Growing Beef from Dairy (GBfD)
Project provides tools to meet beef market expectations
This project is focused on equipping dairy and beef producers with the practical tools, guidance, and confidence needed to successfully rear non-replacement dairy calves to meet beef market specifications. Delivered in collaboration with Dairy Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and leading technical advisors, it is focused on developing a suite of best practice resources, producer training materials, and decision support tools designed to lift capability across the supply chain. All learning content developed through the project will be made available through the CalfWays website, providing producers with a central, trusted source of information and extension support.
Producer Demonstration Site to showcase raising beef from dairy
The project has progressed steadily since its reinitiation meeting in early December 2025, which brought together consultants and representatives from MLA and Dairy Australia to confirm scope, roles and delivery milestones. Draft learning modules are now in review with industry technical experts to ensure accuracy and alignment with best practice standards, and the Terms of Reference for the Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) are currently being drafted by MLA. This PDS will showcase practical, real world approaches to rearing beef from dairy calves, offering producers a hands on opportunity to learn, observe and adopt improved management practices.
With strong collaboration across industry partners and technical specialists, the project is tracking well and continues to build the foundational resources that will support widespread adoption of profitable, sustainable beef from dairy pathways to beef markets.
Calves feeding at a Calfeteria calf feeding trailer calf feeding station at the Ravenhill farm at Narrikup in Western Australia. Image: Dairy Australia
July 2026
The project continues to progress, with technical imagery now captured to support the development of the producer learning modules. Thank you to the participating businesses that generously shared their farms and time to ensure CalfWays and GBfD have the high-quality images needed for professional, technically accurate resources. Module development is well advanced, with the content proposed to be available on the MLA Learning Platform later this year.
Progress is also being made on the Producer Demonstration Site (PDS), with the Expression of Interest (EOI) process set to open soon. The PDS will showcase practical beef from dairy production systems and provide producers with opportunities to observe and learn from real-world examples.
With strong collaboration between Dairy Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia, and industry technical experts, the project remains focused on delivering practical resources and capability-building tools to support profitable and sustainable beef from dairy pathways.
