Keith Anderson, Fitzroy Crossing, was recently awarded a North Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC) medal for his involvement in the WA beef industry, focusing on cattle management.

The NABRC medals, launched in 2006, recognise people who have achieved excellence in the fields of production, research and development and communication and extension in the beef industry in north Australia and acknowledge the role of NABRC and its regional committees.

Mr Anderson, who runs Jubilee Downs and Quanbun Downs stations in northern WA, runs 12,000 Droughtmasters on 222,000 hectares.

Throughout his agricultural career, Mr Anderson has been involved with the Agriculture and Food Department and other government agencies in testing new ideas, contributing to project development and strategies for grazing land and beef cattle management.

Mr Anderson said the key to a successful beef enterprise was cattle management that combined both traditional and modern practices.

"We take all of the calves off their mothers down to about 75kg and put them onto a 16 per cent calf pellet," he said.

"We wean everything off so we don't have to do a second round of mustering and to keep the cows in good body condition."

Mr Anderson said they also used infrastructure to help rotate and spell the cattle, and most of the paddocks were controlled mating.

In the 1980s Mr Anderson decreased his herd on Jubilee Downs station from 8000 to 6000 head to increase productivity.

"The critical thing is that we never overstock," he said.

"This means that we are in a position where we don't get into a situation that we can't manage.

"It gives us an ability to sell cattle even if there is a drought because the stock are in reasonable condition."

Mr Anderson has continued to implement new technology on his properties and said it was important to introduce good genetics to the herd.