Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has opened the BulkUp Expressions of Interest and Tender process, inviting delivery partners and producer groups across Australia to participate in a major new initiative designed to focus on feedbase utilisation and thereby improving productivity and profitability in the red meat industry.
BulkUp is a nationally available and locally delivered program that combines peer to peer learning, professional coaching and technical training within a long term supported learning program.
The program aims to strengthen management accounting capability, improve feedbase utilisation and optimise whole of farm production efficiency.
BulkUp directly supports MLA's 2030 Strategic Plan by addressing the national feedbase adoption initiative, ensuring producers have the skills and support needed to optimise pasture utilisation, improve feed budgeting and confidently match stocking rates to carrying capacity.
The program brings together MLA's established adoption products into a long-term guided learning pathway.
Participants will work through business management, farm systems, feedbase and livestock performance modules, supported by quarterly technical workshops, monthly facilitated group meetings and annual benchmarking.
BulkUp is available to all red meat producers. It provides a structured approach that supports producers who are motivated to progress, but who benefit from ongoing guidance and support.
MLA is now seeking:
- A national coordinator to deliver the program
- Group coaches to establish and guide local producer groups
- Business analysts interested in providing benchmarking services to producer groups
- Producers interested in joining the first phase of the program.
According to MLA's Project Manager for Adoption Southern & Western Production Systems, Mitchell Plumbe, BulkUp is an important step forward in how MLA supports producers to achieve meaningful and lasting practice change.
"The program directly aligns with MLA's 2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on driving profitable, productive and sustainable growth across the red meat industry," Mr Plumbe said.
"The most profitable producers consistently show strong management capability and a clear focus on efficiency.
"By combining our proven adoption products with structured learning and strong peer support, BulkUp gives producers the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to steadily lift production efficiency.
"BulkUp has been developed to help more producers develop these skills and apply them in a whole farm systems context so they can confidently grow more saleable product from the resources they manage."
BulkUp is valued at $8,000 per business each year. Producer contributions range from $500 to $1,500 annually.
MLA adoption products that form part of the BulkUp modules have already delivered strong, proven results, with programs such as Profitable Grazing Systems generating annual net benefits of $5.53 to $7.52 per hectare for southern producers and $6 to $26 per square kilometre for northern producers. While EDGE Network workshops and BredWell FedWell have helped lift weight gains, improve reproductive performance and strengthen grazing efficiency across participating businesses.
