genetic evaluation system independent of third-party providers.

They explain the system architecture solving 150-170 million equations weekly, why weekly runs benefit members more than monthly alternatives, how genetic correlations are estimated, why avoiding pre-adjustments improves accuracy, the impact of HeiferSELECT/SteerSELECT alignment, and how new traits can be added within weeks.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for this conversation about genetic independence, scientific rigour, and the system supporting breed decisions.

Key topics covered:

• Vinzent's PhD background in genetics and ten-year AGBU career prior to working with Angus on Angus GenetiQ.
• Why Angus Australia embarked on this development process and the journey to get Angus GenetiQ live
• System architecture: 150-170 million equations across 4 million pedigree animals, 25 genetic effects, 500,000 genotypes running weekly.
• The efficiency that allows Angus Genetiq to run on modest hardware
• How genetic correlations are estimated and why avoiding pre-adjustments improves accuracy
• Available traits: gestation, birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, final weight, mature weights, body condition, cow height, maternal value, scrotal, carcass, EMA, P8 fat, MSA marbling, coat type plus temperament EBV. with more coming later this year
• Weekly evaluation benefits: faster turnaround for genotype rejections and quicker member results on late submissions.
• HeiferSELECT/SteerSELECT alignment: both commercial and seedstock run through same evaluation ensuring consistency between systems.\
• How flexible the model is and Vinzent’s predictions of what is possible vs what is likely in the future
• The importance of independence and self-sufficiency for Angus and how Malshani and the team are building long-term maintenance capability

Contact details:

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this bonus episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright discusses the Angus for Every System Feedlot and Carcass Trial launching with Teys Australia, with Jake Bourne from Angus Australia and Brett Tindal from Signature Ag Marketing.

Commercial Angus producers can enter teams of 10 steers (380-460kg) by 31 July for a September induction at Teys Condamine, with 120 days feeding at $1,000 per entry.

There are four classes spanning 50% - 100% Angus content, using Optiweigh units and SteerSELECT genomic testing to track daily gains and provide detailed feedback booklets comparing each producer's performance against competitors. The trial includes automatic entry into the ANPC National Carcass Competition at Beef 2027, plus a November/December field day, agents jackpot, and breeders cup award.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for this conversation about demonstrating your genetics through commercial data and benchmarking across Australia.

Key topics covered:

• Trial structure: teams of 10 steers (380-460kg), entries close July 31, delivery September 15, 120-day feeding at Teys Condamine, processing separates 50% content (one week) from 75%/100% content cattle (following week).
• Technology integration: Optiweigh units track daily weight gains viewable via Angus Tech, SteerSELECT genomic testing covers breed content and carcass traits, and field day in November/December allows visual comparison with data.
• Feedback focus: each producer receives an individual data booklet comparing their performance against all competitors, enabling analysis of sire lines and breeding decisions.
• Award categories span feedlot performance, carcass quality, and eating quality/MSA index across each class, plus grand champion and reserve champion sponsorships.
• Agents involvement through agents jackpot creating friendly rivalry and engagement, and Breeders cup award recognises stud breeders whose clients enter teams
• Automatic entry into ANPC National Carcass Competition at Beef 2027 in Rockhampton, allowing selection of three steers from team of 10 for competition.
• Red Angus eligibility extends trial to both black and red Angus producers, recognising recent collaboration between Red Angus and Angus Australia.
• HeiferSELECT promotion emphasises five times greater genetic gain than bull selection through early identification of high-merit breeding females before investment.

Contact details:

Get in touch with Brett via the Signature Ag website https://signatureag.com.au/

Get in touch with Jake via email [email protected]

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this special episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright welcomes Peter Collins, newly installed president of Angus Australia, for a comprehensive conversation about his farming operation, family legacy, board leadership, and vision for the breed's future.

Peter shares insights from his four-generation family farming heritage in Northern Victoria, his show judging career across all Australian states and previous 15-year board experience with National Herd Improvement company.

Scott and Peter discuss why Angus are such exceptional easy care cattle, the ongoing GenetiQ evaluation platform development and rollout, how the board is navigating financial sustainability challenges and concerns about MLA’s multi-breed genetic evaluation strategy.

Peter shares his vision for his board presidency, his strong support for Angus youth, and his belief in asking for help within the Angus network and surrounding yourself with the right mentors.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for this conversation full of insights on leadership during challenging times, breed independence, youth investment, and why the Angus family remains stronger than ever.

