Thursday April 20, 2017 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 17 northqueenslandregister.com.au in North Queensland ISSUE 43 AUTUMN / WINTER 2017 Informaon for rural business in North Queensland www.futurebeef.com.au Research reveals ways to reduce calf loss All systems go at Spyglass NORTHERN IN THIS ISSUE Editorial Market Report Producers wanted for smart sensor stock theft trials Research reveals ways to reduce calf loss All systems go at Spyglass Planning ahead for Dry times Understanding diminishing marginal returns in a beef business Looking after yourself in tough times Rehabilitating fertile ground: the black basalt soil project The hidden costs to drought feeding $avannaPlan-Beef$ense nurtures NextGen producers Lowest cost production + low risk = MORE PROFIT, MORE OFTEN
Transcript
ThursdayApril 20, 2017 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 17northqueenslandregister.com.au
in North Queensland
ISSUE 43 AUTUMN /WINTER 2017
Information for rural business in North Queensland
www.futurebeef.com.au
Research reveals waysto reduce calf loss
All systems go atSpyglass
NORTHERN
IN THIS ISSUEEditorial
Market Report
Producers wanted for smart sensor stock theft trials
Research reveals ways to reduce calf loss
All systems go at Spyglass
Planning ahead for Dry timesUnderstanding diminishing marginal returns ina beef business
Looking after yourself in tough times
Rehabilitating fertile ground: the black basalt soil project
The hidden costs to drought feeding
$avannaPlan-Beef$ense nurtures NextGen producers
Lowest cost production+ low risk =MORE PROFIT,MORE OFTEN
Reproduction of articlesDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries welcomesreproduction of articles appearing in this newsletter providingthe source is acknowledged, the article is reproduced in fulland technical information is confirmed with the editor beforepublication, ensuring the recommendations are still accurateat the time of reprinting. The Queensland Government shallnot be liable for technical or other errors or omissionscontained herein. To the extent permitted by law, thereader/user accepts all risks and responsibilities for losses,damages, costs and other consequences resulting directlyor indirectly from using the information contained herein.Advertisements included in this edition were accepted on theunderstanding that they complied with the relevant provisionsof the Competition and Consumer Act and with the AustralianAssociation of National Advertisers Code of Practice. Noendorsement by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheriesis intended or implied by the advertisement of any productin the Northern Muster.
Market report very mixed season for stateIn late March-early April Severe TropicalCyclone Debbie dumped a lot of rainfall southof Townsville to the northern rivers district innorthern NSW and inland for several hundredkilometres. Many producers in this area willhave suffered severe infrastructure damagefrom wind and flooding. On a positive side a lotof cattle country that has experienced a failedsummer wet season has had a late boost totheir pastures, the down side being that therainfall didn’t go further west in Queenslandwhere pasture conditions are still very poor.The cyclone and flooding has caused disruptionto many of our eastern seaboard meat worksbut the rain will have a positive influence onthe market prices. Producers experiencinganother poor summer had most of our abattoirsbooked out for 6 to 8 weeks but this late rainacross some of our best fattening country willallow producers to ease up on sales plus puta demand into the market for store cattle fromdrier regions across the state. The late rainmight not improve fat cattle prices but it willcertainly halt a rapid decline in meat worksgrids as we move into winter. Local DroughtCommittees (LDCs) are meeting this monthacross the state and will recommend any
changes to the status of drought declarations tothe Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Domestic MarketThe USA is over its cattle shortage due todrought and has more high quality cuts to selloverseas plus high supplies of cheap grindingbeef at home. Australian exporters haverecently lost an important high quality Koreanbeef order to USA beef exporters.
In 2016 Australia exported 1.018 milliontonnes of beef which was down 267,000tonnes on 2015 totals. The big three marketsfor our product continues to be the USA, Japanand Korea which took a combined 686,000tonnes. Other important sales include 94,000tonnes to China, 61,000 tonnes to Indonesia,31,300 tonnes Taiwan and 29,000 tonnes toPhilippines.
Live ExportOver the last couple months with the bigwet in the Territory and the north of WesternAustralia a large percentage of live exportactivity from northern Australia has been out
of Townsville. The Indonesian market situationhas been in the media nearly continuously, withIndian buffalo meat being imported to reducedomestic and wet market prices. Then therehas been a temporary ban on this trade withfoot and mouth disease concerns.
