AUSTRALIA

Australia: Improving performance with effective weaning

On-farm strategies which ensure weaners are well-prepared to thrive in backgrounding or feedlot operations also deliver the added benefit of meeting the expectations of consumers.

Posted on Jun 07 ,00:05

Australia: Improving performance with effective weaning

Elders’ Feeder Ready Program – the only audited weaning program in Australia – supports producers to set their weaned cattle on the path to productivity.   

Rob Inglis, Elders Livestock Production Coordinator, said the program supported industry to demonstrate its credentials as stewards of best practice in animal welfare.  

"It shows we can produce healthy, appropriately prepared cattle which are certified ready for feedlots or backgrounding – and command a premium price as a result", he said. 

Animals which are accredited through the Feeder Ready Program receive an Elders’ pink ear tag which immediately identifies them as having been weaned in-line with industry best practice. 

The program has two mandatory criteria:  

  • audit by a third-party expert 
  • a vaccine schedule. 

In addition, there are three recommended steps designed to help optimise performance:  

  • a trace mineral injection
  • an internal and external parasite treatment program 
  • a good quality ration.

Rob is one of three independent auditors conducting site visits to inspect the cattle post-weaning and ensure they meet each of the program criteria. This includes observing cattle behaviour in the yards to confirm they have been yard-weaned for at least seven days. 

Feeder Ready complements the Vaccine Ready Guidelines, with the independent auditors confirming Clostridial and Bovine Respiratory Disease vaccinations have been given and that any additional vaccinations are also noted on the schedule. 

The program also recommends animals receive a trace mineral injection (Multimin Evolution), appropriate parasite treatments, and a good quality ration to support their accreditation. Rob said these recommendations were assessed by auditors on a case-by-case basis. 

"We look at the circumstances of each property to determine what parasite treatments or rations are most appropriate", he said.  

"The important thing is we’re delivering transparency around these criteria so that buyers receive a full account of how that animal has been treated up to the point of sale".

There are a range of benefits from accreditation through the program. 

Price premiums: The Elders pink tags make it easy for buyers to identify feeders that have been correctly weaned, potentially delivering price premiums to producers.   

Transport ready: Effective weaning makes cattle easier to handle in the yards and calmer during travel, creating a safer environment for both animals and humans.   

"Appropriately-weaned cattle are easier and safer to load and unload", Rob said.  

"They’ll also experience far less stress during trips and be in better condition when they eventually reach the feedlot".

Improved performance: Cattle which have been appropriately weaned convert feed more efficiently and spend less time in feedlots, resulting in lower feed costs and reduced carbon emissions.  

Improved survival: More importantly from the feedlot’s point of view, appropriately weaned cattle have a lower morbidity rate. 

"We have stats from a couple of feedlots which show the morbidity rate for unweaned cattle is around 20%, while for properly-weaned animals it's around 4%", Rob said.  

"That’s a significant difference and I think we're now seeing more feedlots walk past cattle that haven’t been properly weaned because they just don't want to run that risk".

 NEWSLETTER - Stay informed with the latest news!

Comments





Similar articles

INTERNATIONAL

Mathias Bjorge and Marel partner to build one of the world's most advanced salmon factory

Over the past one and a half years, Marel has been working on a major advancement for the Sunnm&o...


Read more Read more
INTERNATIONAL

Marel: Transform your pork deskinning with the new DeboFlex Inline Skinner

Faced with rising costs, labor shortages and a demand for higher-quality products, the pork proce...


Read more Read more
SPAIN

El Pozo begins delivery and distribution project with zero-emission electric trucks

The initiative has had the collaboration of the vehicle rental company DFM Rent a Car, which has ...


Read more Read more
Websolutions by Angular Software and SpiderClass