Whyalla Beef, located in Texas, Queensland, is a significant player in the cattle industry, managing approximately 50,000 cattle on feed. The induction shed, a critical component of their operation, sees around 2,500 cattle weekly. Abby Brooker, the induction supervisor at Whyalla Beef, provides valuable insights into the challenges they faced and the solutions they found.
Client Profile
- Client: NH Foods, Whyalla Feedlot
- Induction Supervisor: Abby Brooker
- Location: Texas, QLD, Australia
- Operational Scope: 50,000 head of cattle annually
The Challenge
The induction shed at Whyalla Beef, characterized by tight bends and corners, experienced high rates of slip and trip incidents. This not only incurred financial costs but also raised concerns regarding animal welfare. As Brooker states, “In the induction shed there’s quite a few tight bends and corners, and being such a high traffic area, slip and trip rates were quite high which cost us financially and the animal welfare was not up to standard.”
“Now that we have YoungStar matting the injuries and slips have reduced due to the lugs doing the job and keeping our cattle safe.”
Previous Attempts
Before adopting YoungStar matting, Whyalla Beef experimented with several other products. However, these alternatives did not significantly improve the situation. The existing solutions required constant maintenance and repairs, as they lacked durability. Brooker remarks, “We tried multiple other products before using YoungStar matting and they weren’t making much improvement on the concrete. Constant maintenance and repairs were required because they’re not so durable.”
Implementation of Youngstar Matting
Whyalla Beef then turned to YoungStar matting, which led to a notable reduction in injuries and slips. The design of the matting, specifically the lugs, played a crucial role in enhancing safety for the cattle. Brooker notes the effectiveness of the matting: “Now that we have YoungStar matting the injuries and slips have reduced due to the lugs doing the job and keeping our cattle safe.”
Maintenance and Durability
Maintenance and cleaning of YoungStar matting proved to be as straightforward as it was with concrete. This ease of maintenance, coupled with the matting’s durability, impressed the Whyalla Beef team. “Hosing the YoungStar matting is easy… We’ve had YoungStar matting in the shed for a couple of years now and it still looks quite new,” Brooker shares, underscoring the product’s longevity.
“Overall we’ve been really impressed with the young star matting and we’ll highly recommend it to any other feedlots out there looking for a good product.”
Customer Satisfaction and Recommendation
The overall experience of Whyalla Beef with YoungStar matting has been extremely positive, leading to a strong endorsement of the product. “Overall we’ve been really impressed with the young star matting and we’ll highly recommend it to any other feedlots out there looking for a good product,” concludes Brooker, highlighting the satisfaction and confidence Whyalla Beef has in the product.
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