In further news, the four month permit systemfor Australian importers has now been replacedwith an annual permit providing exporters withmore security. It has also been announced thatthe 350kg average weight limit on export cattlehas been increased to 450 kg, whilst this isbetter for the Australian producer, it may notsuit Indonesian feedlotters, who have beenunder a lot of economic pressure with the highAustralian cattle prices, and their Governmentpersuading domestic meat retail prices.
No one is too sure where the IndonesianGovernment’s late 2016 requirement for apercentage of the total trade from Australia, beheifers or cattle suitable for breeding is going.
Another live export development has been ashipment of southern Australian cattle to Chinafor feeding and sale into their supermarketsystem.
Welcome to the Autumn/Winter edition ofthe Northern muster.
As we enter winter months, it’s time totake a look at how your cattle, grass andbusiness have fared over the wet season,and importantly, how they will perform duringthe dry season. If you haven’t receivedadequate rain find out whether you are eligiblefor drought assistance by contacting yourlocal DAF drought co-ordinator Karl McKellar(Charters Towers), phone 4761 5153.
In other parts of our readership area, SevereTropical Cyclone Debbie has impacted manyQueensland grazing businesses, parts of thesupply chain and vital infrastructure. TheDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries iscommitted to assisting industry recover. Keycontacts for information and fundingassistance are DAF – www.daf.qld.gov.au or13 25 23, QRAA on www.qraa.qld.gov.au orFreecall 1 800 623 946. The websitehttp://www.farmerdisastersupport.org.au hasa listing of all support agencies assisting therecovery effort.
In this issue, we have loads of information onsupplementation, how pregnancy testing nowcan help you manage calf loss, plus how newtechnology is assisting to prevent stock theft.A full update on the latest news and projects atthe Spyglass Beef Research property isalso included.
The annual Clermont Cattlemen’s Challengefield day is being held on Friday May 19 atParinga feedlot, Capella. On the day you will getthe opportunity to tour the feedlot, inspect theChallenge steers and see how they weigh up.
A major field day is being held at Mt Aberdeenon May 24. This is your chance to get a look at23 years of breeder records and to find out howyou can make your breeder performance moreprofitable through the implementation of bestpractice breeder, weaner and supplementationmanagement.
DAF is hosting pasture species identificationpaddock walks, understanding land conditiondays and create your own pasture yield photostandards workshops in May and June acrossthe Burdekin and Fitzroy. Keep your eyes out forevent details on the FutureBeef website.
We hope you enjoy issue 43 of the Northernmuster. Please contact the editorial teamwith any inquiries or feedback. To registerto receive the online version of the Northernmuster, subscribe on the FutureBeef website(www.futurebeef.com.au/resources/newsletters/) or email [email protected]
For the latest research-based information,tips, tools, events and recorded webinars,visit www.futurebeef.com.au
Alice Bambling, Megan Willis, MellissaHolzwart
More searches are now done on smartphones than desktops yetonly42% of people find it easy to use websites on their mobile.
If your site is not mobile-responsive, you may rank lower than your competitors....and lose potential customers.
We have everything you need to connect your business with local customers and beyond.
IS YOUR BUSINESS MOBILE READY?
To discover how our range of solutions and support can help your business grow,call us on 1300 289 877 or email [email protected]
for your FREE Digital Health Check.
*Source: smartcompany.com.au
Web Design Search EngineMarketing
Search EngineOptimisation
EmailMarketing
Social MediaMarketing
ThursdayApril 20, 2017 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 19northqueenslandregister.com.au
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
Producers wantedfor smart sensorstock theft trialsCATTLE producers have been called on toparticipate in research testing smart sensortechnology as a way of preventing and detectingstock theft.
In collaboration with AgForce, CQUniversityresearchers are aiming to develop a newlivestock monitoring system which can be usedby producers and law enforcement agencies toremotely monitor animals.
The 2001–2002 National Farm Crime Survey,conducted by the Australian Institute ofCriminology, found that livestock theft was themost commonly reported rural crime affecting sixper cent of farms, involving 186 777 animals withan estimated annual cost of $16 million.
