The real cost of wild dogs from paddock to processing

18 Aug 2025

Wild dog workshop

In late June 2025, Fitzroy Basin Association hosted a ‘Wild Dog Workshop’ at Biloela, Queensland, funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) through their Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program.

Enthusiastic workshop attendees learnt about best practice methods to manage wild dogs from Greg Mifsud the National Wild Dog Management Coordinator. They also got a behind-the-scenes look at the Teys Australia Biloela to see first-hand the impact wild dogs have on the central Queensland meat industry.

Donned with personal protective equipment (PPE) raincoats, hairnets, boots, helmets and earplugs, workshop attendees were led through a comprehensive tour of Teys Biloela. The tour commenced at the end of the process, showing attendees what the final products look like and how they are packaged and sorted. Attendees were then shown how those products came to be - from the loading ramps, yards and everything that happens in between.

Although quite a confronting experience, the learnings were invaluable.

"I have a new level of respect for where my food comes from," said FBA Land Management Officer (LMO), Grace Wickson.

Behind the scenes of Teys Australia Biloela

With high-tech equipment from the first point of cattle delivery to the very end of the process where meat is packaged and labelled, the facility is incredible to witness. Extremely efficient staff work

side-by-side, each with their own roles and specific timings to ensure the process from paddock to plate is a well-oiled machine - unless the animal has impacts from wild dogs such as bites or Hydatid disease.

Greg Mifsud has spent more than 17 years working in the wild dog management industry and for him, this event was his first opportunity to get an insider look at the effects they can have on producers’ bottom lines.

“It makes so much more sense why beasts with dog bites or hydatids get classified at a lower carcase grade now because even though the damaged areas are able to be removed by skilled processors, it slows down the whole process which otherwise runs fast and efficiently,” said Greg.

Hydatids is a zoonotic disease (which also affects humans) primarily spread by wild dogs and foxes. Affecting cattle, sheep, goats and our native wildlife, Hydatids is estimated to cost individual beef abattoirs alone about $450,000 a year in lost offal sales. (wilddogplan.org.au, 2025).

The tour was a highlight for many including FBA’s LMO, Grace.

“The tour was confronting but it’s something I’ve always been quite curious about. It was insightful to understand the different roles and large workforce required to run such an operation. It helped me to put it into perspective seeing just how much work goes into the paddock to plate process. It’s honestly mind-blowing,” said Grace.

“Another big highlight for me, as a young extension officer, was being surrounded by so many engaged land managers. There wasn’t a bored look in the room the entire day which is incredible to see.”

Katie Jones, a central Queensland grazier said she attended the workshop hoping to learn a bit of everything about wild dogs and the process at Teys.

“I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from today when I signed up but all I can say now is ‘wow’! The technology used here at Teys is incredibly impressive and I had no idea,” said Katie.

Learnings in action

After the tour, attendees were reminded of the day’s focus - wild dog management.

Greg explained best practice methods when it comes to trapping and baiting, and why community efforts are so important to get results.

“The impact of wild dogs can go beyond bites and disease - stressed cattle create a whole other sea of impact on the beef industry,” said Greg.

Melinee Leather, a dedicated central Queensland land manager who is heavily involved in her community and the PDS program, shared with attendees she has been implementing learnings from previous work with Greg and has witnessed the results on her property.

“We were doing baiting, but we were doing it poorly,” said Melinee.

“Greg helped us improve our methods and we’re seeing better results. Greg taught us about how dogs move and think. We recently sent a carcass load to Teys and it was really the best result we’ve had so far with higher weights and less damage from wild dogs.”

Everyone at the workshop walked away having learnt something new and expressed how grateful they were to have access to the kind of knowledge FBA, Greg and the staff at Teys were able to provide.

Key outcomes

The PDS program has resulted in higher weights and less damage from wild dogs.
Workshop attendees gained a better understanding of the effects wild dogs have on the meat industry.