Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation is delivering a digital activity monitoring program to provide better health management systems in the industry after securing a $200,000 digital transformation grant through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grant Program.
The funding has been established through the Palaszczuk government's Queensland Economic Recovery plan to enhance digital skills, drive business efficiencies, and create regional jobs across Queensland.
The grant will support the QDO's program with a total project value just shy of $650,000.
Financial assistance will be provided to over 10 eligible Queensland dairy businesses to adopt digital herd activity monitoring and management systems and serve as producer demonstration sites for the industry.
Establishing producer demonstration sites will enable peer to peer learning and knowledge sharing where farmers can go and see the technology in action.
This will be further supported through the development of case studies that contain insight into a producer's journey to adoption and the barriers and benefits of the technology.
Supporting farmers to adopt the animal monitoring technology will fast track and advance the Queensland dairy industry in animal health and welfare.
The monitoring technology, available in collars, leg or ear tags, can provide enormous benefit for farmers as it monitors individual cows as well as the herd as a group to provide health and reproduction alerts.
This allows for the early detection of any stress that may be making the animal uncomfortable including change in feed quality, illness or even predator attacks. It can also automate oestrus activity detection for improved insemination timing and reduced missed cycles.
Anyone interested in the digital activity monitoring program and the financial assistance available for producer demonstration sites should attend one of the five-on farm regional workshops being delivered early in July.
July 6: Gympie Moreton, Gears, 162 Cedar Pocket Rd, Gympie; July 7: Central Burnett, Ratteys, 1483 Silverleaf Rd, Murgon; July 8: Darling Downs, Garretts, 714 Linthorpe Valley Rd, Southbrook; July 9: Scenic Rim Lockyer Valley, Wenzels, 175 Roadvale Rd, Roadvale; July 13: Northern, D Daleys, 26 Theresa Creek Rd, Millaa Millaa.
RSVPs are essential. For more information about the digital activity monitoring program and to register for upcoming workshops visit the QDO website or phone the office (07) 3236 2955.