Thursday April 18, 2019 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 17 northqueenslandregister.com.au Informaon for rural business in North Queensland ISSUE 49 AUTUMN 2019 Informaon for rural business in North Queensland futurebeef.com.au NORTHERN IN THIS ISSUE Financial assistance available for flood-affected producers Flood recovery tips for pasture, pests and disease Increase production through phosphorus supplementation No silver bullets in extensive grazing
Transcript
ThursdayApril 18, 2019 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 17northqueenslandregister.com.au
Information for rural business in North Queensland
ISSUE 49 AUTUMN 2019
Information for rural business in North Queensland
futurebeef.com.au
NORTHERN
IN THIS ISSUEFinancial assistance available for flood-affected producers
Flood recovery tips for pasture, pests and disease
Increase production through phosphorus supplementation
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
Welcome toNorthern Muster 49
1
Welcome to the first issue of Northern Musterfor 2019. This is shaping up to be another sig-nificant year for the northern beef industry afterthe devastating flood event in the north-westearlier in January/February and with the rest ofQueensland still in drought.
A reminder for those in drought-declaredregions that all fodder freight and emergencywater infrastructure rebate claim forms mustbe submitted within six months of the date ofpurchase. Assistance for drought-affected pro-ducers is still available under the Drought ReliefAssistance Scheme at daf.qld.gov.au.
The Australian Government’s North QueenslandLivestock Recovery Agency recently announced
a new suite of measures to support the recoveryof the beef and sheep industry. Measuresinclude immediate recovery grants of up to$75 000, livestock industry recovery conces-sional loans of up to $1 million, restocking andagistment freight subsidies up to $100 000, aweed and feral pest initiative, industry recoveryofficers, additional financial counsellors and aBiosecurity Entity Registration Fee Exemption.These measures will be delivered under jointfunding by the Australian and Queensland gov-ernments under the Disaster Recovery FundingArrangements and are part of a larger long-termrecovery package.
In addition, the Australian Government is fullyfunding a $300 million recovery grant scheme
for grants of up to $400 000, which theQueensland Government will deliver on theAustralian Government’s behalf. Further detailssurrounding the application forms and guide-lines are being developed and will be availableshortly.
Before restocking after the floods, checkyour eligibility for further assistance with theDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF)by calling 13 25 23. Restocking may impact thetype of financial assistance you can receive.
More financial-assistance information isavailable through Queensland Rural andIndustry Development Authority (qrida.qld.gov.au). Information on the recovery of floodedMitchell grass and the disease risks associatedwith carcasses and wet weather can be foundin this issue.
If you did receive good grass-growing rain,there’s a timely reminder to make sure yourphosphorus supplement is doing its job. Checkout the two articles in this issue on the benefitsof feeding phosphorus. If you are unsure if you
should be supplementing with phosphorus or youwould like to know more, please contact your lo-cal beef extension officer, who will be more thanhappy to provide you with the latest information.
On the social front, this year looks like it’s goingto be a busy one, with a number of great eventsplanned. Kicking off with the Northern BeefProducer Expo in Charters Towers on the 7–8June, this is a premier event not to be missed,showcasing all facets of the Australian beefindustry. Then you will be able to find out thelatest beef research at the triannual NorthernBeef Research Update Conference, held inBrisbane on 19–22 August. You can registerfor this event at nbruc2019.com. Check out theFutureBeef website futurebeef.com.au for otherevents.
We hope you enjoy issue 49 of NorthernMuster—please contact the editorial team withany inquiries or feedback. For an online versionof the Northern Muster, subscribe at futurebeef.com.au/resources/newsletters or [email protected].
Reproduction of articlesThe Department of Agriculture and Fisherieswelcomes reproduction of articles appearing in thisnewsletter providing the source is acknowledged, thearticle is reproduced in full and technical informationis confirmed with the editor before publication,ensuring the recommendations are still accurate at thetime of reprinting. The Queensland Government shallnot be liable for technical or other errors or omissionscontained herein. To the extent permitted by law,the reader/user accepts all risks and responsibilitiesfor losses, damages, costs and other consequencesresulting directly or indirectly from using theinformation contained herein. Advertisements includedin this edition were accepted on the understandingthat they complied with the relevant provisions ofthe Competition and Consumer Act and with theAustralian Association of National Advertisers Codeof Practice. No endorsement by the Department ofAgriculture and Fisheries is intended or implied by theadvertisement of any product in the Northern Muster.
