Development and Delivery of an Extension Program to Increase the Adoption of Genetic Improvement in the WA Northern Beef Herds

DPIRD’s Northern Beef Development (NBD) Program is seeking the services of a suitably qualified and experienced Contractor with proven, demonstrated ability to deliver the following scope of works for Project 1.2.1 Genetics and Breeding Program Design as described below.

The purpose of Project 1.2.1 Genetics and Breeding Program Design is to accelerate adoption of genetic improvement to increase the efficiency and marketability of northern beef herds with key deliverables such as:

• Encourage industry to capture and provide baseline performance data for future enterprise and broader northern beef industry monitoring and evaluation purposes;
• Develop and deliver a program that supports the northern beef industry in WA to capture the potential of genetic improvement to drive herd performance and increase livestock marketability, including:
  • Establishing breeding objectives;
  • Using genetic evaluation and management tools to inform selection; and
  • Designing and implementing a flexible and practical breeding program.
• Utilise data from Projects 1.2.2 and 1.2.3 Livestock Performance Feedback and other sources, including baseline data from producers and from across the live export and domestic supply chains to accelerate adoption of genetic improvement to increase the performance and universal marketability of northern beef herds. De-identified Data from Projects 1.2.2 and 1.2.3 will be provided to the Contractor when available and not before 2022.

With an aim to accelerate adoption of genetic improvement to increase the efficiency and marketability of northern beef herds, the Contractor is encouraged to utilise innovative thinking and collaboration in order to achieve the best outcome for the Western Australian Northern Beef industry. An innovative new approach may be required to best serve the needs of the WA pastoral industry.

Outside of the Service Requirements, Reports and Stakeholder Engagement requirements outlined below, the Contractor is required to outline and utilise their own methodology to achieve the objectives specified in the Request.