The Australian dairy and beef industries face ongoing challenges in creating economically viable and scalable pathways for non-replacement dairy calves. Many dairy producers, particularly smaller and land-constrained businesses, are unable to achieve the scale, infrastructure, labour capacity, or consistency required to rear calves to meet the needs of downstream beef supply chains. This can result in fragmented calf-rearing systems, inconsistent animal quality, limited market certainty, duplicated infrastructure investment, and reduced value capture across the supply chain.

Through previous CalfWays initiatives, industry stakeholders identified a potential opportunity to improve supply chain coordination through a cooperative, hub-and-spoke calf-rearing model. A regional calf-rearing facility could aggregate calves from multiple farms, apply consistent welfare, biosecurity and production standards, provide access to specialised calf-rearing expertise, and deliver a more reliable supply of fit-for-purpose cattle to the beef sector.

However, significant uncertainty remains regarding the technical feasibility, commercial viability, financial sustainability, governance arrangements, workforce requirements, and investment readiness of such a model in the Australian context. Gardiner Foundation and the CalfWays collaboration (Dairy Australia and MLA) are seeking an experienced consultant to undertake an independent feasibility study and business case to determine whether a greenfield cooperative calf-rearing facility represents a viable, scalable and investable opportunity capable of supporting long-term industry growth and stronger beef-from-dairy supply chains.

The dairy and beef industries have a significant opportunity to create greater value from non-replacement dairy calves by strengthening connections between dairy producers and beef supply chains. However, regional differences in production systems, market access, supply chain structures, and stakeholder relationships mean that pathways identified in one region may not be directly transferable to another.

Building on the successful methodology developed through the Alpine Valleys pilot, CalfWays is seeking to expand this work into Western Victoria and Gippsland to better understand region-specific opportunities, constraints, and pathways for beef from dairy animals. The project aims to generate practical insights into supply chain requirements, market demand, production economics, and pricing benchmarks while strengthening collaboration between dairy producers, backgrounders, feedlots, processors, and other supply chain participants.

The opportunity for this procurement is to engage suitably qualified consultant(s) to deliver one or more regional pilot projects that will provide evidence-based recommendations, strengthen industry relationships, and identify commercially viable and sustainable pathways for non-replacement dairy calves. The outcomes will support improved producer decision-making, greater market transparency, increased confidence to invest in calf quality, and the development of region-specific implementation strategies that can inform future CalfWays activities across Australia.

Australia’s dairy industry generates a substantial number of non-replacement dairy calves (also called surplus calves) each year. Historically many of these calves had limited value and uncertain market pathways, contributing to ongoing animal welfare and social licence challenges.

There is an opportunity to create value from these calves within commercial beef systems. With appropriate genetics, feeding and management, dairy-origin cattle can meet market specifications and deliver improved production and eating quality outcomes.

Despite this, adoption remains constrained by knowledge, confidence, market understanding and supply chain coordination.

Dairy Australia's CalfWays Roadmap aims to improve the welfare and value of non-replacement calves across the dairy industry. Complementing this work, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Dairy Australia are delivering the Growing Beef from Dairy (GBfD) initiative to support best practice adoption across the beef from dairy production system and strengthen commercially viable market pathways for dairy-origin cattle.

As part of the GBfD initiative, on-farm demonstration sites will be established to demonstrate practical production systems, build producer capability and support adoption through peer-to-peer learning and on-farm demonstration.

This Terms of Reference is calling for proposals to undertake a review and revision of several resources for northern beef producers.

The Australian dairy and beef industries face ongoing challenges in creating economically viable and scalable pathways for non-replacement dairy calves. Many dairy producers, particularly smaller and land-constrained businesses, are unable to achieve the scale, infrastructure, labour capacity, or consistency required to rear calves to meet the needs of downstream beef supply chains. This can result in fragmented calf-rearing systems, inconsistent animal quality, limited market certainty, duplicated infrastructure investment, and reduced value capture across the supply chain.

Through previous CalfWays initiatives, industry stakeholders identified a potential opportunity to improve supply chain coordination through a cooperative, hub-and-spoke calf-rearing model. A regional calf-rearing facility could aggregate calves from multiple farms, apply consistent welfare, biosecurity and production standards, provide access to specialised calf-rearing expertise, and deliver a more reliable supply of fit-for-purpose cattle to the beef sector.

However, significant uncertainty remains regarding the technical feasibility, commercial viability, financial sustainability, governance arrangements, workforce requirements, and investment readiness of such a model in the Australian context. Gardiner Foundation and the CalfWays collaboration (Dairy Australia and MLA) are seeking an experienced consultant to undertake an independent feasibility study and business case to determine whether a greenfield cooperative calf-rearing facility represents a viable, scalable and investable opportunity capable of supporting long-term industry growth and stronger beef-from-dairy supply chains.

The dairy and beef industries have a significant opportunity to create greater value from non-replacement dairy calves by strengthening connections between dairy producers and beef supply chains. However, regional differences in production systems, market access, supply chain structures, and stakeholder relationships mean that pathways identified in one region may not be directly transferable to another.

Building on the successful methodology developed through the Alpine Valleys pilot, CalfWays is seeking to expand this work into Western Victoria and Gippsland to better understand region-specific opportunities, constraints, and pathways for beef from dairy animals. The project aims to generate practical insights into supply chain requirements, market demand, production economics, and pricing benchmarks while strengthening collaboration between dairy producers, backgrounders, feedlots, processors, and other supply chain participants.

The opportunity for this procurement is to engage suitably qualified consultant(s) to deliver one or more regional pilot projects that will provide evidence-based recommendations, strengthen industry relationships, and identify commercially viable and sustainable pathways for non-replacement dairy calves. The outcomes will support improved producer decision-making, greater market transparency, increased confidence to invest in calf quality, and the development of region-specific implementation strategies that can inform future CalfWays activities across Australia.

Australia’s dairy industry generates a substantial number of non-replacement dairy calves (also called surplus calves) each year. Historically many of these calves had limited value and uncertain market pathways, contributing to ongoing animal welfare and social licence challenges.

There is an opportunity to create value from these calves within commercial beef systems. With appropriate genetics, feeding and management, dairy-origin cattle can meet market specifications and deliver improved production and eating quality outcomes.

Despite this, adoption remains constrained by knowledge, confidence, market understanding and supply chain coordination.

Dairy Australia's CalfWays Roadmap aims to improve the welfare and value of non-replacement calves across the dairy industry. Complementing this work, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Dairy Australia are delivering the Growing Beef from Dairy (GBfD) initiative to support best practice adoption across the beef from dairy production system and strengthen commercially viable market pathways for dairy-origin cattle.

As part of the GBfD initiative, on-farm demonstration sites will be established to demonstrate practical production systems, build producer capability and support adoption through peer-to-peer learning and on-farm demonstration.

This Terms of Reference is calling for proposals to undertake a review and revision of several resources for northern beef producers.