Primary producers recovering from wide-spread flooding in North and north-westernQueensland can apply for financial help.
Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grantsof up to $75 000 are available to help with thecosts of immediate clean-up and restorationof businesses in the aftermath of the historicflooding event in January and February.
Uptake of the recovery grants has been strong,with more than 128 producers in McKinlayShire Council area alone accessing the grants.As of 9 April 2019, over $45 million in thesegrants were delivered to more than 950 pro-ducers and small businesses in the impactedarea.
Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $250 000can be used to purchase replacement livestock,replacement infrastructure and for work-ing-capital expenses such as paying salaries orwages, creditors, rent or rates.
Disaster Assistance Essential Working CapitalLoans up to $100 000 are also available forbusinesses indirectly impacted during the
disaster event to assist with working-capitalexpenses.
Disaster freight-subsidy loans of up to $5000are jointly funded by the Australian andQueensland governments and delivered by theQueensland Department of Agriculture andFisheries (DAF).
More recently announced financial assistancefor producers that will soon be availableinclude:
• Restocking, Replanting and On-farmInfrastructure Grants of up to $400 000funded by the Australian Government anddelivered by the Queensland Rural andIndustry Development Authority (QRIDA).
• Exceptional Disaster Recovery Loans of up to$1 million—the first two years are interestand repayment free—jointly funded by theAustralian and Queensland governments anddelivered by QRIDA.
• Restocking and agistment freight subsidies ofup to $50 000 per year for two years, jointlyfunded by the Australian and Queenslandgovernments and delivered by DAF.
QRIDA Disaster Recovery Manager Craig Turnersaid primary producers affected during theflooding still had time to apply for assistance tohelp ease the financial burden of cleaning upand returning their business to normal.
“While some producers in North and Far NorthQueensland are still coming to terms with thedamage caused to their property and livestock,they can take some comfort knowing there isfinancial help available,” Mr Turner said.
“Producers are reminded to take photos of thedirect damage to accompany their application.
“In addition, you can provide other evidencesuch as relevant quotes, estimates or tax in-voices as you would retain in the normal courseof your business.
“While it is not a requirement, the moreinformation you can provide to support yourapplication will help us process your applicationas quickly as possible.”
For more information visit qrida.qld.gov.au orfreecall 1800 623 946.
Financial help still available for flood-affected producers
Heavier stock Better pastures• PADDOCK PROVEN INCREASED LIVESTOCK WEIGHT GAINS • IMPROVED PASTURE PERFORMANCE IN SEMI-ARID AND DRY CONDITIONS
Blended selection of superior Desmanthus cultivars• Persistent in clay-rich soils • Maintains pasture productivity • Highly palatable protein source • More Beef per hectare
• Adapted to harsh conditions • Pure uncoated live seed • Superior germination • Extends your pasture season
ThursdayApril 18, 2019 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 19northqueenslandregister.com.au
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
Now that the floodwaters have receded,there are a number of factors for your pasture,livestock and your own health to consider.
WeedsWeed seeds will have been distributed widely inboth water, soil and through emergency fodderdrops. If you have received donated hay duringthe flood, keep track of the locations where hayhas been fed out and re-visit them over thecoming months and years after rain to check forany new or strange plants. If you see a plant thatyou are unfamiliar with, make a note of whereyou found it and take detailed photos of anyseed pods, flowers or identifying features. Forhelp in identifying and controlling weeds, contactyour local DAF office or shire weeds officer.
Pests and diseasesCattle ticks also flourish in warm and wetconditions. A large increase in tick numberscould cause issues in cattle that may not havebeen exposed to cattle tick previously andcould increase the occurrence of tick fever.A preventative chemical treatment will helpkeep cattle tick numbers down until the animalcan build its natural immunity to tick fever.Depending on your situation you may need toconsider more chemical treatments at latermusters or consider using some of the long-acting products. They may be more costly upfront but will give greater control over a longertimeframe.