However, most incidents (65 per cent) gounreported and the true cost is more likely tobe closer to $67 million a year.
Associate Professor Mark Trotter, leader of theresearch project, said: “stock theft can rangefrom small incursions paring off a handful ofanimals from larger groups, all the way throughto major criminal operations in which entire herdsare mustered into portable yards and shipped outin semi-trailers.
“In all cases, the opportunity to steal is a resultof the inability of the producer to constantlymonitor the location and behavior of theirlivestock,” he said.
CQUniversity’s Precision Livestock Managementteam is recognised as a national leader in theuse of sensor technologies to enhance animalproduction.
Dr Trotter will be collaborating with ProfessorSteve Moore from CQUniversity’s School ofEngineering and Technology in adapting sensorsfor use on livestock; and with Dr Stuart Chartersof New Zealand’s Lincoln University, who is anexpert in data management and visualisation.
“One of the limitations of the National LivestockIdentification System is that the location ofan animal is only sporadically known whenthe tags are checked i.e. when livestock arebought, sold or moved along the productionchain - animal data cannot be accessedremotely or in real-time,” Dr Trotter said.
The research group has designed a genericanimal sensing platform with GPS location tomonitor animal movement that we will test instock theft simulations at AgForce’s BelmontResearch Station.
CQUniversity hosted workshops with producersdirectly affected by stock theft to gain insightsinto the types of behavior, both criminal andanimal, that can be recorded during stocktheft, as well as provided feedback on howon-animal data could be best be relayed tothese end-users in a meaningful way.
Associate professor Mark Trotter from CQ University
Research reveals ways toreduce calf loss
A RECENT report costed foetal and calfloss in northern Australia at approximately$15.5 million per year.
Professor Michael McGowan from the Universityof Queensland said that reducing calf losswill increase the kilograms of live weightproduced per year by cow herds. This will boostprofitability in north Australian beef businesses.
The Cash Cow project led by ProfessorMcGowan confirmed that many producersconsistently experience low weaning rates and,as a consequence, lower live weight production.
Calf loss rates in excess of 20 per cent wereseen across north Australia. In better countrythe lowest achievable level was five per centand in the northern forest, where the highestlosses occurred, it was 10 per cent.
“The main reason for this was found to beunder-nutrition of cows, and only occasionallyinfectious disease,” he said.
About two-thirds of loss is in the first twoweeks after birth. Poor nutrition can affect theamount of milk a calf gets in the days afterbirth. This has a major impact on survival.
Professor McGowan emphasised that if cowsare in poor condition or do not have the qualityand quantity of feed and water that meets theirneeds throughout pregnancy, the calf may beborn weak or the cow may not produce enoughmilk for the calf.
Weaner production is especially reduced whenfoetal and calf loss occurs.
“Analysis of data from the Beef CRC shows theannual live weight production of cows losingcalves is 128 kg lower; that is, the business
ultimately has 128 kg less to sell, which is a$400 problem”, Professor McGowan said.
The first step in reducing calf loss on yourproperty is identifying the issue. This is doneby regular pregnancy diagnosis to identify andsegregate pregnant cows, and recording thenumber of cows that lactate in the followingyear. Pregnancy testing will allow you to identifyhow many breeders are conceiving and losinga calf before weaning.
“A benefit of foetal ageing as part of pregnancytesting is it will show predicted calving patterns,enabling more targeted cow nutritionalmanagement.”
The cause of calf loss needs to be identifiedonce it has been determined there is an issue.The main reproductive diseases to be awareof are vibriosis, pestivirus, and trichomoniasis.These reproductive diseases have the greatesteffect on calf loss in northern Australia.Veterinary advice should be sought on testingand controlling these diseases.
“Other factors that could be influencing calfloss on your property are predation from wilddogs, mustering around the time of calving,and common husbandry practices such asdehorning and castration,” he said.
If you think you may have a calf loss problemor would like more information, download‘Could your herd be more productive’ fromhttps://futurebeef.com.au or contact AliceBambling on (07) 47615192.
Alice BamblingDAF Beef Team, Charters Towers(07) 4761 [email protected]
2
CONSIGNYOUR CATTLE TO DALRYMPLE SALEYARDSCombined Fat & Store Sales |Wednesdays
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
All systems goat SpyglassImproved pasture modelling ofBurdekin land types.Graziers are constantly facing the majorchallenge of matching stocking rate to pasturegrowth, particularly in northern Australia’svariable climate.
