P.PSH.1233 - BeefLinks: Growing WA backgrounding through adoption

Summary

Backgrounding to add value to pastoral cattle along the supply chain is a well-established practice in the Eastern States of Australia. This project supported producers in the Northern beef cattle supply chain in Western Australia to consider the role that backgrounding could play in achieving greater value for pastoral properties and for the WA Pastoral Beef Industry.

Animal performance data was collected along the supply chain from over 10 pastoral properties who sent animals to backgrounding properties, feedlots, and abattoirs during the 2020–22 years to identify the key drivers of animal performance in the supply chain. Average daily gain (ADG) was calculated for each animal at each step along the supply chain and this data was presented back to participating producers to encourage data-driven decision making on the most profitable pathway for their animals. While it was assumed that the transition process of moving animals from pastoral backgrounding properties was to have a significant impact on animal performance at backgrounding properties, there was no evidence that improved animal handling practices could alter the impact of transition. Instead, management practices and nutrition available to animals on the backgrounding property was a large determinant of animal performance in the first three weigh periods following entry.

Total mixed rations and pelleted feed gave greater weight gain than pasture-based feeding systems across all years, while for pasture-based systems, ADG was generally highest and more consistent for animals in the August to February period (0.73kg/day) and low and variable in the April to July period (0.33kg/day). From this data, a range of tools were developed, road-tested, and presented to producers to understand and consider the best pathway for pastoral animals to maximise animal performance and returns in the pastoral beef supply chain.

The increase in data collection, monthly benchmarking, and communication within the agricultural sector can be attributed in part to the success of the backgrounding project. This project has provided producers with valuable resources for monitoring their animals and improving their performance, which has led to a greater awareness of the importance of data-driven decision making and collaboration within the industry.

Objectives

1. Identifying current industry practices and benchmark productivity and profitability across northern breeder to southern backgrounding operations.
2. Supporting beef producers to adopt strategies that improve animal performance through the supply chain.
3. Engaging with background operations through MLA lead activities that result in practice change (business management, animal productivity, feed base utilisation).
4. Adoption of consistent collection (and storage) and interpretation of production data to support decision making for backgrounding operations.
5. Integrating the communications plan with MLA, industry groups and stakeholders.
6. Developing and scoping the broader additional co-funded involve and partner activities across the broader BeefLinks Program in consultation with MLA Project Lead, MLA Adoption Manager and the UWA Project Team.

Key findings

• There were no practices identified in this study that lessen the impact of transition from pastoral to backgrounding properties on the average daily gain (ADG) of cattle.
• The magnitude in change in ADG was influenced by the time of year cattle were sent to backgrounding properties, with animals sent in the May-July period tending to have highly variable ADG compared to the August to February period.
• The flow of information along the pastoral beef supply chain was improved through the development of regular communication channels such as the monthly animal performance dashboard report.
• The low level of adoption of key technologies such as weighing equipment and EID tag readers required in this project highlights the need for further industry capacity building.

Benefits to industry

To reduce the variability in ADG associated with animals being sent to backgrounding properties in the northern agricultural region of Western Australia, the following applies:

• August to February is the period where weight gain is greatest in pasture-based systems.
• Animals that are sent to backgrounding properties in the May to July period are likely to need feed supplementation, such as pelletised feed or hay, and this should be factored into the economic analysis (via the partial budget tool developed in this project).
• Animals that are less than 150kg liveweight entering backgrounding properties in dry seasons are best fed pelletised feed to assist with rumen function and to ensure positive liveweight gain.
• Total mixed ration (TMR) feeding systems in an extensive environment (as opposed to lot feeding) can provide the greatest gains in animal liveweight but adds greater cost to backgrounding (which was not assessed in the current project).
• The use of the decision tree and partial budget tools by pastoralists to understand the pathways available for animals entering the pastoral beef supply chain will help to identify the pathway for maximum profit and the most optimal exit point for the pastoral owner to manage production risk.
• Integration of the monthly animal performance dashboard report by pastoralists will allow them to make data-driven decisions on the most suitable pathway to maximise value and optimise the risk of finishing animals in the pastoral beef supply chain.

MLA action

MLA is using the outcomes of this project to inform new adoption materials for WA beef producers.

Future research

• The delivery of facilitated workshops and ongoing support for pastoralists and backgrounding producers to trial and implement the tools developed in this project which are ready for trial and adoption.
• Industry support for capacity building and investment into animal weighing equipment and skills to use it.
• Continued development of the relationships and trust required for the flow of information up and down the pastoral beef supply chain.
• A detailed economic analysis of the value generated at each step in the pastoral beef supply chain to understand where value is being created, the opportunities for efficiency gains, and to optimise the value being delivered to participants to ensure long-term profitability.
• Continued encouragement of supply chain participants to participate in supply chain building activities, which largely need to work around sharing of information and trust.