P.PSH.1278 - NB2-ILSC-AHA Partnership to grow Indigenous capacity

Summary

The partnership between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) and Animal Health Australia (AHA) aims to work within the NB2 program to increase capacity among Indigenous cattle owners and managers and to improve productivity on Indigenous owned land while also developing immersive technology which can be utilised across the Australian cattle industry.

Objectives

1. Establish and maintain Indigenous peer to peer producer learning groups.
2. Demonstrate improved productivity, sustainability and profitability of Indigenous enterprises compared to baseline relative to NB2 targets: a 5% increase in weaning rate; a 1% decrease in herd mortality rate and a 10kg increase in sale weight of cattle at the same age.
3. Provide evidence of measurable increased adoption of R&D or equivalent pathway of intent for northern breeder herds targeting ILSC affiliated properties using MER adoption framework.
4. Raise awareness of biosecurity and animal welfare issues.
5. Develop immersive technology applications.

Key findings

The results of the Indigenous component have been highly encouraging in terms of engagement and participation across a large part of North Queensland. Useful data collection and analysis has been initiated, NB2 Foundation training is in progress and there has been significant interest in further training and education from all participants.

The development and use of immersive technology has demonstrated excellent potential and generated considerable interest within the group. These results and feedback from participants strongly support a continuation of the Indigenous component of the project and feedback from further afield builds a case for expansion of the project more widely throughout Queensland and into WA and the NT.

Benefits to industry

Benefits to the broader Australian cattle industry will include improved efficiency of operation, improved productivity across the industry, increased numbers of cattle across Northern Australia and increased Indigenous engagement in cattle operations, employment and land and environmental management. An additional benefit will be increased biosecurity awareness of staff on these properties.

MLA action

The recommendations for 2023 and 2024:

• Continue the project as it is running in Queensland and expand within Northern and Western Queensland.
• Expansion to WA (Kimberley). Early investigation and discussion have identified a number of organisations that are interested in the NB2 concept and operation.
• Train and mentor Indigenous facilitators.
• Engagement with non-Indigenous groups and activities, e.g. the NB2 Draft, Beef Up Forums, Field Days and integrated group activities.

Future research

The potential exists to expand the group in Northern and Western Queensland as there are a number of Indigenous owned properties which would benefit from engagement with this group. Current group members are happy to expand the group and contact with other potential members has demonstrated considerable interest.

There is also potential to establish another similar group in the Kimberley area of WA. There are significant Indigenous cattle holdings and enterprises in the Kimberley. Early investigation and discussion have identified a number of interested organisations.