The GRASP pasture and animal growth modelis used to provide long-term carrying capacity(LTCC) information to assist in grazing landmanagement decision-making.
Over the past few years, DAF scientistshave been collecting rainfall, pasture andsoil measurements from six fenced sitesestablished on Spyglass to calibrate theGRASP model.
These sites cover a range of productivity fromthe most productive Loamy Alluvials, Box andNarrow-leaved Ironbark through to Yellowjacketand low productivity Box and Narrow-leavedIronbark. Initial data collection has coincidedwith three below average wet seasons. Thispasture production data will enable improvedestimates of pasture productivity and LTCC tobe determined for a range of land types.
For further information on this project contact:
Dr Giselle WhishSenior ScientistDAF Toowoomba
Where do the deer roam?A team from Biosecurity Queensland (TonyPople, Michael Brennan and Matt Amos) havecontinued to monitor the distribution andabundance of chital deer on Spyglass andsome surrounding properties.
They have recorded a marked decline (morethan 8 per cent) in deer abundance over2015-16 largely influenced by drought.
Another project being undertaken by aUniversity of Queensland student has beenexamining the diet of chital deer on Spyglassand Niall stations. Plant and pasture species
have been identified from rumen contentscollected from deer over different seasons.On Spyglass the grass component of their dietranges from more than 90 per cent in the wetseason to 5 per cent during the dry season.
Also a new project has been developed touse radio telemetry (satellite collars and radioear tags) to examine fawn survival and adultmovement patterns on properties in the region.
Researchers have been surveying landholderswith assistance from Charters Towers RegionalCouncil to determine the history of the spreadof Chital deer in the region. The overallobjective is to explain the recent expansion inrange and increase in abundance of Chital deerin north Queensland.
This information will allow a betterunderstanding of behaviour, habitat useand population dynamics of Chital deer andconsequently achieve better managementof the deer.
For further information on these projectscontact:
Tony PopleInvasive Plants and Animals ResearchBiosecurity Queensland, Brisbane(07) 3708 8550
Wild dogs dine on deerPreliminary investigations into the prey remainsdetected in wild dog scats collected withinChital deer distributions suggest wild dogs mayplay a positive role controlling deer populationby preying on fawns.
In a current project, wild dog scats will becollected every two to three months fromSpyglass and analysed for the prey remainsthey contain.
Although there is a wide variety of prey speciesdiscovered in scats (including rabbits, feralpigs, possums, emus) Chital deer remains(12 per cent) are only second to kangaroo andwallaby remains (40-60 per cent) in frequencyof occurrence in wild dog diets. Of the 194 wilddog scats already analysed from Spyglass onlythree have contained cattle remains.
For further information on this project contact
Lee AllenSenior ZoologistBiosecurity Queensland0447 744 333
“Wild dogs use scats (droppings) to advertise their territory andsocial status. They are often found along animal pads, at roadintersections, gates and creek crossings where other wild dogsare most likely to encounter them”.
Herd management: Cashing inon research and technologyTwo new studies commenced at Spyglass inlate 2016 to determine:
1. The importance of heifer live weight toachieve high pregnancy rates, and
2. What productivity is achievable for yourbreeding cows.
Study 1- Heifer live weight andpregnancy
A producer demonstration site project at MtOweenee station highlighted the importanceof heifer accumulating sufficient live weight toreach puberty. In the Mt Oweenee herd, weightsof 400 plus kilograms were necessary by theend of mating to achieve high pregnancy rates.
In late 2016 a similar demonstrationcommenced at Spyglass using 300 No.16heifers to monitor their growth until pregnancytesting. To assist with regular weighing’s asatellite based Remote Livestock Management
System (RLMS) (otherwise known as Walk OverWeighing (WOW) unit) is being used to recordweight each time animals come into water.This work will provide regular updates ofheifer growth and describe how this affectspregnancy rates.
No.16 Spyglass heifers making use of the WOW
Study 2 – What is anachievable benchmark foryour breeding cows?
