Buy Australian: How technology is helping farmers achieve results in a pandemic
Find out how technology is helping many Australian farmers to monitor the health of their animals in real-time, prevent disease outbreaks and optimise nutrition.
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They just struggled through the drought — now cattle farmers Katie and Scott Lloyd are determined to forge ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The couple turned to technology to monitor the wellbeing of their cattle to ensure tender and high quality beef to customers.
Ms Lloyd said tracking devices such as electronic ear tags can check the weight, health and eating habits of every animal.
“Our team of vets and nutritionists direct us on how and what the cattle should be fed,” she said.
“We really take the time to care for our cattle and want to achieve the best possible results.”
Despite the crisis disrupting farm-to-table operations, Ms Lloyd said their cattle feedlot, Lloyd Pastoral in Chinchilla, Queensland, “isn’t struggling to make ends meet” because of its progressiveness and a 33-year partnership with Woolworths.
The supermarket’s head of livestock Brett Thompson said whenever you buy fresh meat at Woolworths, you’re supporting Australian farmers like the Lloyds.
“We have a shared mission to put great Aussie beef on kitchen tables around the country and Katie and Scott’s hard work helps make that possible,” he said.
Woolworths works with more than 1000 cattle farms across Australia, many of which are run by families like the Lloyds, who doubled their cattle production to 10,000 head after taking over the family farm in 2009.
“It’s important for consumers to become more aware of the benefits of supporting local farmers and producers,” Ms Lloyd said.
Originally published as Buy Australian: How technology is helping farmers achieve results in a pandemic