Development Of CalfWays
Managing dairy calves not needed for herd maintenance presents both a substantial challenge and a promising opportunity for the Australian dairy industry. Traditionally, these calves, being either the male or non-replacement females, have been a byproduct of dairy operations.
The limited options for such calves often involve early-life slaughter or on-farm euthanasia. However, the industry is shifting its focus toward more sustainable and socially acceptable solutions, aiming to transform this surplus into valuable opportunities for the beef and dairy industries.
Recognising the need for a coordinated strategy, the Australian dairy industry has developed the Sustainable Dairy Calf Management Roadmap (CalfWays) which aims to ensure that by 2035, all dairy calves not required for herd maintenance can enter valued market chains, eliminating the need for routine on-farm euthanasia.
Get involved with CalfWays
If you’re passionate about creating a sustainable future for every dairy calf, there are three ways you can make an impact:
Endorse CalfWays
Show your commitment to animal welfare and sustainability by formally endorsing the roadmap.
Become an initiative sponsor
Support the delivery of CalfWays through in-kind or financial funding and resources that drive industry‑wide change.
Sponsor a specific project
Invest in targeted projects that align with your business goals and help accelerate innovation in calf management.
Find out more
Contact us:
Dr. Bec Barnewall,
CalfWays Co‑Innovation Lead
calfways@dairyaustralia.com.au
The CalfWays Roadmap is a ten-year strategy to transform the management of dairy calves in Australia by 2035.
The Roadmap aims to enable industry collaboration to ensure a viable option for every calf.
CalfWays project updates
Case studies
FAQs
How does my producer group get involved with CalfWays?
Producer groups can get involved by staying up to date through subscribing the quarterly CalfWays newsletter or by reaching out to the CalfWays team directly.
We work with groups to understand regional priorities, readiness and opportunities, and to identify where CalfWays can support or align with existing activity.
How do I get involved in existing CalfWays projects?
Opportunities to participate in current CalfWays projects are shared as projects are scoped and delivered.
This may include pilot participation, case studies, trials, or advisory input from across the supply chain, including dairy and beef producers, commercial companies, feedlots and abattoirs.
Projects are often delivered through shared investment models, with contributions from industry, commercial partners and Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).
To stay informed, we encourage you to subscribe to the quarterly newsletter or reach out to the CalfWays team directly.
Can I propose a new project under CalfWays?
Yes. CalfWays is designed to be industry‑led, and we welcome new project ideas from producers, supply‑chain partners, researchers and service providers.
Proposed projects should align with the CalfWays Action Plan and Roadmap and may involve co‑funding or in‑kind support from supply‑chain partners, depending on the nature and scale of the activity.
A simple project proposal template is available to help shape ideas for consideration.
Other resources
Subscribe
Get involved and keep up-to-date.
Sign up with Dairy Australia to receive quarterly email updates on the CalfWays project
Subscribe with Dairy Australia now
Calfways in the media
Beef future for dairy calves
Beef future for dairy calves
Dairy News Austalia
Beef pathway for bobby calves
Australian Dairy Farmer magazine - January February 2026
Turning dairy calves into opportunity (page 42)
MLA Feedback magazine - Autumn 2026
Cream of the crop: beef from dairy paves sustainable pathway (pages 20 and 21)
Angus Australia
Industry Update: Changes to Angus Breed Content Announced
DairyNZ
Dairy Beef Opportunities
The Land
From burden to bonus: how to capture the bobby calf premium
International Dairy Week (IDW) - Seminar
Seminar 4 is a CalfWays panel session
Stock & Land
Livestock groups come together with aim to turn surplus calves into profit
Beef Central
The global rise of dairy beef and Australia’s opportunity – report
The Weekly Grill podcast - Beef Central
S5 Ep12: Dairy beef prospects growing: is it an under-utilised resource?
Australian Dairy Farmers
Dairy beef: a growing market for Australian farmers
Beef Central
Double-down on beef from dairy, and beef-on-dairy
Dairy News Australia
Beef or dairy – which tastes best?
ABC's Landline
A better future for bobby calves
(Sunday 24/11/2024)
CalfWays Steering Committee
Patrick Hutchinson
A respected agribusiness leader with almost 30 years’ experience across Australia's livestock, red meat and agricultural sectors. Former CEO of the Australian Meat Industry Council and currently the Chair of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework. Brings extensive expertise in supply chains, industry strategy, sustainability and stakeholder engagement.
