B.GBP.0065 - NB2: Pathways to Practice pilot phase evaluation
The pilot phase of NB2 engaged six groups of 47 producers, managing over 400,000 breeding cattle across 13 million hectares.
| Project start date: | 27 December 2023 |
| Project end date: | 30 April 2025 |
| Publication date: | 22 April 2025 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | Northern Australia, Western Australia, Queensland |
Summary
The NB2 pilot program ran from 2021–2024, and engaged six groups of 47 producers, managing over 400,000 breeding cattle across 13 million hectares. The evaluation of the NB2 pilot program was completed by an independent consultant to determine the impact of the program, and opportunities for NB2 to strengthen impact moving forward. The evaluation was conducted by interviews of producers and facilitators involved in the pilot program to understand practice change implemented on-farm as a result of their involvement.
Objectives
The evaluation of the program focused on three key areas:
1. Assessment of the capability and knowledge benefits. This is a Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, and Aspirations (KASA) based review to demonstrate improvement and increase in skills and confidence.
2. Assessment of the economic (productivity) practice changes, with adoption and impact measured as per the MLA and NB2 frameworks.
These include measurement of baselines, intent to change, actual change, attribution of adoption to this project as well as impact.
3. Assessment of social/cultural benefits related to this project, with a specific focus on indigenous related social/cultural benefits for the Indigenous group.
Key findings
Producers increased their knowledge and skills across herd, feedbase, and business management. The estimated annual net benefit attributable to their involvement was $13,691 per business. Producers made a range of interventions that impacted reproduction, herd mortality, and growth rate.
Benefits to industry
The evaluation also provided useful recommendations from the consultant and participants in the program, that will improve the impact and benefits to industry from future NB2 groups.
MLA action
The impact of the NB2 program will continue to be evaluated as groups progress.
Future research
Further evaluation studies will be required for additional NB2 cohorts.
More information
| Project manager: | Ainsley Smith |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | Lee Beattie t/as Beattie Consulting |
