Hands on study opportunity for Gatton student

Learning more about the Queensland beef cattle business is all in a day’s work for UQ Gatton student Alex Thompson.

The third year Bachelor of Agricultural Science student is currently completing an internship at the Rockhampton Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries in the Animal Science division where he is undertaking research as part of his degree.

Mr Thompson said the internship had given him a great insight into the work that goes on to support the Queensland beef cattle industry.

“So far it has been a great experience travelling around northern Queensland working with different people and cattle,” Mr Thompson said.

“I never appreciated how much work goes into research, but after being involved I can see how important it is. Without research Australian agriculture will be left behind.”

Based at the research facility in Rockhampton, Mr Thompson is travelling to several cattle research stations in Gayndah, Ayr and Julia Creek to participate in pregnancy diagnosis, muscle scanning, vaccination of breeding cows and semen collection.

He is also completing a research project for course credit on degree mortality rates among breeding beef cattle herds.

The 16-week internship is an integral part of UQ’s Bachelor of Agricultural Science, which allows students to hone skills learnt in the classroom in an industry setting.

Mr Thompson said on completion of the internship he would have a broader understanding of northern beef production, and hopes to work in the area after graduating next year.

This is the second year that the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science has run the program, with 20 students placed in a range of industry projects thus far.

Those interested in learning more about the program can contact Susan Doel at s.doel@uq.edu.au.

Media: Dr Madan Gupta (07 5460 1358, m.gupta@uq.edu.au), Susan Doel (07 3346 7925, s.doel@uq.edu.au) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)