Chemical treatments will not prevent theoccurrence of tick fever because the tick feverorganism is spread by the larval stage of thecattle tick when it first attaches to the beast.Clinical signs of tick fever include depression,weakness, jaundice, fever, staggering and death.Keep an eye on your stock to determine if youwill need to vaccinate when you have them nextin the yards.
During flood events, the removal of soil viaerosion and the depositing of large amounts ofvegetative matter along fence lines and solidobjects can create conditions that allow bacteriato flourish that would otherwise have beenleft concealed. Clostridial diseases are someof those that will survive in these conditions.Vaccinating animals with 5-in-1 will reduce the
likelihood of stock contracting blackleg, blackdisease, tetanus, malignant oedema or pulpykidney. Also recommended is the 7-in-1 vaccine,which covers these clostridial diseases as well asleptospirosis.
Vaccinating against botulism is alsorecommended as the toxin-releasingbacteria that cause botulism live in decayingmatter. Botulism is normally associated withphosphorus-deficient country but the presenceof large numbers of carcasses may increase therisk even on the better downs country.
For assistance with sick or injured animals orspecific advice on a vaccination program pleasecontact the Australian Veterinary Associationhotline 1800 621 918.
Your healthYour health and safety and that of those aroundyou is of utmost importance. There may be anincreased risk of mosquito-borne disease in theflood-affected region. It is important to protectyourself against mosquito bites. Search formosquito-borne diseases at qld.gov.au for moreinformation.
The bacteria that cause serious human diseasessuch as leptospirosis and swine brucellosisare usually contracted by humans through theexposure to the bodily fluids of an infectedanimal. However, leptospirosis can survive inthe warm wet conditions that are a result of theflood water and swine brucellosis can survivein the carcases of pigs. Make sure you cover allabrasions and injuries with waterproof dressings,wear appropriate footwear and use appropriatepersonal protection equipment when handling ordisposing of carcases.
Soil-borne pathogens, such as melioidosis, mayalso become dispersed into new areas. Afterflooding, the bacterium that causes melioidosiscan be found in the surface layers of the soiland in muddy surface water. It usually entersthe body via cuts and sores in the skin, orvia inhalation, and very rarely by ingestion ofcontaminated water. The best prevention isto wear protective footwear and gloves, coverabrasions and sores with waterproof dressingsand wash thoroughly after exposure to soil ormuddy water.
If you are not vaccinated against Q fever,additional preventative measures should betaken to minimise the risk of inhaling Q fever-causing bacteria.
For more information on these bacterialdiseases visit conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/home/topic/14/33/bacterial-infections.
NQ Connect is providing mental health supportfor flood-affected Queenslanders. NQ Connectis a free phone and online counselling serviceconnecting people to mental health services. NQConnect can be reached on 1300 059 625, 24hours a day, 7 days a week.
For more information on flood recoveryresources and available grants please visitfuturebeef.com.au or daf.qld.gov.au, contactyour local DAF office or call the DAF CustomerService Centre on 13 25 23, who will put you incontact with the best available person to answeryour question. If you would like specific financialadvice please contact your local Rural FinancialCounsellor or Tahna Jackson (Farm LiaisonOfficer) on 0409 357 211.
Flooding—weeds, pests, diseasesand your health
A new video produced by DAF beef extensionofficers describes new ways that producers canuse the National Livestock Identification System(NLIS) to improve data collection and decisionmaking for their herds.
NLIS tags are mandatory in Australia for livestocktraceability, market access and food safetypurposes. As animals are bought, sold andmoved they must be tagged with an NLIS-accredited tag or device. But there is a lot morethat can be done with the NLIS tag to get valueout of the investment.
By using a scale indicator, an NLIS reader andherd management software or Microsoft Excel,individual animal information can be recordedagainst each NLIS tag. These tags enablefaster data collection and producers can viewan animal’s life history and performance crushside. This easily accessible information allowsproducers to make informed decisions regardingculling or drafting and information collected inthe yards can be easily and quickly uploaded toherd management software back in the office,saving the time that manual data entry requires.
NLIS tags can be used to track average dailygains, enabling producers to identify poorperformers and note their parentage, allowingremoval from the system. Producers can recordreproductive information such as pregnancystatus, foetal age and lactation status. Havingthis information easily recorded and accessible inthe yards ensures unproductive females are notbeing missed.
