Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) Research for Accelerated Adoption (RAAD) Program is investing $45 million over the next five years to help Australian lot feeders adopt innovative technologies that improve animal welfare, productivity and sustainability.
The first major investment round focuses on shade and shelter solutions supporting feedlots to trial, test and evaluate structures under real commercial conditions. Eligible feedlots can access significant co‑funding, research support and the opportunity to demonstrate measurable gains within their business.
What is the Feedlot RAAD Program?
The Feedlot RAAD Program helps lot feeders answer their own R&D questions using rigorous, MLA supported research. Feedlots can propose projects that trial new or improved shade and shelter systems, including novel designs or customised approaches unique to their site.
Participation gives your operation the resources and support needed to:
• Test new infrastructure
• Measure real performance outcomes
• Share findings with industry
• Lead innovation in animal welfare and efficiency.
Who provides the funding?
The program is delivered through the MLA Donor Company (MDC), which:
• Is a wholly owned MLA subsidiary
• Co funds eligible R&D projects under MLA’s Statutory Funding Agreement
• Contributes 50% of total project funding
• Applies an 8% access fee on the feedlots 50% contribution.
How project funding works
This program integrates feedlot production with research and development, enabling a portion of daily operational expenses to be recognised as R&D co investment, supporting access to matching MDC funding.
It offers two participation tiers, each with defined funding levels and research requirements to ensure high quality project delivery. Co funding is shared evenly, with costs split 50/50 between the feedlot and MLA MDC.
Gold Standard – $2.46 per head/day - Higher rigour, full research design, and peer review publication.
Silver Standard – $1.97 per head/day - Moderate research rigour with simplified requirements.
What's required?
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Gold - $2.46/head/day |
Silver - $1.97/head/day |
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Example: Gold Standard Project Funding
A project with 2,000 head (1,000 covered, 1,000 uncovered) over 730 days (2 years):
- 2,000 head × 730 days × $2.46 = $3,591,600
- MLA contribution (50%): $1,795,800
- Feedlot contribution (50%): $1,795,800
- Feedlot Access Fee (8% of the feedlots contribution): $143,664.
Payments are phased evenly across the two year project.
The RAAD program supports any shade or shelter innovation you want to test evaluating cattle performance, health, carcase outcomes and economics, and may also include for example:
- Stocking density and bedding optimisation
- Bunk management and bunk space allocation
- Water use efficiency
- Integration of solar canopies
- Automation incorporation
- Manure nutrient value and effluent management
- Odour management.
If you have an R&D question linked to shade or shelter, RAAD is designed to help you answer it.
✔ Data‑driven insights into performance, animal welfare and economics
✔ Support from MLA’s research team
✔ Contribute to industry knowledge
✔ Demonstrate leadership in performance, welfare and sustainability
✔ Improve competitiveness and profitability.
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) - Complete the digital or PDF EOI form available online.
- MLA assessment - Your application will be reviewed by a selection panel.
- MLA contacts you - You’ll be notified of the outcome and guided through the next steps.
