VIDEO: What Barnaby did on his first day in the top job

BETWEEN laughing off jokes about nuclear codes and delivering an almost $5 million funding boost for the beef industry, Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also found time to blow out some birthday candles.

With a crowd of Rockhampton business people and beef industry leaders singing happy birthday on one side of Rockhampton's Great Western and prime cattle in a pen on the other, it was a fitting early celebration for the Agriculture Minister and National Party leader.

With Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on business in China, the man famed worldwide for threatening to kill Johnny Depp's dogs is filling in the top job.

Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce with Michelle Landry at the Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton to announce specialised funding for research and development in the Australian beef industry. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin Chris Ison

Before touching down in the Beef Capital, Mr Joyce was on breakfast television joking about staying Prime Minister for a little longer.

"I'm going to see if I can cancel Malcolm's visa so he stays over there for a little while," he said.

In Rockhampton, Mr Joyce's announced of $4.8 million funding for research and development in the beef industry.

As a press conference on the issue came to an end, Capricornia MP Michelle Landry presented an early birthday cake before Mr Joyce's birthday on Sunday.