Key topics covered:

• About Peter’s four-generation family farming heritage in Northern Victoria near Echuca, combined dairy and beef operation running 1,000 acres with irrigation on 16-inch rainfall
• Peter's son Brody returning to the farm after electrician career and his 97-year old Dad still involved, offering breeding insights and opinions
• Angus as exceptional easy-care maternal breed combining strong mothering ability with excellent carcass attributes through collective breeder effort
• Peter’s show judging career spanning all Australian states, his previous experience with National Herd board, and four years on the Angus board including two as vice president
• The development and rollout of the GenetiQ platform providing weekly genetic evaluations with temperament EBV and additional traits releasing soon
• Navigating financial challenges as a board, including the World Angus Forum loss and MLA funding dropping to zero
• Serious concerns about MLA multi-breed genetic evaluation threatening breed independence, data ownership, and potential corporate acquisition
• Welcoming Weatherbys as third genomics provider alongside Zoetis and Neogen ensuring member choice and competitive pricing
• Peter’s passion for Angus Youth support, including donating quality heifers to young breeders without capital, building future generation through mentorship and opportunity
• How the board operates with specialist directors, healthy debate without polarisation, and transparent communication on challenges for long-term breed viability and competitiveness

Contact details:

Get in touch with Peter [email protected] or via the Merridale Angus website https://www.merridaleangus.com.au/

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Emily Pullen, CEO of Jim's Jerky, for an inspiring conversation about building a national beef brand, navigating industry challenges, and remarkable resilience.

Emily shares how her parents Jim and Kathy started with 12 kilos of jerky in 2004 after discovering South African biltong in a Charlton butcher shop, growing to a team of 28 across supermarkets, national petrol chains, and export markets.

They discuss why topside has become an increasingly valuable cut, a devastating April 2023 factory fire and 12-month recovery journey, managing extreme meat price volatility with inflexible retail pricing, the exciting partnership with SunPork building a new shared dehydration facility, and why "lukewarm is no good" in business.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for a masterclass in entrepreneurship, family business, and turning adversity into opportunity.

Connect with Emily via the Jim’s Jerky website https://www.jimsjerky.com.au/contact-us

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this Western Australia-focused episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Jess Dewar, co-operator of Ardcairnie Angus Stud and volunteer editor of the Western Australian Angus News.

Jess shares her journey from Perth retail management to agriculture, meeting husband Joe in 2018 and purchasing Ardcairnie Angus in 2020 from life members Jim and Pam McGregor.

She discusses the unique WA Angus community, which represents 44% of the state's cattle breed and emphasises larger frames and foot structure for distance and demanding soil.

Jess’s WA Angus committee volunteer work includes coordinating the spring walk at feedlot facilities and the Farm Weekly heifer competition which generates 21,000+ entries annually, as well as the gold-standard in Angus publications, the WA Angus News.

Jess and Scott discuss her Gen Angus program experience and why she highly recommends the program, and the opportunities and challenges facing the breed as it grows across WA's 1,200-kilometre geographic spread.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for this conversation about building community across distance and the power of volunteer leadership in regional Angus.

Key topics covered:

• About the makeup of Angus in WA, including geographical spread and what differentiates WA Angus breeding approach from eastern states
• Jess’s journey from Perth retail management into agriculture after meeting her husband Joe in 2018, and their purchase of Ardcanie Angus stud in 2020 from Jim and Pam McGregor
• How Ardkanie Angus operates, combining seed stock/commercial cattle, grain, hay and Merino sheep across 400km
• The impact and longevity of the WA Angus News publication (37 years, since 1989), producing a biannual 60-70 page magazine with advertiser support that reaches Angus breeders across the state and even internationally
• WA Angus committee activities including the spring walk in September at feedlot/processors, heifer competition with Farm Weekly (21,000+ entries annually November-February), AGM and workshop day in January
• Jess’s takeaways from the Gen Angus Program, including the benefits of the network and connections, and the supportive mentorship from Simone Bond (SA Angus VP)
• The importance of different roles in a farming family, and valuing each person’s contributions and strengths, whether in the home or the paddock
• The strength of the WA Angus community, which keeps the focus on promoting Angus and supporting the next generation, building collaboration with a warm welcoming culture and leveraging the diversity of experience in the group
• How Jess lives her values of follow-through, transparency in decision making, respect for diversity across geographic extremes, and staying grounded and practical through life on the farm
• The many opportunities ahead for WA Angus, including continued commercial growth driven by proven on-farm results, premium beef programs and export market strength, and the next generation embracing data/genetics
• The challenges of maintaining community connection across 1,200km geographic spread requiring ongoing effort, market and seasonal variability requiring producer resilience, staying practical and relevant with value-add committee decisions.
• Why Angus Australia is rolling out DNA verification programs to address integrity and the challenge of other breeds ‘piggybacking’ on Angus success
• How Jess’ personal background as a competitive surfer and growing up in a male-dominated sport shaped her communication style
• The mentorships Jess has benefited from, including Pam McGregor and her husband Joe’s farming knowledge driving Jess’ industry engagement and enthusiasm
• Why Jess’ best beef eating experience is more about the people and the location than the beef itself

