Your levies at work // January/FebruarySeptember/October 2015 2015 Ambassador 30// Chef Aaron Brooks shares his love of lamb with the US 06// How the MLA Donor Company adds value 12// Genetic trail blazer A northern producer leads the way 16// Match making Finding the right ram just got easier 27// All about phosphorus The focus of soil fertility research in the north Feedback: Your levies at work September/October 2015 A note from the MD... I’m also conscious of keeping in touch Parliament in mid-September. The with what’s happening around the country agreement includes the following benefits for livestock producers and around the for Australian red meat: world when it comes to demand for our > tariffs levied on Australian beef of great product. Whether I’m in China, as I 12–25% will be eliminated over the next was during August, meeting with nine years customers and gaining an understanding of opportunities in that market; meeting > sheepmeat and goatmeat tariffs of 12–23% industry leaders at the Royal Melbourne will be eliminated over eight years Show in September; or heading to central > 12–15% tariffs on offal will be eliminated and northern Queensland in October to over four to nine years meet with producers – I value the interactions I have and the time people > 5–14% tariffs on hides and skins will be spend letting me know how their eliminated over four to eight years businesses are going and how MLA can > 10% tariffs on live cattle and sheep will ed meat production, exports, better respond to their needs. be eliminated over four years. cattle and retail prices continue On that note, I want to remind all members The parliament will vote on the Bill in R at record levels at the moment, about the opportunity they have to vote at coming months. If you have further and have contributed to the total this year’s MLA annual general meeting in questions or want to know how to get off-farm value of the cattle, lamb Brisbane on 10 November. Members will involved regarding ChAFTA please contact and mutton industry increasing to be receiving their AGM voting entitlement our peak industry councils (CCA, SCA or $23.2 billion in 2014–15, 18% higher and proxy form and notice of meeting in ALFA) or the National Farmers’ Federation. year-on-year. Although it is a the mail during October. Please keep an spectacular result I am very mindful of eye out for it and I encourage you to not the ongoing challenges faced by only vote, but also attend this year’s AGM. producers with continuing drought and The legislation needed to implement the the record sell-off of livestock that has China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Richard Norton been necessary for many producers. (ChAFTA) was introduced into Federal MLA Managing Director Contents Feedback is produced and 16 Made to measure published by Meat & Livestock COVER STORY 18 Seeing the opportunities Australia Ltd (ABN 39 081 678 364). 30 Red meat’s advocates 06 19 AACo’s gas reduction explorations MLA acknowledges the matching How the MLA Up-FRONT 20 Moving into the pastoral zone funds provided by the Australian 03 Consultation rollout Donor Company Government to support the 21 Keeping a close eye on costs research and development detailed 03 NVD update adds value 22 What does it take to produce the in this publication. IN-BRIEF best lamb? E: [email protected] 04 Looking at the forecast 24 Genetic gains name of the game T: 1800 023 100 // F: 02 9463 9393 04 Moving forward with MISP www.mla.com.au 12 25 Breeding for profit 04 Strategies from market statistics Genetic trail 26 Progeny projects pay off This magazine was printed on Sumo 04 A new horizon for Caitlyn blazer 26 What’s come out of the BIN? Offset Laser, an environmentally 05 Strengthening live export assurance responsible paper manufactured 27 Delving into P deficiencies under the environmental INSIGHT 27 Putting it to the test management system ISO 14001 06 Driving industry innovation 16 using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) without levies Match making 29 Desmanthus for dollars pulp sourced from sustainable 07 MDC investment snapshots forests. Sumo Offset Laser is FSC GROWING DEMAND Chain of Custody (CoC) certified INDUSTRY 33 Recipes: The season for lamb (mixed sources). 09 A smorgasbord of learnings 27 MARKETS Disclaimer: The views expressed in 10 Disease review to influence All about 34 Around the globe Feedback are not necessarily those of investment MLA, its employees or agents. Feedback phosphorus 35 On the ground: European Union 10 Research in action content is provided as information not as 36 The changing face of Australian advice and you should make your own ON-FARM enquiries before making decisions markets 12 No free ride with the Rea family concerning your interests. All material in 15 Bovine anaemia IN THE FIELD Feedback is copyright. Reproduction of the material is encouraged, however due 16 Smart tools to make smart decisions 38 Past and upcoming events acknowledgement to Feedback is required. Cover: Australian born, Miami based chef and lambassador Aaron Brooks. Image courtesy Four Seasons Miami. 