A CQUniversity project aimed at boosting links between the beef research industries in Australia and Latin America through the implementation of DataMuster automated livestock management system, has been awarded more than $750,000 as part of the Federal Government’s Global Innovation Linkages program.
Led by CQUniversity professor Dave Swain and Michael Thomson, in partnership with the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, the ‘Global Innovation Linkages – International collaboration with INTA in Argentina’ project will build upon work that led to the first international deployment of the system in Argentina last year.
CQUniversity has established DataMuster as an ag-tech start-up to deliver the technology to the beef industry and maximise the impact of its research programs to the community.
DataMuster’s web-based platform provides cattle producers with the critical information they need for more timely and precise management decisions on stocking rates, mustering and marketing dates, feed availability, and animal health treatments.
The new project, which received total funding of $751,514, will aim to refine the DataMuster hardware and software to suit Latin American production systems.
The software will be integrated to capture the data flows from new sensors, farm hardware net feed intake measurement systems developed by Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA).
A team of researchers will also continue to look for other ways to expand innovation.
Announcing the grants, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said connecting Australian researchers with others around the world would pay dividends for all Australians by growing the economy and creating local jobs.
“The grants will be provided as seed funding to support international partnerships in the development of high quality products, services or processes that will address a range of industry challenges here in Australia,” she said.
“Encouraging this sort of cooperation between businesses and researchers helps drive economic growth and the creation of high quality jobs.”
For more information visit datamuster.net.au
