Technical Review by John Webb-Ware - AusGraze Animal Modules

Summary

The proposed AusGraze system used a suite of self-assessment within a web platform for producers to assess, benchmark and record their management practices and changes over time. Within the Grazing BMP - AusGraze project, three modules were developed with investment by other parties namely a partnership of DEEDI, AgForce and Fitzroy Basin Authority, and some of the modules have been piloted in central Queensland. A further three modules were developed with funding from these three partners. The modules developed to date include Soils and Soil Health, Grazing Land Management (with separate versions for northern and southern Australia) and Property Planning and Management. The proposed three new modules include Animal Health and WelfareAnimal Production from PasturePeople and Business. 
The specific purpose of the consultancy agreement was for the consultant to provide input to animal health issues and only to the modules on Animal Health and Welfare and Animal Production from Pasture modules. This consultancy ensured that the key areas and self-assessment questions used in the web based questionnaire are nationally relevant, receive outside technical review and inclusive of issues relevant to the southern Australian livestock industries. The project was successfully achieved as much as possible in that the southern beef and sheep systems was incorporated in the working document of the Animal Health and Welfare module though was minimised as to the working committee decided to focus more on the northern beef systems in the advanced document. Incorporation of the sheep systems could be easily achieved. The Animal Production from Pastures module was put on hold it whilst the role, positioning and target audience of the module is determined. The Animal Production from Pastures module was not been progressed to provide comment for relevance to southern beef and sheep systems.