A concept proposed by the recent Cash Cowproject suggested that the average kilogramsweaned per cow retained (also known asWeaner Production), should at least match thatof annual yearling steer growth if grazing in thesame paddocks.
Currently at Spyglass 15 No.16 indicatorsteers are grazing with breeders in a 4000hapaddock. Steers were weighed into thepaddock in September 2016 and will beweighed again in September 2017 to recordannual growth. This will be compared withthe average kg weaned per cow to test thebenchmark. If proven, this will be a valuablemeasure for beef producers to develop theirown targets for achievable breeder productionin their environment.
For further information on these projectscontact:
Dave SmithFutureBeef extension officerDAF, Charters [email protected]
3
Whether buying or selling, you are connected to a widerange of farmers, dealers, products and brands
Your online marketplacefor all things Ag
ThursdayApril 20, 2017 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 21northqueenslandregister.com.au
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
Vegnet LiDARVegnet, an automated laser instrument(LiDAR), has been installed at Spyglass tomonitor and help us understand the changesin the amount of leaves in the tree canopy thatoccur due to rainfall, drought and seasonal leafdrop. It uses a laser to scan the surroundingtrees each night.
The data collected will be used to betterunderstand the tree and shrub dynamics in thisvariable grazing system. It will help to fine-tunemodels of pasture ground cover and biomass.
Two time lapse cameras were also installed.These cameras take photos every 10 minutesboth inside and outside the enclosure wherethe Vegnet is located. These photos will be usedto look at the grassland response to rainfall andtemperature, the change in grass height overtime, and rate of drying to improve our modelsof grassland behaviour.
Manager’s updateMayne Dam re-construction has beencompleted. This work was done to reinstatethe dam to a functional level after an intenserainfall event in 2007 resulted in the dam wallbeing breached and 80pc of the wall beingwashed away. The dam will play a vital role inwater distribution to livestock on the property.
It will contribute to the future drought-proofingof Spyglass by allowing water to be gravity fedto over 75pc of the property.
Further water improvements include increasingwater points and storage. A dam site leftbehind from a mining site will be equipped.This will allow a further 4000 hectares tobe better utilised due to better access topermanent water.
Satellite and UHF water and weather monitoringstations have been trialled on Spyglass. Theyhave proven to be useful and cost effective toolin the management of livestock and monitoringof weather and available water.
Fencing work has continued to furthersubdivide paddocks as well as the clearing ofboundary and internal fences. This will increasethe security of smaller paddocks and mobsof stock available to meet trial requirements.Extensive black wattle and eucalypt re-growthcontrol is being carried out.
Spyglass received 616mm of rain for the2016 calendar year. As of the end of FebruarySpyglass had received 265 mm of rain. This isfollowing the 265 mm in 2015 and 357 mmin 2014.
Sean ReedActing Spyglass Research Facility ManagerDAF, Spyglass(07) 4018 0182
All systems go at Spyglass (conts) Planning ahead for dry times
Every business should have a drought plan in place. A drought plan should be as common as afarm budget, yet too often this vital element of farm planning gets forgotten about or pushed tothe back of the cupboard, never to be seen again.
So if you haven’t got one, now is the time to sit down and have a think about some strategies thatwill better prepare your business for the next drought; and if you do already have one, pull it outand display it somewhere easy to see.
A good drought plan should include strategies which are consistent with the goals within thegrazing business. It should have key decision dates or trigger points, such as a date by which ifit hasn’t rained a decision will be made on aspects of the business, such as destocking.
Another example is if the summer rainfall outlook is poor, a decision will be made to source andpurchase supplementary feed before prices rise and stock lose condition.
Knowing what you are going to do and when, and ensuring that you act early enough is criticalwhen preparing for hard times.
When making decisions based on trigger points in the drought plan, there are many tools availablethat can assist you.
These include templates and apps for forage budgeting, market reports to gauge sale prices, costof feeding calculators, rainfall outlooks and climate data, budgeting spreadsheets and templatesand many more. The more objective your data is, the less likely the decision will be made onimpulse or affected by emotions.
Another crucial aspect to drought planning and recovery is the use of an after action reviewprocess, where you review actions undertaken during the last drought.
It could be as simple as drawing up 3 columns on a sheet of paper with the headings: “What issuesdid I have during the drought”, “What did I learn from this?” and “What will I change next time?
