ON FARM NATIONAL tough start to 2019Cattle industry weathers Dieback research Drought in many production driven by elevated drought‑induced ramps up areas of Australia, combined turn‑off, lower branding rates and with unprecedented estimated stock losses from the flooding in north‑west Queensland flood event. I n March, MLA committed Queensland, has resulted in the MLA’s Market Intelligence Manager, to match dollar‑for‑dollar largest drop in the national herd Scott Tolmie, said forecast adult the Commonwealth in decades, according to MLA’s slaughter for 2019 has been revised Government’s $3 million latest Cattle Industry Projections. slightly higher, but is still expected to beinvestment in further pasture below 2018 levels at 7.7 million head. ■ dieback research. The April update reports the national herd is expected to decline 7.7% to 25.2 mla.com.au/cattleprojections MLA has already invested $2 million head in the year to June 2019, million in investigative research works over the past 18 months Get linked in to better understand the extent of pasture dieback, identify the potential cause(s) and ivestock Data Link (LDL) The overall objective is to assist in develop short and long‑term Lis an online application toimprove information sharingoptimising supply chain performancethrough turning complex informationSean Starling, MLA’s Generalmanagement methods.Manager – MDC, Research, across in the supply chain. Three into simple decision making. Development & Innovation, said new videos from the Integrity LDL currently offers four modules: while existing research had not Systems Company share • carcase compliance – users can yet fully identified a cause or producer stories explaining analyse carcase performance developed a clear solution, at how LDL works for them. in terms of compliance to the this stage it had indicated that grid, with performance outcomes mealybugs are the common Featured in the videos are sheep linked to a library of solutions on element in the pathway to the producer Jane Kellock, SA, cattle how to address non‑compliant existing pasture dieback. producer Robyn Hoare, King issues on‑farm. Island, and cattle producer Additional funding will allow David Bignell, NSW. • animal health information – for more detailed research into users can view any animal this species of mealybug and LDL enables feedback to health conditions that were its lifecycle, and enable further be received, analysed and identified as part of post‑mortem investigation into: compared to other results in inspection. Note: the current an efficient way. Consignment functionality relates only to sheep • changing the ‘environment’ so performance can also be linked health data collected through that it’s not prosperous supporting materials to help to the National Sheep Health • introducing predator insects understand what management Monitoring Project. • finding above and below‑ground practices could be considered to • breeder information (beef) – allows ‘chemical’ solutions improve performance. breeders to follow the performance • finding plant species resistant of stock born on their farm but to it. ■ transferred to another producer along the supply chain for finishing. Sean Starling • lean meat yield – provides a E: sstarling@mla.com.au predictive measure that indicates the percentage of meat in a carcase mla.com.au/dieback (a key driver of rpofitabity). ■ mla.com.au/ldl Find the videos at: youtube.com and search ‘Integrity Systems Company’. 11