S03E09 – David Cooper – Using technology to make pastoral property more productive

Allandale Station is located between Oodnadatta and Lake Eyre. The property contains a high proportion of floodplain country associated with the Neales River and consequently it has the capacity to grow high amounts of feed and contains many natural waters following rainfall events that support good grazing. Andrew and Donnagh Clarke run a maximum of about 7500 head of mostly Angus and Sangus, but this can be very much reduced during a succession of dry years. They are currently running just under 4500 head and are in a rebuilding phase.The Clarkes select bulls and breeding cows to maximise calving and feed conversion in order to achieve the greatest possible gains when grazing conditions are favourable. This case study focusses on the use of pregnancy scanning and individual animal data to inform management of breeders and grazing.

Richie Kirkland runs a prime lamb enterprise with a flock of 8500 maternal composite ewes across 2500 ha in the lower south east of SA. He discusses AgTech adoption and his management approach to support prime lamb production in the high rainfall zone. 

Peter Whittlesea shares his experience with pregnancy scanning and remote monitoring technology at his sheep enterprise in central South Australia, running 10,000–13,000 self-replacing Merino ewes. 

David Cooper talks about using telemetry, eID, drones and other technology to make the pastoral property as productive as possible.

Kathleen Allan, Communication and Evaluation Manager, Integrity Systems Company, talks about the importance of traceability and food safety in the red meat sector.

Mark Inglis, Farm Assurance and Supply Chain Manager at JBS Australia , talks about health management in the supply of red meat, the conditions with the most impact on profitability and integrity, and carcass and animal health feedback to producers.

Alex McGorman, owner and manager of Thornby Feedlot, talks about what he looks for healthwise when bringing sheep into Thornby.

Adam Dawes, General Manager of WoolProducers Australia, talks about why we need to be better prepared for an emergency animal disease (EAD), what lessons we can learn from the Exercise Argonaut simulation, and what wool producers should focus on in EAD preparedness.

Bonnie Skinner, General Manager Policy and Advocacy at Sheep Producers Australia, talks about the benefits of electronic identification (eID) across the supply chain, the importance of traceability for the Australian sheep industry, and the challenges of implementing eID across the entire industry.

Rob Barwell, Head of Program, Biosecurity at Animal Health Australia, talks about restocking options, questions producers should ask vendors, and biosecurity considerations when introducing animals to properties.