Decisions surrounding supplementary feeding,paddock shifts and drafting for marketspecifications can be made using weight-gainand body-condition data. Temperament and acomprehensive treatment history can also bekept for each animal. This information may haveall been recorded manually in the past, but thesignificant advantage of linking individual animalinformation with NLIS tags is the reduction intime required for manual entry, the accuracy ofthe information and the reduction in paperwork.
To see how you can get the most value outof your NLIS tags, head to youtube.com/QldAgriculture and search for Making better useof your NLIS tags.
New video on makingbest use of NLIS tagsavailable now
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
Mid-April is a good time of the year of toassess your pasture recovery and the amountand quality of feed on offer.
Usually the pasture has hayed off and you areable to estimate how much livestock you canrun through to the next expected rain aroundChristmas time.With devastating flooding,the growing season has usually not startedand most of us have not had to face suchwidespread damage to Mitchell grasspastures.
Mitchell grass is the mainstay of grazingbusinesses across large areas of north-westernQueensland and we aim to offer advice to helpyour pastures recover and grow feed to rebuildyour livestock production.
Good condition Mitchell grass country in thenorth-western area will have a healthy Mitchellgrass tussock every pace, or better. This will beachieved by:
• allowing seedlings to grow, ungrazed, for4–6 months (March to August 2019)
• monitoring seedlings at easy-to-access sitesyou are likely to revisit every 3–4 weeks
• budgeting stock numbers to leave aminimum of 15–20 cm residual Mitchellgrass stubble height by the end of the year
• avoiding high impact grazing that results intrampling of seedlings and weak tussocks
• reviewing stock numbers and pasturerecovery (July to August 2019).
Everyone reading this article will understandhow their pasture has responded, and everysituation will be different.
Most areas had Mitchell grass seedlingsgerminate over mid to late February.Wherethese have taken root and survived, as littleas five millimetres of rain every two to threeweeks will keep these growing. It is essential toallow them to establish properly by protectingthem from grazing. Spelling is the mosteffective way to achieve this, but light stockingrates where there is a lot of feed on offer canalso be effective.
Either approach should be maintained untilthe seedlings are two centimetres or more
diameter at the base and difficult to pull out ofthe ground.Wet-season spelling (six to eightweeks over January to February) for the nextone to three summers will then encourage theirestablishment as mature tussocks that willcontribute to sustained pasture production forthe next 20 to 30 years.
The simplest way to check seedlingestablishment is to revisit locations that are easyto access, and part of your routine management.Check seedlings every two to three weeksto keep an eye on their progress. The mostimportant indicators of good establishmentare the diameter at the base and being wellanchored.
We recommend using a feed-budgetingapproach to ensure you leave ground coverand at least 15 to 20 cm height in the tillers(stalks) ready for the next rains around Christmastime. There are many feed budgeting methodsavailable through DAF, Meat & Livestock Australiaand private consultants and all allow you toestimate the amount of feed available and thenumber of livestock you can safely carry.
Your existing Mitchell grass will recover and growthe best if you leave at least 15 to 20 cm heightin the tillers ready for the next rains. You maychoose to do this grazing for the full dry seasonor a shorter period and then destocking—thisdoesn’t matter as much as leaving the tussocks‘rain ready’ through retaining residual height.
Mitchell grass has a number of growing pointsup the tillers that allow the plant to respondefficiently to smaller falls of rain (20 to 40 mm).Retaining 15 to 20 cm ensures there are threeto five of these growing points ready to respond,ensuring efficient use of rain. Tussocks grazeddown to the crown need more rain to respondeffectively and grow the same amount of bulk.They are less efficient and will also have beenphysically damaged and weakened and haveless starch reserves stored in the crown andrhizomes. It is these reserves that allow Mitchellgrass to survive the stresses such as drought,flooding and fires.
Areas with good soil moisture, whereapproximately 200 to 250 mm or more rain was
received in February, should still have green inthe tillers of Mitchell grass plants. The deeper thesoil moisture extends, the longer the tillers willremain green. Coupled with the residual tillers,this provides a good basis for the tussocks torespond efficiently, and to rebuild their vigour.