Contact details:

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this re-release of our most heartfelt episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with John Warlters, CEO of Rural Aid, for an important conversation about supporting farming families through disasters and everyday adversity.

John shares insights from Rural Aid's 11-year journey since forming during the 2015 drought, the remarkable scale of their impact, how trust guides every decision as their north star principle, and the importance of being visible in communities rather than waiting for crisis moments.

They discuss John's journalism background preparing him for this role, the challenge of balancing strategic thinking with operational response, the importance of mental health support for all but especially for rural families, and why the difficult act of asking for help opens doors to support.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for insights on community resilience and the organization making a difference for rural Australia.

Key topics covered:

• How Rural Aid supports farmers first, their families, and communities as proudly farmer-focused organisation
• The scale of impact since 2015: 200,000 bales of hay, 100 million litres of household drinking water, prepaid Visa cards ($1,500 typical value) empowering individuals to meet specific needs with money flowing back to local communities
• Rural Aid’s national network of 10 counsellors seeing producers on-farm where possible in order to break down barriers around potential judgment or stigma
• Erica Halliday's story of receiving Rural Aid support during 2017-19 drought, then joining the board to give back to organisation that helped her family
• Trust as Rural Aid’s guiding principle: donors trust that funds reach the right people at right time, producers trust the organisation when making themselves vulnerable by asking for help
• Why Rural Aid waits for recovery phase rather than emergency response to avoid getting in way of front line and emergency services
• The dairy farmer who said he was "a little bit broken on the inside," put on smiley face each morning thinking that's what his family needed, but counselling helped him recognise he needed help and it completely changed his outlook
• How strategic thinking challenges John when operational response demands constant attention, and he balancing act between mental health counsellors on ground vs immediate disaster relief capacity
• How everyday challenges (rising costs, fluctuating prices, health scares, succession planning) need support beyond disaster context, not just emergency events
• Looking to 2030: growing to 20,000+ registered producers (currently 18,500) and amplifying Rural Aid’s voice to government
• John’s simple call to action: ask for help if you need it, phone 1300 327 624

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

• Rural Aid https://www.everystep.ruralaid.org.au/
• Phone: 1300 327 624

Contact details:

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this re-release episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Paul Smith from Tieyon Station in Central Australia for a remarkable conversation about 100 years of Angus cattle breeding in one of the world's driest cattle regions.

Paul shares how his great-grandfather Frank ordered a van of Angus bulls from a newspaper ad in 1925, walked them 100 kilometers from the railhead, and slowly replaced all Shorthorns to create the only pure Angus herd remaining in Central Australia.

They discuss managing 6,500 square kilometers (650,000 hectares) with just 2-4 staff, breeding and finishing cattle with under 200mm average rainfall, designing cows specifically for the landscape through EBV selection, surviving the 2018-21 drought while managing his wife's breast cancer diagnosis, and why temperament, structure and attitude matter more than anything else.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for an inspiring story of resilience, innovation, and custodianship in Australia's red centre.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

In this special Gen Angus Leadership Program episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with James Knight, operator of Sisters Pastoral Company, for a comprehensive conversation about his transformational journey from a Melbourne corporate career to successful commercial Angus cattle operator. James shares insights from his childhood agricultural passion through jackarooing on a gap year, University of New England studies, and a corporate careers with great mentorship.

After a mental health crisis and recovery, he transitioned back to the family farm with wife Georgie in 2016, scaling from 800 to 1,450-1,500 females over 2,200 hectares producing 1,200 weaners annually. His spring calving feeder system replaced unsustainable autumn calving through rotational grazing and technology adoption.

