Summary
The aim of the project was to collect baseline data to quantify labour input of individual operations undertaken in Australian sheepmeat and beef cattle enterprises. The project objectives were to:
1. Develop a timesheet data collection system which enables efficient capture and reporting of time spent undertaking on-farm operations.
2. Engage a minimum of 250 red meat enterprises that will adopt and implement the timesheet tool within their businesses, with at least 60% of businesses engaged providing sufficiently accurate data across an annual production cycle for analysis.
3. Quantify the labour input of participating sheepmeat and beef cattle enterprises to individual operations/task types.
4. Identify where the greatest opportunities exist to improve efficiency of labour use by region and enterprise mix/type.
An online, Quantifying Labour Input (QLI) timesheet system was developed to enable recording of activities undertaken by sheepmeat and beef cattle enterprises via an online database. Individual reporting capabilities were developed to allow participating producers to access their raw data in user-friendly reports. The project sought to develop a quantitative baseline dataset of livestock management activity by time allocated. This would permit quantitative evaluation of potential labour efficiency enhancing practices, infrastructure and technologies, and also enable livestock producers to assess labour efficiency within their enterprises.