High-impact grazing, where livestock densityis high, risks further damaging the crowns ofweakened Mitchell grass tussocks, of cattlegrazing pulling weak tillers out of the ground,and of Mitchell grass seedlings being trampled.We recommended avoiding high cattle numbersin smaller paddocks to avoid further damage toweak tussocks and seedlings.
Taking time to check your Mitchell grassrecovery and pasture yield and decide if stocknumbers need adjusting in July to August (abouthalf way through the dry season) will ensure youare still on track to meet you own goals for yourpastures and animal production. Check yourcattle condition and/or weight gains, feed supply,Mitchell grass seedling establishment and howwell your existing tussocks are recovering.
Restoring Mitchell grass country to a healthytussock every pace, or better, is achievable overthe coming few months and couple of years.It will require both follow-up rain and effectivegrazing management.
Encouraging Mitchell grass recovery after the2019 flooding across north-western Queensland
Mitchell grass plants recovering over time following a flood event
Lick troughs do not need to be elaborate.Drums cut with slits, old tractor tyres with theside wall cut out, or hollow logs that let waterdrain are handy options for feeding looselicks.
When feeding molasses, troughs should befitted with a form of grip (e.g. weldmesh) inthe base of them in case an animal falls in.Molasses mixes also require enough troughspace to prevent bullying—several troughsspread apart are more effective than one longtrough. A rough guide is a maximum of 50head to a 350–450 L trough or a maximum of80 head to a 500–750 L trough.
When feeding weaners protein meal or pelletsaim for about 20 cm of space per head.
Dry lick and phosphorus supplements don’trequire the same space allowance because thelow intakes mean animals don’t spend as muchtime at the trough.
A safe guide when feeding any supplementsis to ensure that the size of the trough is bigenough to provide access to all stock. It shouldalso be a reasonable size to ensure enoughsupplement is on offer and to help minimisethe number of times the trough needs to bere-filled.
ThursdayApril 18, 2019 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 21northqueenslandregister.com.au
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
2018 was the year to “Focus onPhosphorus”, with two sold-out seminarsat Beef Australia in May, and more than 340attendees.
A few months later, in September, 300viewers tuned in for the Beef Connectphosphorus webinar series.
The grand finale was in October andNovember, with a series of workshops in theFitzroy and Burdekin catchments, attendedby 145 producers across eight locations.Run by DAF extension staff, the aim ofthese workshops was to assist producersin creating a phosphorus (P) managementplan to enable year round, cost-effectivesupplementation in P-deficient country.
Participants learnt how to:
• identify P-deficient land types
• assess the P status of cattle
• understand the impact on productivity Pdeficiency has on breeding and growingcattle
• cost-effectively supplement with P
• manage grazing pressure and groundcover when cattle have adequate P.
Focus on phosphorus
Beef experts, Mick Sullivan (DAF), Rob Dixon(University of Queensland) and Kylie Hopkins(DAF), provided several new resources,templates and tools to help producers manageP nutrition at the on-farm level.
P deficiency is a major problem for grazingcattle in much of northern Australia. While Pis important in all bodily processes, the majorimpact of P deficiency on cattle is a significantreduction in appetite. Therefore, when the grassis green, cattle on P-deficient pasture just won’teat as much as they would, if P was adequate.
Less grass consumed means a lower nutrientintake, affecting the breeder’s ability to
Key points• Phosphorus supplementation is a majorconsideration in northern grazing
• DAF extension activities in 2018were aimed at improving access toinformation on supplementing withphosphorus
• New resources are available onfuturebeef.com.au, including aphosphorus management plan
is very profitable, with the cost of supplementbeing well worth it.
For more information check out the newphosphorus page on the FutureBeef websitefuturebeef.com.au, including all of the updatedinformation, resources, templates and toolspresented at the workshops.
A message from Queensland’s ChiefVeterinary Officer, Dr Allison Crook.
maintain body condition. This leads to lowerweaning rates and increased mortality. Milkproduction is also reduced, meaning lighterweaners. In growing cattle, the lower nutrientintake produces lower growth rates. Lowerreproduction and lighter cattle all add up to lesskilos to sell.
The welfare implications of P deficiency includebone chewing (increasing the risk of botulism),stiff gait or peg leg, bone breakages andchewing objects such as rocks, sticks and wire.
The good news is that economic analysis showsmanagement of P nutrition on deficient country
A new, online customer portal is now availableto manage your biosecurity entity registration.
