MLA

(a) Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (ABN 39 081 678 364) and its related body corporate Integrity Systems Company Limited (ABN 34 134 745 038) and MLA Donor Company Limited (ABN 49 083 304 867) (“MDC”) (together, “MLA”) undertake a range of research and development and marketing programs designed to benefit beef, sheepmeat and goatmeat industry participants, from livestock producers to retail service providers. It also provides a number of research and development and marketing services to related industry sectors including meat processors and live animal exporters.

(b) MDC invests in research and development to accelerate innovation across the value chain so the Australian red meat and livestock industry can remain globally competitive. It attracts commercial investment from individual enterprises and other companies that share a mutual interest to coinvest in innovation that will benefit the Australian red meat industry. The Australian Government matches voluntary partner contributions (up to 60% of project value) through MDC, where eligible projects deliver outcomes that address broader industry and/or government priorities and benefit the entire industry. Please refer to the MLA Donor Company (MDC) background and application guidelines (or any replacement document) which you can find on MDC’s website https://www.mla.com.au/about-mla/what-we-do/mla-donor-company/.

Invitation

MLA invites interested parties to submit tenders by 1700 on xx (“Closing Date”), to determine optimum feeding strategies to prepare cattle and sheep for livestock transport.

SPECIFICATION

Summary:

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is seeking applications from organizations (or partnerships of organizations) to review and update the national guide, “Is the animal fit to load? Referred to as the Fit to Load (FTL) guide”

Background:

The FTL guide was developed to help producers and livestock operators meet the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock, and decide whether an animal is fit to be loaded for transport and for the entire journey by road or rail, to any destination within Australia.

The guide contains information on everything from roles and responsibilities of consignors and transporters, loading densities, managing effluent and animal assessment. The FTL guide was last updated in 2019.

The updated is needed to:

• incorporate new information and industry developments
• include links to content on the MLA Transport Hub
• ensure prducers/operators consider whether livestock are fit for their intended journey
• include images of marginal animals to aid decision making
• include dairy cattle images in assessments

Project objectives:

Meat and Livestock Australia is seeking expressions of interest to:

1. Deliver an approved, revised, electronic version of the FTL guide by December, 2025.

2. Obtain input and endorsement of the guide from key industry stakeholders by November, 2025.

3. Incorporate content review from state and territory representatives to ensure content aligns with state and territory legislation by November 2025.

4. Ensure content aligns with content on the MLA Transport Hub, is accurate and relevant to industry needs.