The first-of-its-kind project, supply chain best practice to improve the health and welfare of free-range buffalo harvest
A new research project by AgriFutures Australia and the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) is set to examine the wild-harvest buffalo supply chain in the Northern Territory (NT).
The first-of-its-kind project, Supply Chain Best Practice to Improve the Health and Welfare of Free-Range Buffalo Harvest in Arnhem Land – Northern Territory, aims to identify the barriers and potential opportunities to ensure the industry’s sustainable growth.
Since the introduction of buffalo to Australia in the 1880s, the industry has developed a free-range sector in the NT and a dairy buffalo sector which operates in most states.
Most free-range buffalo in the NT are found in unrestricted herds across Arnhem Land and other areas of Indigenous land, where they have important and often competing economic, environmental and social-cultural impacts on the land and local communities.
Despite the steady growth of the meat and dairy buffalo sectors in Australia, there are risks and challenges which threaten industry viability.
As identified in the AgriFutures Buffalo Program Strategic RD&E Plan (2021-2025), the industry’s highest priority is addressing animal welfare.
Ellen Buckle, AgriFutures Australia Senior Manager – Levied and Emerging Industries, said this project will ultimately provide information on best practices in the buffalo supply chain.
“There’s a real willingness in the industry to work together on this and it is often difficult to get that sort of consensus and movement,” Buckle said.
“The project, funded by the AgriFutures Buffalo Program and the CRCNA and led by The University of Queensland (UQ), will run until June 2026 and involves a consortium of seven research entities, including the Northern Territory Government, Northern Territory Buffalo Industry Council, Central Queensland University, and industry experts Neil MacDonald and Dr Rodd Dyer.”
The CRCNA will additionally support research on the impact and involvement of Arnhem Land Indigenous communities in the buffalo industry.