Registration is a critical part of effectivebiosecurity management in Queensland. Itenables Biosecurity Queensland to trace animalmovements to determine the origin and spreadof a pest or disease, and allows us to contactyou quickly and directly in an emergency.
Entity registration works with the propertyidentification code (PIC) system. When anapplication for entity registration is made, thePIC that relates to the land where the animalsare kept will be issued. When the registration
Is your registration with Biosecurity Queensland up-to-date?
requirements commenced on 1 July 2016,anyone who held a PIC was automaticallyregistered as a biosecurity entity. This meansif you own any cattle, sheep, pigs, goats,other livestock or a horse, you may already beregistered.
If you held a PIC on 30 June 2016, or if you’veregistered as a biosecurity entity since then,you can now access the Biosecurity EntityRegistration Portal to manage your registrationand renewal.
If you don’t already have an online portalaccount, the first step to gain access is tocheck if you’re registered. Once you’re loggedin, you need to review and update your contactdetails if they’ve changed. This is an important
step so we can contact you in the event of anemergency situation and email you registrationrenewal reminders.
From mid-May 2019, you’ll also be able to usethe online portal to renew your registration andpay the fee if it applies. The fee is currently$136.80 every three years if you keep livestockand applies if you meet the Australian TaxationOffice ruling of carrying out the business ofprimary production as a result of owning youranimals.
Check if you’re registered and updateyour contact details at qld.gov.au/BiosecurityRegistration.
If you need help, or to find your nearestDAF customer service office, please call our
Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23 between8am and 5pm Monday to Friday. You can alsoemail us at [email protected].
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
The availability of phosphorus (P) is oftenan important restriction to beef productionin northern Australia. When an animal’s Pdemand cannot be met either from the diet orby mobilising body reserves, dietary intake andgrowth are dramatically reduced. Therefore,heifers and cows should be supplementedduring late pregnancy and while lactating onlow P country.
A trial at the Victoria River Research Station,‘Kidman Springs’, Northern Territory (NT),has reported substantial reproduction andproductivity gains from P supplementation. Thepre-weaning gain of calves and consequentlyweaning weights was constrained when cowswere on low P diets during late pregnancy andlactation.
A pen study was recently conducted atthe Katherine Research Station in the NT,investigating the effect of P supplementation tocows during pregnancy and lactation on post-weaning performance of progeny when fed highand low P content diets.
MethodWeaners were produced from four-year-oldcows. Approximately half of them had accessto supplemental P (CowP+) and the other halfhad no access to supplemental P (CowP-).They were all grazing P-deficient paddocksat Kidman Springs. There were 30 and 43mixed-sex Brahman calves weaned from theCowP- and CowP+ groups respectively inJune 2018.
In September 2018, at 8 to 10 months of age,after co-grazing native pasture paddocks ofKidman Springs, the weaners were relocatedto Katherine Research Station. They were feda low P experimental pellet for nine days, sothat they could become accustomed to thediet before being introduced the pen trialarea and randomly allocated to either a lowP (WnrP-, 0.5 g P/kg DM) or high P (WnrP+,2.8 g P/kg DM) weaner diet group. Eachtreatment was replicated three times, witheach replicate equal to a pen of two tofour animals.
The treatment groups were:
• steers from –P cows fed –P pellet
• steers from –P cows fed +P pellet
• steers from +P cows fed –P pellet
• steers from +P cows fed +P pellet
• heifers from –P cows fed –P pellet
• heifers from –P cows fed +P pellet
• heifers from +P cows fed –P pellet
• heifers from +P cows fed +P pellet.
The weaners had unlimited access to theexperimental pellet for 64 days, with changesin weight measured. Liveweight was recordedafter a 15-hour curfew at the start and end ofthe pen experiment, with interim un-curfewedweights recorded weekly.
Results so farAt the beginning of the experiment, the averageweight of weaners differed between cow diet.Heifers and steers from P+ cows were6.4 kg (174.5 vs. 168.1) and 23.9 kg (183.2vs. 159.3) heavier, respectively, when comparedto similar weaners from P- cows. Thesedifferences are thought to reflect differences inquantity of milk delivery and cow body conditionscore at calving.
