Author Archives: manager

NSQA WEBSITE

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NSQA have announced the launching of a web site covering their business activities. This site is located at www.nsqa.com.au.

This site provides details on the NSQA system as well as a members login area. Any saleyards that are NSQA members are encouraged to obtain this login and access this area for extra information.

Any questions should be directed to the NSQA secretary, Mr David Pollock on 0418 837 598.

 

Electronic NVD Project to commence field trials

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PRESS RELEASE

 30 May 2014

 ELECTRONIC NVD’s ­ 

THE VICTORIAN LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY TO BEGIN PROOF OF CONCEPT TRIALS

The Livestock Saleyard Association of Victoria (LSAV) is pleased to announce that the Electronic NVD project is about to commence field trials from late June this year. These trials will cover most of the livestock marketing avenues for sheep, cattle (dairy and beef) and bobby calves.

 This includes via the saleyard and feedlot systems as well as direct to processor sales. The trial phase will include marketing chains for bobby calves, chopper cows, sheep and beef cattle. The aim for these trials is to test a range of digital options for generating electronic NVD’s at the farm gate and testing their integration with other parts of the supply chain, eg. With saleyard and processor systems. At each stage of the field trials information will be collected from the relevant parties including producers, saleyard managers, agents, processors and transporters.

“The project is designed to not just convert the current hardcopy NVD form into an electronic database record but to look at ways to enhance the digital capability across the livestock marketing chain. This could involve sending extra on farm information with the NVD data, integration with existing saleyard and processing systems and links with transport logistical systems” The Chairman of LSAV Cr Stuart McLean stated.

The following technology partners have been contracted to provide solutions to be tested in the Field. These are:

–          Sapien Technology,

–          Livestock Exchange,

–          Triton partnering with Litams Aust, and

–          Thorsys Australia.

The technology being tested will include a range of physical devices like smart phones, tablets and laptops and all systems will provide internet connectivity as part of their solution. The electronic collection of cattle RFID information will also be tested as part of the trial.

The trial phase will continue until at least October 2014 and be followed by a field day exhibition open to the broader industry in November.

This project which commenced in late 2013 will report in December 2014. The project is being managed by a steering group that includes representatives from the saleyard sector, agents, livestock transporters, the VFF, processors, Federation University Australia CeCC, DEPI and Dairy Australia. The project is funded by the state Department of Business and Innovation as part of their Digital Futures grant scheme.

Contact Details

Stuart McLean

Chairman Steering Committee                        0438 071 049

Mark McDonald

Executive Officer LSAV        0422 312607

Project Manager

 

Safergate Press Release

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One of our conference sponsors has released the following press release regarding their product.

Media release 6 February 2014

Cattle industry swings behind SaferGate
The biggest names in the Australian cattle industry are swinging behind a new type of safety gate purpose built to help reduce stockyard injuries and deaths.
Designed by NSW farmer Edward Evans, who had his leg broken while operating a traditional gate on his property, SaferGate is revolutionising cattle yard safety with its patented pivot system, which helps to prevent catching, crushing and jamming.

Troy Setter, the Chief Operating Officer of world-leading agricultural company the Australian Agricultural Company (AAco), said SaferGate had already prevented potential injury to one of his cattle handlers when an animal struck the gate she was attempting to close. “If it was a normal gate, she would have been hit and possibly seriously injured, however the SaferGate simply folded away,’’ Mr Setter said.

“We have been very supportive of SaferGate and the evaluation process over the last twelve months as employee safety is very important to us and we are always looking for things that improve the working environment for our staff.
“SaferGate has already proved its worth by preventing one of our workers from being
injured. Stopping one injury makes the investment worthwhile,’’ he said.
General Manager of SaferGate, Mike Agnew, said the gate was developed in response to
alarming safety statistics in Australian cattle yards.
“Sadly, on average there are two cattle handling yard deaths and thousands of injuries every year,’’ Mr Agnew said.
“Created to specifically help reduce stockyard incidents, unlike traditional cattle gates,
SaferGate swings away from the operator when an animal charges it preventing injury or
death.”
“This is achieved by a pivot mechanism, which splits the gate into two pieces when hit,
allowing the part of the gate in front of the operator to fold back on itself and away from the
operator.
“The innovation is also designed to provide a protective cage to shield the worker from impact damage and trampling,’’ he said.
Mr Agnew said SaferGate could be installed retrospectively in any existing steel or timber
cattle yard with any gate combination.
The invention has been supported by Federal and state governments and cattle industry
leaders from Australia’s largest pastoral companies, feedlot operators and saleyards including AAco, Freestone Feedlot, Singleton Regional Livestock Market, Shepparton Regional Sale Yards and Longreach Sale Yards as well as Colorado State University and Professor Temple Grandin in the USA.
SaferGate has also won numerous industry awards including Queensland Safe Work Awards, Farm Inventor of the Year and Invention of the Year on ABC TV’s The New Inventors.
For further information visit www.safergate.com.au.
ENDS
Media enquiry to Mike Agnew +61 (0) 413 746 619