August 31, 2020

Australia calls for research proposals on northern beef industry

A strategic research partnership to address breeder efficiency in Northern Australia has been launched, with the goal of achieving at least A$20 million (~US$14.7 million; A$1 = US$0.74) in net benefits a year to northern beef companies by 2027, Beef Central reported.

Northern Breeding Business (NB2) is a seven-year on-farm programme developed by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) in association with the North Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC), aimed at improving calf survival and breeder herd efficiency across the northern beef industry.

It will address the three major threats to the northern beef industry - calf loss, low profitability and low levels of adoption of proven management practices - through an adoption-focused programme which brings together research findings from key research projects over the years.

MLA general manager, Research, Development and Adoption, Michael Crowley, says NB2 will soon start recruiting northern producers to participate in on-farm research, development, extension and adoption activities according to the priorities that were determined from the NABRC consultation process.

"Calf mortality and poor reproductive performance have a major impact on reproductive efficiency and profitability for the northern beef industry. Past levy-funded activities have delivered an understanding of these issues and of best management practices, but the uptake of these practices has remained low," Crowley points out.

According to him, NB2 will promote adoption to directly assist producers in managing measurable improvements in breeder herd efficiency to optimise production within individual companies.

"NB2 intends to deliver a 5% increase in weaning rate, a 1% decrease in herd mortality rate and a 10kg increase in sale weight of cattle at the same age, while operating at a level of long-term, sustainable production and profit.

These benefits will come from the delivery of extension and adoption initiatives under the three pillars of herd management, feedbase and environment.

The cost-benefit ratio for the NB2 programme has been calculated as a total increase in income across a minimum of 250 herds of at least $20 million over seven years, which equates to a 5:1 return on investment."

As part of MLA's 2019-20 investment call, expressions of interest were called from research organisations and individuals to form the partnership.

A request for tender for preliminary proposals and a MLA preliminary proposal template are available to download from the MLA website: https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/funding-opportunities/industry-researchers/current-tenders/

Preliminary proposals must be received by MLA before 11.59pm (NSW time), September 14, 2020.

Producers interested in participating in NB2 can contact Nigel Tomkins, MLA program manager – Grassfed Beef Productivity, p: 0437 632 816, e: ntomkins@mla.com.au.