The real Beef Capital of Australia, straight from the horse's mouth

Rockhampton, Casino, Roma, Toowoomba, the picturesque New England tablelands, the expensive South Gippsland country and the expansive Northern Territory Barkly Tablelands - all these places, plus plenty more, have a good claim on the title of Beef Capital of Australia. Depending on the criteria one selects, various towns and regions come up trumps for the crown. Is it the most number of cattle, the most expensive cattle, the most reliable cattle country or even where the most wages are paid in the beef industry that determines the true capital? Or is it the town that claims it the most passionately? Here, we ask a few people in the industry who've probably heard every aspect of the debate, and had a good look at most of the places in the running, where their heart lies on the matter. "Trying to think of a clever answer to this question is never easy," said industry stalwart David Palmer, a former Cattle Council of Australia executive director and Meat & Livestock Australia ...