03 Up-front Consultation rollout NVD update AFEMEAT, the body responsible for safety and hygiene standards Sin Australia’s red meat industry has announced that from 16 November 2015, producers will need to ensure they are using the most up-to-date version of the Livestock Production Assurance National Vendor Declaration (LPA NVD) form. NABRC SAFEMEAT chair Ross Keane said he was confident that more than two-thirds SAMRC (including Queensland sheep) of Australia’s livestock producers are already using current LPA NVD forms WAMRC but it’s important all producers are ready for the November phase-out. “With 54% of lamb, 97% of sheepmeat, 70% of beef and 95% of goatmeat being MLA’s back-to-basics approach to seeking producer input into its exported, the decision (to change the research, development and adoption priorities has attracted strong form) was necessary to meet domestic support from producers and research organisations. and importing country requirements,” Ross said. The new strategy sees the creation of Producers in Western Australia will not “This change means the small number of independent research councils in southern miss out, with the newly appointed producers who are still using old forms and Western Australia that will allow coordinator of the Western Australia will need to obtain the latest LPA NVD producers to have direct input into how their Livestock Research Council, Erin Gorter, version to ensure our system consistently levies are invested. In northern Australia, enthusiastic about giving the west a strong delivers what international customers MLA will partner with the existing North voice in the setting of national research, require.” Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC) to development and adoption priorities. LPA NVD’s are required for movements offer northern producers the same All research councils will be busy in the of all LPA-accredited livestock (sheep, opportunity. coming months gathering feedback and lambs, goats and cattle) including Seven producers from southern Australia developing regional priorities to be considered property to property, through saleyards, have been selected (for contact details visit and used to guide MLA research projects. direct to processors, feedlots, and to the www.mla.com.au/samrc) to lead regional live export trade. Southern Australia Meat Research committees of the Southern Australia Meat From 16 November 2015 producers Council (SAMRC) Independent Chair Research Council (SAMRC). In August, should only use LPA NVD’s labelled 0413, SAMRC regional committees met in Sydney Ralph Shannon // T: 0403 351 732 E: [email protected] and for bobby calves forms labelled 0412. for their first face-to-face meeting. North Australia Beef Research NABRC regional chairs were introduced to Council (NABRC) Independent Chair MLA’s fresh approach at the council’s August Lee Fitzpatrick // T: 0408 622 759 meeting in Darwin, where MLA’s General E: [email protected] Manager of On-farm Innovation and Adoption, Western Australia Livestock Research Dr Matt McDonagh, emphasised the Council (WALRC) Coordinator Erin Gorter // T: 0429 833 752 importance of being able to tap into NABRC’s Producers can order a new E: [email protected] history of driving research into issues hard copy LPA NVD booklet online, www.mla.com.au/About-MLA/ or purchase electronic NVDs, at: affecting producers in northern Australia. RD-Consultation http://lpa.ausmeat.com.au 04 In-brief Looking at Moving forward with the MISP the forecast he Meat Industry Strategic Plan (MISP it sets out clear objectives and key performance 2020) is a key document in setting the indicators to help us get there,” he said. Tdirection of the red meat industry. “MLA will work collaboratively with industry and LA is one of 14 MISP 2020 is created in conjunction with map out how the MISP objectives can be practically partners in a new industry; including producers, processors, achieved to benefit producers and tackle some of three-year M exporters and service providers such as MLA, the bigger issues, including objective carcase research project titled Livecorp and Australian Meat Processor measurement and value-based marketing “Improved Use of Seasonal Corporation. The core pillars of MISP 2020 are: “I strongly believe that MLA is playing a critical role Forecasting to Increase in improving the outlook and prosperity of the Farmer Profitability.” > consumer and community support red meat sector, and we’re up for the challenge.” The aim of the project is to > market growth and diversification. MISP 2020 was launched by Minister for Agriculture bridge the gap between > supply chain integrity and efficiency Barnaby Joyce in Canberra on 9 September.