As Chair of the CalfWays Steering Committee, provides a whole-of-supply-chain perspective, helping connect dairy, beef and market stakeholders to unlock greater value from beef from dairy opportunities. Brings strong governance, facilitation and industry leadership skills, with a focus on practical outcomes that benefit producers, processors and the broader Australian cattle industry.
Chair, CalfWays Steering Committee
Director, Gibraltar Strategic Advisory
Dr David Beatty
A veterinarian with a PhD and background in agriculture research. Joined Meat & Livestock Australia in 2009 as the Live Export R&D Manager. Between 2012 and 2017, based in the Middle East firstly as the MLA Livestock Services Manager and then as the MLA Regional Manager covering Middle East and North Africa.
Currently based in Western Australia as MLA’s Group Manager for Livestock and Land Productivity focused on delivering research and development across on-farm program areas including beef, sheep and goat productivity, land productivity, livestock genetics and live export.
Member, CalfWays Steering Committee
Group Manager – Livestock and Land Productivity, Meat & Livestock Australia
Dr Andy Hancock
A dairy veterinarian with experience across clinical practice, research, industry and government. Currently manages the Animal Care Commitment of the Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework and provides technical policy support to industry.
Previously served as Principal Veterinary Officer (Cattle) at Agriculture Victoria, supporting the Chief Veterinary Officer through the provision of technical, policy and strategic advice. Additional experience includes work with Zoetis International overseeing projects to identify, develop and demonstrate value propositions for Zoetis' global ruminant health portfolio.
Member, CalfWays Steering Committee
Sustainable Animal Care Manager, Dairy Australia
Dr Bec Barnewall
An Animal Scientist with a PhD in Veterinary Science and extensive experience in agricultural innovation and research translation. Joined Dairy Australia in September 2025 as Calfways Co‑Innovation Lead, focusing on driving cross-sector collaboration to deliver industry-impact outcomes.
Previously held key roles at Charles Sturt University’s AgriPark, including Manager of the Red Meat Innovation Centre and Program Manager for Digital Livestock and the Vineyard of the Future. Experience spans the intersection of technology, research and industry, delivering practical solutions for the agricultural sector.
Secretariat, CalfWays Steering Committee
CalfWays Co-Innovation Lead, Dairy Australia
Andrew Aldridge
An experienced dairy farmer with more than 25 years’ involvement across the industry, spanning service delivery, advocacy and representation, alongside ownership and operation of dairy farms across parts of southern Australia.
Passionate about ensuring that through the development of CalfWays, dairy farmers will be provided with sustainable and profitable opportunities to fully utilise the resources they have in their businesses.
Member, CalfWays Steering Committee
Dairy Farmer North-east Tasmania
Dr Alex Ball
A highly experienced contributor to Australian agriculture with nearly 30 years’ experience, particularly in the red meat sector. Brings expertise in RD&A program management, strategy, governance, and industry engagement.
Has played key roles in national and cross-sector RD&E strategies, CRCs, and industry projects, while maintaining an active interest in research as an adjunct Professor at the University of New England. Holds multiple leadership and board positions, including with NLIS Device Standards, NSW LLS and DataGene, and operates a beef breeding enterprise in Armidale NSW.
Member, CalfWays Steering Committee
Director, Rural Analytics
Jessica Mitchell
A strategic red meat supply chain leader with 15 years’ experience in livestock procurement, sustainability, and commercial optimisation across the Australian beef industry. Currently leads natural beef programs, sustainability initiatives and producer engagement at Greenham Australia.
Leads the development and implementation of the Greenham Dairy Beef Program, with a strong focus on building resilient supply chains that meet the evolving needs of current and future customers. Brings expertise in aligning supply chain outcomes with practical, value-adding solutions on-farm, alongside active involvement in a number of industry sustainability initiatives.
Member, CalfWays Steering Committee
Livestock Supply Chain Manager, Greenham Australia
Andrew Paterson
An agribusiness leader and cattle producer with more than 30 years’ experience across dairy processing, animal nutrition, international agribusiness and beef production. Founder and Commercial Director of ProviCo Rural, Australia’s leading young animal nutrition company, and operator of large-scale beef from dairy calf rearing enterprise.
Brings practical farm-level, manufacturing and commercial expertise. Passionate about improving calf welfare and performance outcomes and committed to helping guide the development, adoption and commercialisation of the CalfWays program for the benefit of the wider dairy and beef industries.
Member, CalfWays Steering Committee
Founder and Commercial Director, ProviCo Rural
