E.SUS.0005 -MLA Project Proof Beef

Summary

The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) was launched in 2017. The ABSF is constructed around the key themes of caring for cattle, enhancing the environment and climate, looking after people, customers and the community and ensuring a financially resilient industry.

Quantitative studies were conducted by MLA in the years preceding the ABSF launch however post launch, a more comprehensive survey was needed to track previous metrics and establish benchmarks for new ABSF metrics. An online and telephone survey of 803 cattle producers was therefore conducted in April and May 2022.

The research identified that cattle producers have adopted, to different degrees, many of the animal husbandry, management and environmental practices that form part of a sustainable operation. Adoption of some practices however varies for different demographic groups such as state / geography. Recommendations have been made on streamlining future surveys, how to better track change and how producers can be better targeted by further profiling.

The industry will benefit from the research as it will help guide MLA in identifying key sustainability priorities for future industry levy investment.

Objectives

The primary objective was to benchmark and track key metrics and practices that underline the ABSF to help guide MLA’s investment and project planning and provide transparency of production to consumer markets both domestically and internationally.

Key findings

The conclusion from the research is that cattle producers are adopting a range of practices and behaviours that contribute towards the sustainability of the Australian beef industry.

These include:
1. Cattle husbandry practices such as identification, castration, dehorning, spaying, vaccination and drenching;
2. Management strategies and standards related to predators, animal welfare, quarantine processes, training; and
3. Environmental strategies including renewable energy, carbon accounting and emissions measurement and reduction.

While the researchers cannot conclude whether the adoption of relevant behaviours and strategies identified in this survey are at an acceptable level to meet the cattle industry’s specific sustainability objectives, the research has provided the benchmark and tracking data to guide MLA’s investment and project planning initiatives targeted at cattle producers.

Benefits to industry

The benefits to industry of this research are that it has demonstrated that cattle producers have adopted, to different degrees, a wide range of sustainability practices and strategies in relation to animal husbandry, management and the environment.

The industry will benefit as the benchmark and tracking data collected will guide MLA in investment and planning to continue to improve the sustainability of cattle producers’ operations and maximise the value gained from industry levies.

MLA action

MLA continues to invest in research, development and adoption of pain management options and alternatives to painful husbandry procedures.

Future research

Four recommendations have been made from this research:

• Develop strategies to address the main barriers to adoption of sustainable practices
• Consider streamlining or prioritising questions for future surveys
• Introduce new sources of data collection
• Repeat the full survey every two years to track industry progress
• Expand the profile of MLA’s Member database to improve communication and extension initiatives.