Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – 45^th AGM

It is my pleasure to present the Executive Director’s report for the 2018/19 year. This has again been a busy year with a number of projects underway.

1. Activities in the 2018/19 financial year

During the year, ARCBA performed all of its routine functions consisting of:

Collation & release of registration statistics for 2018
Collation & release of membership statistics
Release of audited fiscals
Holding the 44^th Annual General Meeting
Preparation of a report for the Cattle Council yearbook

In the 2018/19 year ARCBA performed a number of other functions including:

Young Breed Leaders Workshop

Planning for the second Young Breed Leaders Workshop to be held in Armidale from 28 to 30^th October is well advanced largely due to Arthur Rickards input.

Arthur Rickards Youth Scholarship

The ARCBA Youth Scholarship has been renamed the Arthur Rickards Youth Scholarship in honour of his outstanding contribution to ARCBA and encouragement of Youth through the Young Breed Leaders Workshop and the ARCBA youth scholarship to visit the USA in May 2018.

The Arthur Rickards Youth Scholarship to attend the Beef Improvement Federation Conference in 2020 and to network with a large group of leading seedstock and commercial beef producers, academics and allied industry partners will again be offered this year.

Legal advice re websites, sale catalogues and registration certificates.

As a result of the court decision which ordered the payment of $200,000 by Irelands Angus to Bongongo Angus due to an incorrect pedigree published in Irelands sale catalogue for a bull which was purchased by Bongongo Angus, ARBCA sought legal advice on appropriate disclaimers that should be published on breed society websites, sale catalogues and pedigree certificates. This advice was provided to all ARCBA members.

Other matters

Participation on Sub-Committees of Cattle Council of Australia which are used to formulate national policy. Reports from ARCBA’s representatives are forwarded to members.

2. Beef Cattle Registrations

For the 2018 year beef cattle registrations totalled 147,293. This was an increase of 6,395 registrations compared to 2017. The number of registrations in 2018 was the second highest number of registrations in the past 20 years just below the 148,006 registrations in 2016.

Figure 1: Beef Cattle Registrations - All Breeds for the period 1999 to 2018

The composition of registrations by breed group in 2018 is:

Breed Group	2018 Registrations	% of registrations
a. British breeds & Australian derivatives	82,028	55.7
b. Tropical breeds	31,603	21.5
c. European breeds & other derivatives	20,333	14.1
d. Other breeds	12,961	8.8
Total	147,293

Total registrations increased for the British breed group with the Tropical, European and Other breeds group fairly stable.

The number of animals recorded in secondary registers increased by 5.4 percent in 2018. There were 63,770 animals recorded in Secondary registers in 2018 compared to 60,510 animals recorded in 2017. These animals represent the number of non-herdbook animals bred for seedstock production. This category had increased from 58,747 in 2009. Since 2005 the ratio of primary to secondary register cattle has been fairly stable at around 70% primary to 30% secondary.

3. Membership

Total Full Membership of ARCBA members in 2018 increased by 183 to 7,178 members compared to 2017.

There are currently 34 breed associations with membership of ARCBA.

4. Financial Results

The final result for 2018/19 was a deficit of $20,901 compared to an expected deficit of $30,565. Costs of consultancies include Arthur Rickards work on the Young Breed Leader Workshop and the proposal for a Genetics Export Secretariat. Cost of the ARCBA Scholarship were lower than budget and Secretariat cost which include Executive Director fees and accounting services provided by ABRI were below budget. Other costs were close to budget figures.

Accumulated reserves at March 31 were $220,666 so ARCBA remains in a strong financial position.

The table below shows the budget for 2018/19 (as approved by the 44^rd Annual General Meeting) and the actual results.

ARCBA BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL – 2018/19

	Budget ($)	Actual ($)
Income
Members subscriptions	24,705	24,963
Interest	5,000	6,675
Animal export certification	-	-
Semen issuing certificates / other	200	-
Workshop / conference	-	-
Total Income	29,905	31,638

Expenses
Audit & accounting	1,320	1,321
Bad & doubtful debts	0	0
Bank Charges	200	69
Cattle Council subscription	2,000	2,000
Consultancies	19,000	18,255
Filing fees	100	0
Travel & Accommodation	6,300	7,151
Insurance	2,900	2,968
Meeting / Workshop expenses	2,800	1,478
Post & photocopying	200	75
Scholarship	12,000	9,108
Secretariat	12,000	8,461
Telephone, fax	150	94
Sundries	1,550	1,560
Total Expenses	60,470	52,539

Net Operating Income	$(30,565)	$(20,901)

5. ARCBA Representation

During the past year ARCBA was represented on a number of important livestock industry organisations:

ABRI Board	- Brett Coombe
Cattle Council - Animal Health, Welfare, Biosecurity and Environment Committee	- Alex McDonald
Cattle Council – Research, Development and Adoption Committee	- Peter Parnell

ARCBA members appreciate the time and experience that these representatives provide on behalf of the registered beef seedstock sector.

6. Conclusion

I would like to pay tribute to Arthur Rickards who sadly passed away in April this year. He was instrumental in forming ARCBA 45 years ago and served as Executive Director for the first 35 years. He then served as President for almost three years until his passing.

I would also like to acknowledge the support and efforts of all members of the Executive Committee. Their knowledge, input and assistance are invaluable in providing ARCBA’s services.

I would also like to thank members for their support during the year.

Alex McDonald

Executive Director

July 29 2019

Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – 45th AGM

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – 45^th AGM