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Feedlot Management
Scott Braund

“The professionalism of the managers and operators of Australian feedlots is now internationally renowned. ALFA supports economically viable and practical OH&S, food safety and animal identification schemes that ensure our production systems are world leading. By differentiating our product on superior quality, animal welfare and environmental attributes, we can offer our domestic and international clients the highest possible value for money.

By helping to continuously improve management practices, we drive productivity gains that make our industry more profitable and sustainable. ALFA also drives development of human resources, working with a number of agencies to provide training programs that upskill personnel and encourages the best people to choose a career in lot feeding.”

Scott Braund, Feedlot Management Committee Chair

Feedlot Management ­For Consumers

Australian lot feeders are some of the most innovative and professional agricultural producers in the world. Having highly skilled feedlot staff and managers, committed to serving a vital role in the integrated beef supply chain, benefits consumers by providing a consistent supply of top quality beef.

In Australia cattle are predominately raised in a rangeland or grass-fed environment. However the variability of the Australian climate means that there are a number of economic and environmental advantages to lot feeding. In some areas a third of extensive livestock producers use lot feeding as a way to ensure stock are not putting excessive grazing pressures on land – helping to safeguard native pastures and ecosystems.

Feedlots accredited under the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS) have obligatory animal welfare, environment and food safety checks. The NFAS was the first on-farm QA scheme in Australia, and has positioned the industry to quickly adapt to consumer and community demands.

Australian consumers prefer the high product quality of grain fed beef. National AUS-MEAT standards ensure quality, specifying that only NFAS accredited lots can supply beef under the ‘Grain Fed’ and ‘Young Grain Fed’ labelling ciphers. Consumers should always look for MSA graded grainfed beef, to guarantee they have the very best product available.

For more information see:

Feedlot Management – 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 works on a huge range of feedlot management areas, in response to the needs of industry and especially members.

NFAS - National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme

ALFA has pioneered on-farm QA in the livestock industries; including strict compliance checking with government endorsed animal welfare standards. The National Feedlot Accreditation System (NFAS) is the quality assurance program for Australian feedlots.

Under AQIS Meat Orders, this program is mandatory for feedlots producing grainfed beef for export markets. NFAS has been operating since 1995, and is managed by the Feedlot Industry Accreditation Committee (FLIAC). FLIAC is made up of industry members as well as State government representatives.

This ISO accredited scheme incorporates a number of codes of practice; including welfare and environment, as well as other management processes. Compliance checking by an independent third party auditing ensures the integrity of NFAS. NFAS is co-regulated by linkages to State government feedlot approval and licensing legislation and AQIS administered export regulations.

NFAS is administered by AUS-MEAT. For more information see:

http://www.ausmeat.com.au/auditing--accreditation/feedlot.aspx

NLIS - National Livestock Identification System

ALFA strongly supports the development by industry and government of a functional and cost effective traceability system for the beef industry. ALFA's leadership and proactive approach towards traceability has ensured that we have a significant advantage over competing nations, especially in terms of food safety and disease management systems.

In addition to the minimum regulatory requirements, ALFA works to create opportunities for individual feedlot managers to use NLIS in ways that improve their business. Some of these benefits include:

  • Enhanced administration and management systems in feedlots, and reduced labor costs, through more accurate individual animal data.
  • Decisions by using individual animal performance data linked to carcase feedback to fine tune compliance with customer specifications.
  • Increased stock security and improved proof of ownership.
The NLIS database can be accessed here.The MLA NLIS Feedlot Equipment Guide is here. The NLIS manual is available here

All state and territory governments, together with industry, agreed to introduce NLIS from 1 July 2005. These state governments underpin NLIS with legislation governing the use of NLIS devices and some states specify penalties for misuse.

Relevant State authorities provide detailed information about the NLIS

Training

ALFA works with MLA and training deliverers such as the New England Institute of TAFE, and standards such as Rural Skills Council to ensure feedlots. Training employees in the various skills required to plan, implement and manage an effective, property based, Workplace Health and Safety program, is of high priority to the management of feedlots.

ALFA has endorsed the TAFE Feedlot training designed specifically for the needs of workers within the feedlot industry.

Examples of topics covered in the three courses are:

Pen Riding

  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Cattle physiology, nutritional requirements and plans
  • Cattle behaviour, Minimal stress handling
  • Quality assurance compliance requirements

Feedlot Maintenance

  • Structural works and welding
  • Effluent Management and environmental management
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Quality assurance compliance requirements

 Feeding & Milling

  • Feed preparation, storage & delivery
  • Chemical storage, transport & application
  • Plant & machinery use & maintenance
  • Quality assurance compliance requirements
For further information please click here

AUS–MEAT

AUS-MEAT Limited is an industry owned body operating as a joint venture under the control of a Board of Directors appointed by Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Meat Processing Council. The Committee, made up of industry representatives, provides advice to the Board on matters relating to the AUS-MEAT National Accreditation Standards.

The Committee comprises of representatives from:

  • Australian Meat Industry Council
  • Cattle Council of Australia
  • Australian Lot Feeders' Association
  • Sheepmeat Council of Australia
  • Australia Supermarkets Institute
  • Australian Pork Limited
  • Meat Standards Committee
The Committee provides the forum for converting Industry Policy into practical, workable Industry-owned National Standards.

AUS-MEAT's role is to:

  • convert industry’s intent into policy and practical standards;
  • gain agreement regarding implementation;
  • deliver training to industry operatives who implement the Language; and
  • monitor implementation through accrediting Quality Management Systems for the enterprises that use it.
Visit AUS-MEAT at www.ausmeat.com.au

Price Risk Management

ALFA assists members and the wider industry to be better prepared for drought, through managing grain physical supplies and the implementation of risk management tools. A number of resources are available from the following sources;

Additional documents are available to members via the ALFA Secretariat.

WorkCover in your State or Territory

ALFA encourages its Feedlot Members to become familiar with the WorkCover website in your State or Territory. Information on Workplace Health & Safety law and policy, workers compensation and insurance. You can click on the links below to go direct to your State's WorkCover website: