Why animal welfare matters for quality grain fed beef

niamh552
Jun 19
4 min read

Updated: Jun 20

When it comes to producing high-quality, nutritious beef, the care and well-being of cattle is directly linked to the end product that lands on your plate.

We spoke to Jeremy Cummins, Director of Bottlejac Trading, about why animal welfare isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ in the grain fed beef industry, it’s the foundation to everything. Jeremy, alongside his wife Angela, operates 4,000 heads of Angus and Angus-cross cattle across two feedlots, Angora and Mirambee, in Northwest, NSW.

Animal welfare is core business

In feedlots, animal welfare isn’t a checkbox exercise, it’s a way of life. From pen riders to livestock managers, every person in a feedlot operation shares a deep, personal responsibility for the health and well-being of the cattle in their care.

“It is the most important part of the whole operation. If you don’t have happy, healthy animals, poor performance flows through your entire business. So animal welfare basically means whether you can operate profitably or not.”

However, healthy cattle mean so much more than growth rates and market access; animal wellbeing directly impacts the team’s motivation, morale, and the pride they take in their work.

“At the end of the day, we are a team of humans passionate about agriculture and livestock. It’s our chosen livelihood, so caring for the cattle becomes our ultimate benchmark for success and a source of purpose for everyone involved.”

Nationally accredited, professionally delivered

To produce certified grain fed beef in Australia, a feedlot must be accredited and must meet the standards set out by the independently audited National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS), a rigorous quality assurance scheme. To stay accredited, feedlots must pass independent annual audits and meet strict criteria across Food Safety, Environmental Management, Livestock Management, and Product Integrity.

Animal care in Australian feedlots is guided by the national Animal Welfare Standards and the Five Freedoms, ensuring cattle wellbeing across nutrition, health, environment, behaviour, and mental state.

From balanced diets and daily health checks by pen riders to low-stress handling and clean, comfortable pens, every detail is managed with care. Supported by tailored treatments, operational manuals, and regular audits, these systems ensure welfare is more than policy, it’s daily practice that benefits both cattle and the people who care for them.

Attention to detail = better beef

In grain fed beef production, every detail matters. It’s the small details that can make a big difference to animal welfare and beef quality. Professional nutritionists, consistent processes, and expert oversight ensure animals stay healthy and perform to their maximum potential every day.

“A feedlot is a game of 1%. You can be doing 90% of things perfectly, but if you miss two or three of those 1-percenters, the whole thing can fall apart.”

Skilled staff, strong culture of care

Behind every well-cared-for animal is a dedicated livestock team. At Bottlejac, staff undergo competency-based inductions, receive animal welfare training via Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA)’s training programs and Feedlot TECH, and are part of a workplace culture that values discipline, professionalism, and compassion.

From well-fitting uniforms to peer accountability, high standards are the norm, and the result is a team that not only meets but exceeds animal care expectations. It’s this care factor that drives feedlot staff to go above and beyond every single day.

“These people get to work at 6 o'clock in the morning, and all they do all day is care for livestock. That includes the cattle, their own animals, their horses, their dogs, it’s their entire life. One pen rider might be responsible for 500 to 1,000 head. That’s a massive responsibility, and they take it seriously.”

“They’re there in the rain, in 40-degree heat, in the wind, the cattle get looked after no matter what. The only way that animal welfare can be enacted properly is through the staff, and the only reason it works is because they genuinely care.”

This isn’t just a job, it’s a purpose. Livestock staff routinely make personal sacrifices to maintain the wellbeing of the animals under their care. During natural disasters, such as floods, this dedication becomes even clearer.

“I’ve seen staff who stayed at the feedlot for two weeks straight to care for cattle during a flood. People got helicoptered in, drove through floodwaters not because they owned the cattle, but because they felt responsible. They slept in the quarters and didn’t want to leave. That’s the level of commitment and care we’re talking about.”

Protecting trust through high standards

Today’s consumers care deeply about how their food is produced. Grain fed beef producers understand that their ability to do business, their social license, depends not only on doing the right thing but being transparent about it.

“We want to tell the real stories about the passion our staff have, the training they undertake, and the high bar we hold ourselves to.”

Accreditation systems like the NFAS and industry associations like ALFA help set a clear and consistent standard and hold everyone accountable to it. By upholding rigorous standards and sharing the real stories behind the beef, the industry protects more than just its product; it protects and nourishes its people, its animals, and the trust of the communities it feeds.

Animal welfare in Australian feedlots is backed by standards and science but more than anything, it’s powered by people. It’s their passion, pride, and persistence that ensures cattle are well cared for, every single day and that Australians have access to high-quality beef, every single day.