Improved lamb supply through a value chain approach

Summary

This project aimed to take a value chain approach to build relationships with Australian Lamb Compancy (ALC) suppliers. It also aimed to address key supply chain issues including market compliance, continuity of supply, capability building, information flow between ALC and producers, and investigate the opportunity for an ALC assurance program.

Interest in the project from agents and producers was promising with many benefits looking to be realised for all who participated at the first workshop and all other producers introduced to the project.   

Objectives

This project aimed to enhance the capability of producers through incorporating workshop sessions focused on MSA, LDL, animal health monitoring, interpreting animal health feedback, lean meat yield and eating quality, new measurement technologies, NLIS/NVD and eNVD.

Key findings

• This project was terminated very early but there was information gathered from the project that was useful to industry.
• The Australian Lamb Company, for the first time, started a producer focused project with a detailed project plan written, including detailed timelines for the entire duration of the project.
• The formation of producer groups took on a livestock agent based approach, with one group formed (Colac based) and another two groups in the process of being formed (Bendigo and Ballarat groups) prior to termination.
• It was clear to see that a group based approach focusing on the agent as the group lead was going to be a novel approach but would also aid in the success of the outcomes. This is due to the existing relationship between producer and agent especially within the lamb/sheep industry.

MLA action

This project was terminated due to the project manager accepting a new role and moving to another processing company. ALC determined they did not have another suitable resource to take on management and delivery of the project.

MLA recognises that an agent based group approach was novel and looked as though it was going to be a successful methodology for producer engagement and participation in the project.