Feedlot unlocks productivity gains through fast and simple data collection

It’s sunrise at Dingo Park in Queensland’s Far North and cattle industry veteran Py Porter has assembled her team, ready for another big day at one of the region’s busiest feedlots.

Using insights from data crunched overnight, Py has mapped out a schedule for the team including rotating cattle through various pens, checking weights and average gains, instructions for the feed shed crew and preparing for the next trucks to roll in and out, loading and unloading cattle.

“My day starts fairly early because obviously I’m the Minister for everything,” Py laughs.

“Culture is really important at Dingo Park because this can be a really tough gig. Like any feedlot, it’s intensive but you’ve got to love what you do.

“I like cattle. I’ve been at it since 1998 and this is the last stage of my career, feeding cattle in Northern Australia.”

Py has spent the last decade transforming Dingo Park, 70kms south of Townsville, into a feedlotting powerhouse, drawing cattle from the Northern Territory down into Central Queensland.

Most go on to be processed at a nearby abattoir or into live export markets.

“As a custom-fed feedlot, we’re a turnover game,” Py explains.

“We don’t feed any of our own cattle. Every animal that's in this feed yard is owned by somebody else so there's a huge responsibility when it comes to cost to gain.

“We place a big emphasis on traceability and performance. That’s where our Gallagher system comes into it.”

Dingo Park recently started using Gallagher’s TWR-5 weigh scale and reader, which Py says has been great for traceability, productivity and cattle data storage.

“It’s so much easier to use and it won’t let you go on if an animal hasn’t got an NLIS tag,” Py explains.

“We see a lot of cattle come here without an NLIS tag and we need to make sure that when they leave here, that’s all in line.”

Py has used Gallagher technology since she arrived at Dingo Park and found the transition to the new gear to be simple, helping speed up the 10,000 head feedlot’s daily processes, starting with morning check weighs.

“We can get the cattle through quicker and you can see what they're doing a lot easier,” Dingo Park team member Chelsea Sheahan says.

Dingo Park’s productivity gains also include time saved by uploading cattle data straight to the feedlot’s Gallagher cloud storage system.

Image: Dingo Park staff Allan Braden and Chelsea Sheahan using the TWR-5 with Territory Manager Will Kidd.

“We just walk to the office, hit download and off it goes for us,” team member Chelsea Sheahan says.

“At the end of the day we don’t have to sit there and wait for it. You wake up in the morning and all the data is there.”

“You’re not waiting for it, it’s waiting for you,” colleague Allan Braden adds.

Dingo Park was supported by Gallagher Territory Manager for North Queensland Will Kidd, who recommended the upgrade to improve the operation’s data capture and analysis.

“The TWR-5 is simple, yet advanced,” Will says.

“We recommended it because Dingo Park uses all different types of data fields. They’re putting in weights, they’re looking for their averages, they’re putting in general notes, doing pregnancy testing and they’re running through some treatments as well, all day every day.

“That data is now coming through easily and increasing their performance and productivity.”

Py says having Will available to visit Dingo Park and upskill her team on the new gear made a huge difference.

“Our support from Will and Gallagher has been absolutely amazing,” she says.

“When the going gets tough, we really need someone on the ground because we are meeting deadlines every day of the week.

With expansion plans for up to 30,000 head approved for Dingo Park, it’s never been more important for the feedlot to have rigorous and reliable data collection and analysis.

“The value of the Gallagher system for us is massive, it’s just so much easier to use.”