Enhanced Livestock Management: Feed, Fodder and Decision Making

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Lead organisation: Adelaide University

Hub members and partners involved: Talking Livestock, AgCommunicators, Nicon Rural Services, Turner Agri

Node: Roseworthy, Struan

Focus area: Crop and pasture management, Farm planning and decision making, Livestock and fodder management

Project Category: Hub Projects

Project summary:

The Enhanced Livestock Management: Feed, Fodder and Decision Making project is developing practical learning resources to help livestock producers improve feedbase management, nutrition, grazing decisions and business resilience. By combining producer education with advisor training, the project is creating a lasting suite of decision-support tools that strengthen livestock management across South Australia.

Project description:

Making timely and informed livestock management decisions is essential during increasingly variable seasons. This project is developing practical, workshop-ready learning modules that improve producer knowledge in feedbase optimisation, nutrition and feed management, decision making and sustainable grazing systems.

Alongside producer resources, the project is strengthening advisor capability through specialist training, mentoring and masterclasses to ensure high-quality livestock extension continues beyond the life of the project. All resources are being designed as long-term legacy products that will be freely available through the SA Drought Hub, supporting continued adoption across South Australia’s livestock industries.

Key achievements and results:

As of August 2026, this project has made significant progress developing practical learning resources that will support both livestock producers and advisors. During this reporting period, three core learning modules were completed and piloted through the Enhanced Livestock Management Bootcamp, providing valuable feedback to refine content and delivery before broader rollout.

Early evaluation has confirmed the modules are highly relevant to producer needs, with participants reporting strong confidence in applying new knowledge to their own businesses. Feedback has also highlighted the value of activity-based learning and practical decision-support tools, shaping future delivery through advisor training, masterclasses and ongoing resource development.

Project progress includes:

Developed three comprehensive learning modules covering Optimising the Feedbase, Nutrition and Feed Management, and Decision Making and Risk Management, including workshop plans, practical activities and decision-support tools.
Successfully delivered the inaugural Enhanced Livestock Management Bootcamp, piloting the modules with livestock producers and gathering detailed feedback to refine future delivery.
Produced practical tools including feed and fertiliser calculators, decision matrices and workshop resources designed to support producer decision-making and improve seasonal preparedness.
Commenced development of the Sustainable Grazing Systems content, integrating key principles across the existing modules while progressing additional supporting resources.
Planned a dedicated livestock advisor training program, mentoring opportunities and masterclass series to build advisor capability and expand delivery of the learning modules across South Australia.
Continued developing a suite of long-term extension resources, including case studies, factsheets and producer tools that will remain publicly available through the SA Drought Hub following project completion.