A drought plan can help to alleviate the stress associated with making big decisions in responseto failed seasons and can help make future decisions easier.
For further information or to discuss your options please contact your local DAF BeefExtension Officer.
Longreach: (07) 4536 8305Mareeba: (07) 4048 4600
4
AW32
3307
8
NORTHERN AUSTRALIANLIVESTOCK EXPORT SPECIALISTS
Highest AnimalWelfare | Personal Service | Market Pricesdean 0418 888 814 | Danny 0429 040 3063 | john 0429 723 169
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
Understanding diminishingmarginal returns in a beefbusinessIf you have ever wondered whetherchanging a management practice on yourproperty is worthwhile, then understandingdiminishing marginal returns in your beefbusiness is critical.
Almost everything in life is subject todiminishing returns, from capital expenditureto gift giving, but what is diminishingmarginal returns and how does it relate to abeef business?
Diminishing returns relates to the fact thatfor any production above and beyond whereyou are now, it’s going to cost extra effort andmoney to achieve and therefore will return lessmoney per unit than the current output level.It needs to be highlighted that we are talkingabout per unit returns not totalbusiness returns.
The graph below shows an example of abreeding and finishing operation and thechange in gross margin from each additional5 per cent weaning rate.
From this example, it can be seen that goingfrom 35 per cent weaning rate to 40 per centrate is worth an additional $10.88 in grossmargin per adult equivalent (AE).
However, going from 80 per cent to 85 percent weaning rate is only worth an additional$4.49 in gross margin per adult equivalent. Itis not necessary to be caught up in the exactamounts shown here, as both the rate atwhich returns diminish (i.e. the slope of thecurve) and the dollar amount will be differentfor every business.
So how does this impact a decision in yourbeef business on whether to adopt a newmanagement practice, or a new technology?Simply, it lets you know if that change will beprofitable or not.
The effect of weaning rate on a business’s gross margin
Let’s take a scenario where a wonderfulsupplementary feed comes to the market at acost of $8 per adult equivalent. By using thisnew product, you have been promised that yourweaning rate will improve by five per cent.
Knowing what the marginal return is forimprovement in weaning rate shows that if youare operating at 80 per cent and therefore willachieve 85 per cent weaning, you will only geta $4.49/AE benefit.
Therefore, at a cost of $8/AE, it doesn’t makea lot of sense. Alternatively, if you are operatingat 35 per cent and will achieve 40 per cent,your business will be better off by $10.88 / AEand therefore spending $8/AE to achieve thisdoes make sense (your business is better offby $2.88/AE).
This is however a simplistic illustration, asherd dynamics change with large changes inweaning rates, price and markets change.
If you are interested in learning more aboutthe business side of your beef business,Queensland’s Department of Agriculture andFisheries (DAF) is taking expressions of interestfor running the “Business of Beef” workshops.The “Business of Beef” workshops are fundedby the Department of Environment and HeritageProtection through the Grazing BMP Supportand Extension project”.
To register your interest, obtain moreinformation, or request one-on-one extensionfor your beef business, please contact:
Resilience and determination are anatural part of rural life, however it isimportant to acknowledge that that theremay be times when ongoing hurdles, likedrought, make it that bit harder to ‘getback on the horse’.
Difficult climatic conditions, financial andemotional stress, and the hard work andlong hours put into running a family-ownedbusiness, can place enormous pressure onaffected farming families.
These pressures can impact your mentalhealth and wellbeing leading to symptomsof anxiety, depression and other healthrelated issues.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)Drought Wellbeing Service offers freecounselling and support to people livingand working in areas impacted by drought.The program has clinical counsellorsspecifically trained to help people with arange of issues including:
• Sleep difficulties
• Physical effects such as headachesand muscle tension
• Anxiety and depression
• Stress management
• Grief and loss
• Relationship issues
• Self-esteem
• Work related issues
• Alcohol and gambling
• Building resilience through change.
If you, a friend or loved one would liketo chat with one of the RFDS DroughtWellbeing Service counsellors please call(07) 3852 7544 or contact your localofficer using the details below.
ThursdayApril 20, 2017 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 23northqueenslandregister.com.au
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
As a result of their high fertility, the blackbasalt soils are often in poor condition. Thisis largely due to watering point location andgrazing preference.
