Supply chain feedback and extension

Summary

This project covered the engagement of a full-time resource within Teys Australia to drive the adoption of the increasing array of feedback that is being provided to Teys producers.

The resource was critical in assisting Teys supply chain producers to engage with new forms of feedback and data available. The feedback and data was utilised to help inform on farm decisions.

This project helped to quantify the impact of the adoption of feedback, which will help drive similar models across industry.

Objectives

The main objectives of this project were to:

• enhance existing feedback reports covering lean meat yield and Meat Standards Australia (MSA)
• investigate the possibility of collecting data and reporting on other issues that could affect yield and grading outcomes such as nutrition, animal handling, and animal health
• understand current on farm management systems and how they can evolve to use feedback from processors
• develop tools that farmers can use to maximise the benefit of feedback.

Key findings

• Animal health feedback to Teys suppliers was made available through the Teys producer portal.
• Despite challenging environmental conditions, significant progress was gained across both the technological and personal aspects of this project.
• Fundamental work has been completed to now allow the build of digital solutions to increase beef producers access to, and understanding of, feedback to drive on farm practice change.
• Industry networks were strengthened to allow the resource to more effectively share and collaborate ensuring the most consistent messaging and experience for beef producers.

Benefits to industry

• The creation and adoption of feeder feedback for producers supplying cattle into Teys feedlots filled a void where previously producers received no feedback on the final performance of their cattle.
• Teys identified how critical carcase feedback and producer understanding of feedback is in regards to a series of MLA programs including Objective Measurement (Teys are installing DEXA units), Digital Value Chain strategy and Animal Feedback Strategy. 
• Teys also identified the value of potentially sharing data in the future for the value of greater industry.

MLA action

• Through MLA, other supply chains will have access to the outputs and learnings generated by this project.
• MLA will use the outputs and learnings from this project to inform further co-funded programs in this area to derive the greatest value of levy dollars.
• MLA will also use the learnings and outcomes from this project to inform other R&D funded programs with processors.

Future research

This project has provided essential foundational work required for future research to be completed in the beef producer digital solutions space.

Future research should:

• encourage producers to reframe information being extended and apply this to their own context
• address the growing awareness for the need to demonstrate sustainability credentials amongst producers
• increase producer awareness of the impact of social and political drivers of international meat markets.