Grainfed Symposium showcases sector’s progress

On 18 September, the progress of research and development within the Australian feedlot sector was highlighted at the Grainfed Research & Development (R&D) Symposium – hosted by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA). The event was held in the fitting location of Toowoomba and saw close to 250 attendees.

In the opening remarks Tom Green, ALFA Vice President and Chair of the R&D Committee at ALFA, highlighted the demand for the platform the Symposium provided.

“The idea of this symposium was first born out of a two-hour session at BeefEx. We had a much larger response than expected for the session. This really highlighted to us that there was strong demand and need for an event such as this,” Tom said.

MLA Feedlot Program Manager Matt Van der Saag, echoed this sentiment in his opening remarks.

“It’s great to see and feel the energy in this space this morning. There are people who have travelled far and wide to attend today, which really highlights the importance of the event.”

The event also allowed the opportunity for new and familiar faces to connect

Throughout the day, attendees from across the sector heard updates on a range of projects aligned with five priority areas of the feedlot R&D program, including their outcomes and potential industry impact., including their outcomes and potential industry impact.

The five priority areas are:

1. Investing in people
2. Automation
3. Environmental sustainability
4. Preventative health and welfare
5. Feedlot productivity and compliance

Sarah Strachan, MLA General Manager – Research and Development, presenting on the MLA Strategic Plan 2030.

The Symposium showcased a blend of research findings with practical applications. In four engaging sessions, with 15–20-minute presentations and interactive Q&A panels, researchers presented findings and latest developments, including what they mean for the sector.

Topic areas covered in the sessions included:

• Strategy 2030 and the future of health monitoring management
• Optimal performance at the feedlot and the plant
• Economic and sustainability value creation
• Animal welfare links to performance and profitability

Some sessions also included presentations from those who have already adopted practice changes and their progress and learnings so far. This provided attendees with greater understanding of the important work underway, inspiring others to consider how they might apply the insights and practices changes to their own operations.

Missed the event? Get a snapshot of the sessions and speakers by viewing the event program.