James shares how he balances phenotype expertise with EBV focus when purchasing bulls, maintaining stable partnerships with buyers and suppliers, and how his 2.5 FTE team operates on benchmarking and data-driven decisions while staying relationship-focused. Scott and James also discuss the recent animal welfare crisis that revealed the Angus community's extraordinary support and crucial help during his darkest time.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for insights on scaling commercial beef operations through data-driven strategy, technology adoption, and the irreplaceable strength of community support when it matters most.

Key topics covered:

• James' childhood agricultural passion sparked by uncle's Deniliquin farm and a gap year jackarooing
• How his corporate career provided operational experience and learning from CEO Adrian Goonan that became the foundation for his farm transition.
• The mental health crisis requiring help and recovery, establishing James’ resilience and reach-out approach characterising his community philosophy
• Business scaling from 800 females/1,100ha (2016) to 1,450-1,500 females over 2,200ha producing 1,200 weaners annually through strategic planning and benchmarking
• Spring calving feeder system shift eliminating unsustainable hay feeding by rotating steers through paddocks achieving 1.5kg/day by September, 2kg/day peak October/November
• The data-driven and ROI-focused decision making process James uses for technology adoption
• James’ bull purchasing strategy, balancing phenotype expertise from father-in-law Bruce with EBV analysis using Angus Tech spreadsheets and feedlot trial validation for carcass/growth.
• Partnership-focused approach maintaining stable relationships with buyers, suppliers, financiers, and team
• Recent animal welfare crisis revealing community strength and the generosity of the Angus community
• Forward breed strategy on carcass traits (EMA, IMF, mature body composition), questioning seed stock/commercial alignment, urging balance on birth weight/gestation coupling affecting calving mortality

Contact details:

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au

Summary of the episode:

In this episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Paul Flynn, Director of Research and Development at Weatherbys Scientific, to discuss the beginning of a new genomic service provider relationship with Angus Australia.

Paul shares insights from Weatherbys' remarkable 250-year family business legacy starting with thoroughbred stud books in the late 1700s, their evolution from mid-1980s laboratory in Ireland using molecular technologies for parentage verification to becoming multi-species genotyping service provider (bovine, equine, ovine, canine, aqua shrimp).

Scott and Paul discuss Weatherbys’ data ownership philosophy keeping customer control and the agnostic integration approach with multiple evaluation platforms, SNP chip capabilities and their capacity to process 100,000 samples per week.

They finish their conversation discussing the opportunities AI brings for the management and interrogation of massive datasets, and the importance of values to a 7th generation family business like Weatherbys.

So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for insights on the Weatherbys Scientific Partnership.

Key topics covered:

• How Weatherbys' 250-year legacy began with James Weatherby's late 1700s thoroughbred stud book evolving from mid-1980s Ireland laboratory using molecular technologies to a global multi-species genotyping service provider.
• Why Weatherbys differentiates by staying in their lanem prioritising data ownership with customers, and maintaining agnostic integration with multiple evaluation platforms without competing in evaluation services
• How the Angus Australia partnership came to be, with technology now aligning perfectly to cover full the suite from workhorse chips to niche traits as standard capabilities
• A glimpse into the scale of Weatherbys capacity, exemplified in their Irish Cattle Breeding Federation partnership,aiming to genotype 2.4M newborn calves annually (currently 1M+/year) with infrastructure handling 100,000 samples/week
• What the Versa 85K SNP chip delivers through genome-wide coverage across 29 autosomal chromosomes, ISAG standardised panels, trait markers, and standalone complex mutation tests
• Why high throughput capability matters with multiple equipment units providing contingency, lean turnaround times, ISAG rank one laboratory status, and ISO 17025 accreditation with quality management system.
• The opportunities AI presents for automating massive dataset interrogation using annotated databases to drive discovery rate, requiring accurate algorithms and managing fear factors through education about long-term breeding gains
• The equine paradigm moment with ISAG approving SNP panels enabling the community to move from traditional microsatellites to genomic uptake, traveling the journey bovine traveled 10-15 years ago
• The importance of Weatherbys values built over 250 years, including trust, integrity and governance as seventh-generation family business
• Paul's memorable beef experience at Shane Ross' Cottage Restaurant in Armidale plus his book recommendation "The Cow Book" by John Connell.

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

• Weatherbys Scientific Australia https://www.weatherbysscientific.com.au/
• The Cow Book: A Story of Life on a Family Farm by John Connell

Contact details:

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

+Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

CREDITS:

Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email [email protected]

Producer: Mel Strasburg [email protected]

Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au