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40 Years in the Making

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About Us

Entegra is the creator of the Ridgeback®. Whether it’s incorporating advanced technologies, optimising spatial layout, or implementing sustainable practices, Entegra is there to help you drive continuous improvement and productivity.
With Entegra Signature Structures, you gain access to a partner that is committed to redefining excellence and setting new industry standards. We partner with industry groups, constantly pushing boundaries to provide you with innovative solutions that give your business a competitive edge.

Entegra offers ongoing support, ensuring every Ridgeback® continues to meet evolving business needs with infrastructure planning.

The Ridgeback® design was more than 40 years in the making. The business was founded in 1986 and the self ventilating Ridgeback® design was patented in 2015.

Our Timeline

1960 – 1970

The Beginning

Neville and Andrew McCalman begin building small sheds in regional Victoria,
 initially to support their young family and struggling farm. They eventually become agents for a New South Wales shed company, selling and erecting various buildings.

1980 – 1990

Bespoke Solutions

Facing issues with kit sheds, the company decides to design and build their own sheds, focusing on ease of construction and quality control. The outcome was bespoke and durable shed designs installed using a roof-lift method of installation.

1990 – 2010

Development of the Ridgeback®

The company embarks on extensive research into design solutions for addressing the essential need for shade and temperature control in dairy cow environments and feedlots. The resulting Ridgeback® design is groundbreaking in its application, for being able to improve animal welfare while also making productivity gains.

2010 – 2015

Berrimah Export Yards

Entegra partners with the Northern Territory Livestock Association on a Ridgeback® design able to be a showpiece for the industry and improving animal welfare. The collaboration between the NTLEA and the NT Government delivered a major $5million upgrade of the Berrimah Yards, with year-round capacity for 4000 head of cattle.

Present

Diverse Applications of the Ridgeback® Design:

Over the years, the Ridgeback® design has found success in various industries, including live export, beef, and dairy. Additionally, it has been installed at sports facilities, offering enhanced air exchange and improved airflow. This versatile design continues to discover new applications.

Before

NTLEA - Berrimah Export Yards Before & After

After

MicrosoftTeams-image (9)-1-minNTLEA

What Our Clients Say

“Having healthy calves in our dairy business is integral to the end-point which is making milk,” he said.
“If we can grow a stronger, healthier calf fast – at the start of her life – and maintain that growth throughout its life, it will be a bigger, healthier cow when she has her first calf.
“So ultimately from that fact alone, we will be having a better cow in the herd so more dollars in our pocket.”

— Matt Glowery

Through summer you get 40 degree days and the troughs are out in the open, they get direct sunlight and algal bloom. We try and mitigate that through trough blocks and cleaning troughs twice a week, however, there will also be a temperature rise in that water. Eight hundred kilo cattle don’t handle those sorts of environmental factors, there’s crowding and panting. However, standing underneath a Ridgeback® , with the design, there’s a constant airflow, you get a nice, cool breeze. There’s a significant difference in the maximum day time temperature.”

— Jack Shaw

“Happy cows produce more milk, it is as simple as that.”
“And the cheapest feed we produce is what’s out in the paddocks, but in our climate they can’t graze all day long. It is too hot. That’s why when they are able to come back to the Ridgeback, it has made a big difference to how comfortable our cows are and the amount of feed our cows will eat.”

— Grant Ledger

“The test (butterfat and protein) went up immediately,” Chad said. “There was a 0.2 per cent average increase across the fat and protein. They were eating more feed, obviously because they were more comfy. We had budgeted on the milk (litres) going up but didn’t budget on the test going up.”

— Carita Parker

“There were key drivers in improvement in hot standard carcass weights, improvements reflected in animal health - lower morbidity and mortality rates,”
“We also were considering that our wood chip program, for bedding, that we have for our heavier cattle, there could be some offsets or (opportunities to) reduce that bedding structure in various depths because of the result of having a shelter structure.
“So adding all those components up, and pen maintenance throughout the year - pens having less water, less erosion - that should reduce our maintenance costs.”

— Keith Howe

“We look at feeding efficiency, carcass weight and the animal’s health.”
“With bedding in the shed, there’s less mud on the cattle,”
“It’s a comfort thing and also for the (processing) plant, they won’t have to spend as much time washing the animal prior to slaughter.”

— Ash Sheahan

Productivity on Farm

BeefEx Wrap

October 20, 2024

Building a Ridgeback®: The benefits outweigh the cost. The results of the Rangers Valley trial, where partially covered housing in the final 100 days boosted cattle performance – as presented by Dr Melissa George at BeefEx’s R&D session.

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Beef Ex Bites

October 16, 2024

ONE global food integrity expert has praised Australia’s feedlot quality assurance program, crediting it for market access benefits and assisting the entire global beef industry’s social licence.

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Ridgeback shade cover at Rangers Valley feedlot, designed and built by Entegra, sheltering beef cattle in pens beneath the steel structure

Let’s chat at BeefEx 

October 15, 2024

Visit the Entegra guest lounge at BeefEx, Brisbane. The Entegra team will be at booth 60 and 61 and available to talk through your ideas, explore concepts and share information.

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