“ALFA represents our industry in the area of feed commodities and nutrition to ensure we have legislation and standards that meet the needs of the community whilst allowing for the best possible competitive environment for the lot feeding industry. In the global beef market it is important for Australian lot feeders to have access to adequate quantities of safe feedstuffs at global parity prices. Developing and implementing quality assurance programs such as the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme and Commodity Vendor Declarations are examples of ALFA initiatives that not only lift industry standards but also those supplying feedstuffs to us. ALFA works with all stakeholders including grains and fodder industries, other grain users as well as government and research bodies for the benefit of lot feeders and the broader beef industry."  Bryce Camm, Feed Commodities and Nutrition Chairman

About Feed Commodities and Nutrition – For Consumers

Managing the diet of animals and intensive production has been carried out since humans’ first domesticated livestock. Australian feedlots set world leading standards on the quality of stockfeeds. Feedlots only accept nutritious feed-grains which fit rigorous consumer food safety requirements. The Quality Assurance systems for feedlots (NFAS) and the use of vendor declarations means that feedlots comply with these strict standards, and are annually audited by an independent third party to check on compliance. Unlike some other countries, the Ruminant Feed Ban has meant that beef feedlots do not use any Restricted Animal Material in stockfeeds, safeguarding against the transmission of many diseases, including BSE. These standards are developed by State and Federal Government health and agricultural agencies in conjunction with industry groups.

For more information see:

• SAFEMEAT
• Animal Health Australia
• Meat and Livestock Australia

About Feed Commodities and Nutrition – For Industry

As an industry Peak Council it is ALFA’s role to provide leadership, formulate policies, set strategic directions and agree to overall levels of funding for industry projects. In this industry leadership role ALFA strongly advocates for access to global parity priced feeds to compete on global food markets.

Domestic feed grain livestock industries are the largest grain users in Australia and constitute a significant growth market for the grains industry. However feed grain-users have in the past been overlooked by the grains industry, with grain needs sadly only highlighted in times of supply deficiencies, such as have occurred during recent droughts. ALFA works towards the improvement of Feedgrain Security, which requires 3 main elements:

• Predictability – the feedlot industry requires timely knowledge about the quantum and type of grain supply relative to demand; and detailed information of where supplies can be obtained
• Sufficiency – the feedlot industry requires access to sufficient feedgrains on a commercial basis without distortionary institutional or political intervention
• Price Parity – the feedlot industry requires feedgrain availability at prices that do not exceed international market levels.

ALFA works within the SAFEMEAT Partnership to ensure that regulators and industry groups are effectively cooperating on issues relating to the feed safety of feed grains and other feed commodities. SAFEMEAT Partners also provide collaborative strategic direction and policy advice for the red meat industry. Every sector of the production chain in Australia is represented on SAFEMEAT; including rangeland cattle producers, lotfeeders, processors, meat exporters, and a number of government representatives.

ALFA has also led the development of the Commodity Vendor Declaration (CVD),as a requirement for making feeding decisions under the NFAS system. A completed vendor declaration should be supplied by the supplier of livestock fodder. A CVD or By-Product Vendor Declaration indicates the treatments that the product has been exposed to. Use of the CVD and BVD to verify stockfeed integrity is now commonplace.