Livestock preference for grazing the black soilscreates a problem within any paddock whereblack basalt country is the minority land type.
Land condition is rated using an ABCDframework with A being best and D being verypoor condition. The current estimate is that75,000 - 80,000 hectares of black basaltcountry is in C or D condition.
Land in C and D condition does not have thesame rainfall infiltration and lacks the preferredperennial pasture species. It will not respondto rainfall to produce the same body of feed asland in B or A condition.
Black basalt country in A condition couldbe stocked at 1 AE to 5 hectares whereas Dcondition can only sustainably support1 AE to 20 hectares. This highlights the clearimportance of maintaining good land condition.The issue that needs to be resolved is how tobest improve small areas of black basalt landalready in C or D condition within large redbasalt paddocks.
The project:A project team, led by Kate Brown, Departmentof Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Townsville,and in partnership with Dalrymple LandcareCommittee (DLC) was set up in February2014. The aim was to establish a producerdemonstration site to explore the managementoptions and economic benefits of restoringblack basalt from D condition within redbasalt paddocks.
The first producer group meeting was held inSeptember 2014 where producers providedinput into the design and methods of thedemonstration. Technical input was provided bya variety of specialists within that field.
In February 2016 a suitable site was selectedon Basalt River (formerly known as Tara)Station. The 70ha site has varying densitiesof surface basalt rock ranging from stone-free,light stone, moderate stone, to solid lava.
Seedbed preparation likewise varied dependingon the density of stone; with stone-free andlight stone areas being cultivated with an offsetdisc plow, moderately rocky areas cultivatedwith a three tyned ripper, and heavy stone areascultivated with a crocodile seeder.
The largest proportion of the site was offsetdisc plowed. Some areas were too stony to becultivated. The site was fenced with a standardthree barbed cattle fence to manage grazing.Soil tests revealed that soil sulphur was low,therefore 15kg/ha of prilled elemental sulphurwas applied with the seed.
Seed proved difficult to source which iscommon during a run of drought years. The sitewas sown with a mixture of:
5 legumes: Milgarra Butterfly pea, Burgundybean, Cavalcade Centro, ProgardesDesmanthus and Caatinga Stylo, and
In the week before Christmas 2016, all seedwas mixed and broadcast using a fertilizerspreader, then lightly rolled with a tyre roller.As most seed was coated and some wasnot, the seeding rate as bare seed equivalentwas 9.6kg/ha for legumes and 6.3kg/ha forgrasses. This rate is high, commercial seedingrates would be approximately 1/3 of what wassown at this site.
Since sowing, 250mm of rain has fallen onthe site, with the last growing rain received inthe middle of February. The strike was good,but it was difficult to identify the individualspecies present as a lot of annuals emergedsimultaneously.
A series of single species 8x10m plots weresown so that visitors to the site can readilyidentify the range of sown pasture plants. Anadjacent 13ha area of red basalt country wasalso cultivated and sown with a mixture ofSeca, Amiga & Siran stylos.
The site will be monitored for 3-5 years anda variety of extension activities held along theway. We welcome any producers fromthe district who wish to be part of the ongoing
producer group activities. Depending on thetime taken to establish a good stand of pasture,a field-day will be held in autumn this yearor in 2018. DAF and DLC sincerely thank theLyons family of Basalt River for hosting thedemonstration site and doing much of thework to make it a reality. DLC also gratefullyacknowledges the support of the project byHeritage Seeds, Selected Seeds, Agrimix andProgressive Seeds.
Rehabilitating fertileground: the blackbasalt soil projectBlack basaltic soils cover 230,000 hectares in theDalrymple Shire. These are some of the most fertileand heavy carrying country in North Queensland.
Monitoring site in December prior to cultivation and sowing
The site paddock approximately 7 weeks after sowing
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
$avannaPlan-Beef$ensenurtures NextGen producers
FOLLOWING on from three years of$avannaPlan-Beef$ense, the project team hasexpanded its whole-of-business approach tofocus on the next generation (NextGen) of youngbeef producers.
Having identified the need for early intervention,a tailored NextGen mentoring program hasbeen developed by the $avannaPlan-Beef$enseteam, Northern Gulf Resource ManagementGroup (NGRMG) and AgForce, to accelerateadoption of improved land, cattle and businessmanagement practices across the Gulf.
