The ‘CalfWays’ initiative, led by Dairy Australia in partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia, focuses on improving the management of dairy‑born calves not required for herd replacement.
Each year, more than one million dairy calves are born in Australia, with many male and non‑replacement calves historically having limited market options.
Often referred to as ‘bobby calves’, these animals have traditionally been processed at a very young age due to a lack of viable production pathways, an issue that has attracted increasing community concern around animal welfare and sustainability.
CalfWays aims to tackle this challenge by ensuring every dairy‑origin calf has a valued and commercially viable market outcome, primarily as beef cattle.
Developed with input from more than 150 industry stakeholders, the initiative is guided by a long‑term roadmap to improve welfare outcomes, lift productivity and strengthen collaboration across the dairy and beef supply chains.
Project steering committee chair Patrick Hutchinson said the program offered a practical solution to a problem that had challenged both sectors for decades.
He said creating demand for dairy‑bred beef would reduce the need for early‑life slaughter, while opening new income streams for producers.
“CalfWays gives both the dairy and red meat sectors a real chance to fix a long-standing challenge by creating a genuine, valued pathway for every calf,” Mr Hutchinson said.
CalfWays will support producers through better breeding and management decisions, including the use of sexed semen, genomic testing and strategic breeding to ensure calves are better suited to either herd replacement or beef markets.
MLA research shows beef from dairy systems can meet consumer eating quality expectations, with Meat Standards Australia trials demonstrating well‑finished Holstein and Jersey cattle can deliver tenderness, juiciness and flavour comparable to traditional beef breeds.
With northern Victoria home to one of Australia’s largest dairy regions, Dairy Australia said local farmer involvement would be critical to delivering the CalfWays vision.
Producers can get involved through endorsement, producer group projects and on‑farm initiatives designed to improve beef‑from‑dairy opportunities.
Farmers interested in any level of involvement can contact the CalfWays team directly, email calfways@dairyaustralia.com.au