Weaner diet in the pens had a highly significanteffect on growth (P<0.001), which wasindependent of cow diet. Therefore, differencesin weaning weight were retained irrespective ofweaner diet.
Overall, the average growth of weaners on theP+ diet was 40.9 kg greater than the P- weanerdiet. The growth of weaners on the P- dietappeared to plateau after approximately fourweeks of receiving the diet.
Differences in growth are likely to be aconsequence of reduced intake of weaners onthe P- weaner diet.
Throughout the trial, changes in hip height, feedintake and blood samples for measurement ofPlasma Inorganic Phosphorus have also beencollected and will be analysed sometime thisyear.
However, the preliminary results suggestthat the P content of the cows diet duringpregnancy and lactation had little or no effecton post-weaning performance, despite weanersbeing fed diets differing in P content. Dietslow in P were shown to significantly affect thepost-weaning performance of young cattle.The results from this study demonstrate thedominating effect of nutrition on weanerperformance, as well as the persistence ofweight losses imposed on calves prior toweaning.
For more Information contact Kieren McCosker,Senior Livestock Scientist, NT Department ofPrimary Industry and Resources, Tel: 08 89739771, [email protected].
Or visit the FutureBeef website: futurebeef.com.au/projects/effect-of-phosphorus-supplementation-on-brahman-females-at-kidman-springs.
Does supplementing cows withP during pregnancy alter post-weaning performance of progeny?
Heifers from P+ cows fed P- weaner diet at Katherine Research Station pen trial area
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST TODAYor Call Alan 0408 797 238
NQ TROUGH’SBUILT TOUGH
BUILT FOR NORTH QLD CONDITIONS
ThursdayApril 18, 2019 NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER 23northqueenslandregister.com.au
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
Growing global demand for Australian beefproducts, driven primarily by Asian countries,presents opportunities to expand livestockproduction and value add in the Kimberley andPilbara regions of Western Australia.
In 2015, the WA Department of PrimaryIndustries and Regional Development’s NorthernBeef Development project implemented anincentive-based Business Improvement Grants(BIG) program. The program assists commercialcattle producers in the Kimberley and Pilbarapastoral regions enhance their competitivenessand growth prospects by connecting them withprofessional business advice and mentoringsupport.
The program reimburses approved applicantswith up to $25 000 (excluding GST), includingup to $10 000 to engage a consultant to reviewcurrent performance and develop a businessplan, and up to $15 000 to implement keybusiness improvement strategies as identifiedin the business plan.
Forty-eight pastoral enterprises participatedin the initial round of BIG, using the grant ina range of business improvement areas (seeFigure 1).
An additional 20 enterprises from two regions,consisting of family, corporate and Indigenous-owned stations, participated in round two of theprogram last year.
Data recordingThe extensive production systems in northernWestern Australia can see pastoral enterprisesmanage anywhere from 1000 to 80 000 headon land parcels of up to 400 000 ha and more.
Terrain, mustering method and the sheer sizeof northern cattle stations mean that achievingclean musters is a challenge and some animalsmay not pass through the yards each year,resulting in inaccurate recording of livestocknumbers. While traditional methods, such asa bangtail muster, can provide the opportunityto identify previously- mustered livestock, theydo not allow pastoralists to retain additionalinformation on individual animals.
Through linking an electronic identification (EID)tag to herd recording software, pastoralists canbuild a history on individual animals, providinginvaluable data on both cattle and businessperformance. Data collected may include age,weight, body condition, pregnancy status, wet/drystatus, and vaccination history. Weight recordingcan be used to assist pastoralists drafting lines ofcattle by weight class, as well as those wishing tocalculate average daily gains.
Some pastoralists in the BIG program investedin crush side hardware, including scales, an EIDreader and a data box. Others opted for in-paddock recording systems such as walk-over-weighers.
Water and fencingThe primary limiting factor of infrastructuredevelopment on pastoral leases in the Pilbaraand Kimberley is the availability of, and access to,capital. While increases in corporate ownershipare resulting in an injection of capital acrossthe region, significant opportunities to open uppreviously ungrazed areas of the rangelandsthrough the development of water points remain.Some BIG participants used grant funding topartially reimburse the cost of sinking a bore,installing solar panels and troughs and piping offexisting water points.