The $avannaPlan-Beef$ense project team(DAF Beef Team, NGRMG and AgribusinessConsultant Alison Larard) deliver confidentialon-property services focusing on all aspectsof running a profitable beef business frombreeder productivity and stocking rates, throughto cash flow budgeting, debt managementand marketing.
Where many consultants generally offer advicewithin their field of expertise, $avannaPlan-Beef$ense pools the knowledge of beef industryprofessionals experienced in the financial,succession, herd and grazing aspects ofnorthern cattle businesses.
The NextGen program is focused on transferringthe knowledge of successful producers to thenext generation (mentees), deliberately linkingmentees to producers who successfully managethe same seasonal, financial, herd and grazingmanagement constraints.
In addition to experience gleaned from leadingproducers, the mentees also network witha range of industry experts in grazing landmanagement, production (animal nutrition,pasture management and improvements),marketing, business skills, wealth managementand personal communication and development.
The $avannaPlan-Beef$ense project team useda competitive application and selection processto choose thirty-four mentees (aged 18 - 35years) from across the Gulf to participate in theNextGen program. Each mentee has tailoredtheir learning program based on personal goalsand motivation and to expand their knowledgeacross particular aspects of the beef businessand associated supply chains.
Mentees identified the following topics, inorder of importance, as future learning goals:business management and accounting systems,breeder management, stocking rates andcarrying capacity, breeder nutrition, geneticsand breeding programs, weaner nutrition/management, wet season spelling, and landcondition and land condition decline acrossthe industry.
The $avannaPlan-Beef$ense delivery teamhas supported the mentee learning programsthrough customised on-property services, groupforums and webinars. Workshops and tailoredtraining activities include:
Participants from the NextGen Business Mentoring Program spenttwo days at Wambiana Station, Charters Towers learning aboutgrazing land management and building business resilience.
• “Building business resilience and managingfor a variable climate” workshop atWambiana Station,
• Succession planning webinar,
• Microsoft Excel training workshops to improverecord keeping and general understanding ofthe finances and business position,
• Herd nutrition and grazing land managementworkshops,
• InnerBoss Foundations Course includingpersonal development and communicationskills,
• Breeder management workshops with IanBraithwaite,
• Advanced Microsoft Excel training workshops,
• Central Queensland study tour.
If you are interested in being involved in futureprograms or would like further informationplease contact the Department of Agricultureand Fisheries (DAF) Beef Team at Mareeba on(07) 4048 4600.
After identifying stocking rates and carrying capacity as key areas to learn more about to progress their businesses forward, mentees inspected the Wambiana Grazing Trial and discussedresults with Peter O’Reagain, DAF Charters Towers.
The hidden costs todrought feedingUnfortunately, drought fodder can lead to theintroduction of weeds.
Be Aware!
• Regularly check locations where fodderhas been transported, stored and fed outfor weed germination.
• Monitor around watering points and stockholding yards for new weeds.
• If you find any unfamiliar weeds, have themidentified early.
• Identify whether unfamiliar weeds are toxicto stock.
• Seek weed identification from your regionalnetworks or photograph new weed speciesand email the photograph to [email protected].
• If required, collect a specimen accordingthe instructions given on the QueenslandHerbarium website https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/herbarium/.
• Treat problem weeds before they becomeestablished and produce seed.
Know which plants are toxic and look outfor symptoms.
• Some weeds are toxic (especially whenflowering and seeding), especially if stockare confined to these weeds only.
• Nitrate poisoning symptoms in livestockinclude weakness, spasms, staggers,diarrhoea and death.
• Sulphur poisoning causespolioencephalomalacia (PEM). Othersymptoms can include staggers, goitresensitisation.
For more information on Drought Fodder WeedIdentification, a project funded through theAustralian Government National LandcareProgramme, contact AgForce Qld on07 3236 3100 or email [email protected] or the Weed Spotters Network Qld on07 3896 9323.
Landholders should keep an eye out for theBest practice guide which will include fodderweed identification and will be available fromAgForce by May 2017.
Marie VitelliAgForce Weeds Policy Officer(07) 3236 3100 6590 04/17
