Towers beef producers find use for carcase byproduct in skincare world (2025)

Towers beef producers find use for carcase byproduct in skincare world (1)

Mellissa and Kurt Angus, with their children Ben and Gracie, of Red Diamond Beef Company, Belyando. Picture by Roady Travis Photographer.

A byproduct of beef processing has taken the skincare world by storm.

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Cattle producers like Mellissa and Kurt Angus, Dawson Vale Station, between Charters Towers and Clermont, are being approached for rendered animal fat to create an ancient, anti-inflammatory beauty product.

The couple run the paddock-to-plate business, Red Diamond Beef Company, and have teamed up with Beneficial Basics Skincare founder Katisha Forman to use tallow from their Droughtmaster stock.

Mrs Angus said there had been an increased interest in grass-fed and finished meat and, in turn, the fat byproduct after beef processing.

"We were thrilled to see there was another part of the carcase that could be utilised in what we're doing with our paddock-to-plate," Mrs Angus said.

"It was definitely something we'd been looking for; a way to see a small component of the overall carcase be utilised and see it go into something more along the health care line. It's more pleasing that it's a small local business."

The Angus family operates three adjoining properties under the family aggregation, with around 3000 breeders in total.

Cattle are processed locally at Dan's Country Meats and the tallow is collected by Mrs Forman.

Towers beef producers find use for carcase byproduct in skincare world (2)

Katisha 'Tish' Forman launched Beneficial Basics Skincare in November 2024. Picture by Katisha Forman.

Mrs Forman, Woodstock, has always tried to use as much as possible from a home-processed animal - using tallow for cooking due to its high vitamin and mineral content.

She began looking into alternative ways to use the fat, and after discovering the history of the product, she realised there was an opportunity to expand into a new venture.

After the support of her friends, who tested her initial products, she launched Beneficial Basics Skincare in November 2024.

Mrs Forman said the difference in her own skin had been "phenomenal," prompting her to abandon her other products in favour of tallow.

"It has regulated by oil skin [and] stopped it from drying out excessively, especially in [the] wintertime. I have never looked back," she said.

While a relatively new trend, the popularity of tallow has come on the back of a holistic shift in society.

Mrs Forman noted she had observed a shift away from chemicals and toxins in favour of more natural products over the last five years.

"People are screaming out for the alternatives that were essentially the originals, simple and basic. Perhaps calling something alternative should be renamed to being original," she said.

"The generation 50 years ago grew up on lard soaps and herbal-based remedies."

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Sumerians and Romans also used animal fats, including beef tallow, in their beauty rituals.

"It can be used in candle making, cooking, leather restoration, conditioner for wood and even used as a renewable biodiesel," Mrs Forman said.

Towers beef producers find use for carcase byproduct in skincare world (3)

Fat is sourced from cattle at Dawson Vale Station for Beneficial Basics Skincare tallow cream and balm. Picture by Red Diamond Beef Company.

"Once people move past the idea of using animal fat on their skin and they can see the benefits for themselves, the demand will definitely be greater.

"To be able to help promote a positive limelight on the cattle industry is a big thing for me. Seeing people using these products and loving them, in turn is helping these beautiful families on the land. They really truly are the backbone of this country, and they need our support.

"Other than being nutritionally higher in vitamins and minerals, being grass-certified means they are growth hormone free. There's no chemical change to how the animal grows."

The process of preparing the tallow involves rendering the fat multiple times and slow-heating it at a low temperature for hours to separate it and remove any impurities.

The tallow is then strained and the process is repeated until it is entirely clean and with no noticeable odour.

Mrs Forman then adds other ingredients to the cream such as camellia oil and essential oils, and coconut oil, essential oils and beeswax to the tallow balm, with the products formulated to suit the North Queensland climate.

"The sky's the limit with what you can do from other animals as well. For example, pig fat (lard) makes the most silky-smooth soap I have ever felt," Mrs Forman said.

"However, the latest trend in the States at the moment is lathering the hair in cow manure. Gross I know [but] cow manure is chocka block full of antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.

"There is a demand for all things, depending on how well the public perceives it. Rest assured though; Beneficial Basics Skincare isn't rolling out a hair mask treatment made from cow manure any time soon."

Towers beef producers find use for carcase byproduct in skincare world (4)

Steph Allen

Journalist

Towers beef producers find use for carcase byproduct in skincare world (2025)
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