L.ADP.2202 - Termination of Producing Profitable Southern Beef Heifers
This project was terminated as a full scope redesign was required, as a result the Producing Profitable and Resilient Southern Beef Herds was contracted and commenced in June 2024.
| Project start date: | 14 December 2021 |
| Project end date: | 30 December 2025 |
| Publication date: | 11 June 2026 |
| Project status: | Terminated |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | South Australia |
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Summary
The Producing Profitable Southern Beef Heifers (L.ADP.2202) was terminated on 18 November 2022 through mutual agreement. It was determined that the project needed a full scope redesign. Following this redesign, the Producing Profitable and Resilient Southern Beef Herds (P.PSH.1511) was contracted, commencing in June 2024. A key feature of this project is the updating of the More Beef from Pastures training modules and establishment of producer’s groups focusing on best-practice livestock management. Latest updates on this project can be found via: Profitable and Resilient Southern Beef Herds
Objectives
1. Reviewed southern focused R&D, extension and adoption activities that have been completed to date or are currently available and the impact on beef productivity, profitability and sustainability around reproductive performance in southern beef herds.
2. Develop a Profitable Grazing Systems (PGS) supported learning package that will be owned by Meat & Livestock Australia, and that will enable producers and other participants to successfully implement on-farm practice change to increase whole of life cow productivity for southern beef production systems.
3. Conducted train-the-trainer program for 10 deliverers, who will each facilitate 2 groups per year each over 2 years, with 8 -10 producers per group, each averaging 250 cows/heifers.
4. Delivered pilot PGS groups over 5 states (WA, SA, Tas, Vic, NSW) to producers from 40 businesses influencing a minimum of 40,000 breeders in total.
5. Beyond the pilot phase, engaged an additional 180 producers per year through the full roll-out of the new PGS package with an aim to increase the operating profit of $50/cow managed.
6. Monitored the wider impact of the PGS package by conducting a benchmarking case study of operating profit for southern beef producers that will provide economic and productivity data for whole of life cow production.
7. Monitored the impact of workshop, field day and pilot PGS involvement by surveying attendees. This will be in alignment with MLA’s monitoring and evaluation strategy for KASA (knowledge, attitudes, skills and aspirations).
8. Create wider awareness program to showcase the pilot to southern beef producers, including advisors to drive further participation.
• 10 case studies on the BMP developed, detailing farm business profitability and production outcomes.
• Deliver a series of webinars to showcase a range of BMP to drive further participation and /or producer training, including:
o Deliver two webinars through the Productivity and Profitability series per annum (Category A) that showcase project outcomes to the broader industry observers and other stakeholders
• Produce two project related articles in recognised agricultural publications and through MLA communications per annum.
Key findings
None, project was terminated.
Benefits to industry
Project was expected to lift southern beef heifer weaning rates by 10% and engage a minimum of 180 producers with at least 250 heifers each or a total of 45,000 heifers/first calf cow, (plus 40,000 heifers/first cow from the pilot program).
MLA action
MLA worked with the Service Provider to redesign the project and subsequently invested in the Producing Profitable and Resilient Southern Beef Herds (P.PSH.1511) project.
Future research
Undertaken through the new project Producing Profitable and Resilient Southern Beef Herds (P.PSH.1511).
More information
| Project manager: | Andrew Morelli |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | University Of Adelaide |