Annabelle Coppin, of Yarrie Station, Marble Bar,installed a remote water-monitoring cameraat the water point located furthest from herhomestead. This resulted in a significantefficiency, allowing her to reduce the 200 kmround trip she previously travelled every fivedays, to now once every three to four weeks.
The installation of new fencing by otherparticipants allowed for the resting ofrangelands and cattle segregation, as well asdeveloping laneways to assist with musteringand yarding up.
Focus on fundamentals or ventureinto innovation?The BIG program provides pastoralists theopportunity to pursue a low-risk investmentto trial a new business improvement strategysuch as water monitoring equipment or herdrecording software or hardware. It also offerspastoralists the freedom of choice to aligntheir chosen business improvement with theirprofessional business plan.
Some pastoralists trialled innovative newtechnologies while others invested infundamental business improvement practices.Investment choices reflected a number offactors, including the developmental stage ofthe enterprise, the risk profile of the pastoralist
Business improvement strategies of Pilbara and Kimberleypastoralists—from fundamentals to innovation
Left - Figure 1: Focus areas of business improvement activities
Above - BIG participant Annabelle Coppin inspects a remote water point from her Yarrie Station homestead
and the guidance of their consultant. For somepastoralists, new technologies to improveefficiencies were considered to be the greatestreturn on investment while for others, it wasopening up new country.
Participant feedback indicated that as aresult of the consultation process, theirreimbursement was applied toward a differentstrategy than the one they had originallyenvisioned. The value of taking the time to planand review business operations, as opposed topurely working in it, has been a major outcomeof the program. In an occupation wherebusiness owners and managers are requiredto possess an extensive skill set, the use ofexternal consultants and mentors has beeninvaluable, planting the seed for paradigm shiftsin pastoral operations.
The BIG program has proven to be a catalystfor intra-industry engagement, delivering thepre-conditions to drive transformational changeand a conduit for information flow to and fromindustry. The high level of participation in theprogram is a testament to pastoralists’ abilityto embrace change and new ideas—ultimatelyenhancing their resilience, adaptability andcompetitiveness.
Information for rural business in North QueenslandNORTHERN
In paddocks with a range of land types,locate waters on country that cattle do notprefer, to draw them away fromheavily-grazed areas.
3. Fencing. Erect only enough fencing tosupport your style of operation and scale.Paddock sizes should carry the number ofcattle that you can comfortably muster andprocess in one or two days. Fence to landtype where feasible or at least fence landtypes with a similar grazing preference intothe one paddock.
4. Matching stocking rate to carrycapacity. If you are on country that israted at one adult equivalent (AE; 450 kgdry animal) per 6.5 ha this is the long-termcarrying capacity. The short-term carryingcapacity is based on how good the last wetseason was and how much grass grew. Sousing the same scenario, in a good seasonthe short-term carrying capacity may be 1AE/6 ha and in a dry season 1 AE/8.5 ha.Stocking rates should be matched to theshort-term carrying capacity.
5. Wet-season spelling. Ensure thatthere is sufficient room to allow countryto be locked up without crucifying otherpaddocks. The type of wet season spellingdepends on the land condition in theindividual paddock. For example:
• Paddock in land condition A—a shortwet season spell from the first growingrains for six to eight weeks to allow thegrass to ‘get ahead’ of the cattle.
• Paddock in land condition B—a late wetseason spell for two months to allowseed set to boost the soil seedbank forfuture wet seasons.
• Paddock in land condition C—full wetseason spell from opening rains to firstround muster i.e. five months to allownew plants to establish and seed set tooccur.
The frequency of spelling also depends onland condition. The poorer the condition ofthe paddock the more frequent and longerthe spell. If a paddock is spelled and the
season fails, abandon the spell rather thanover-grazing the paddocks that are carryingthe extra cattle. Consider spelling the samepoor-condition paddock for two consecutivewet seasons. Heavy stocking after a spellwill undo the benefits from the spell, soensure that point 4 is adopted.
6. Control weeds early. Controlling smallweed outbreaks will prevent large costlyweed infestations down the track. Considerthe following research results for pricklyacacia on Mitchell grass downs:
• 30% canopy cover of prickly acacia halvespasture production i.e. 2000 kg/ha downto 1000 kg/ha
• Prickly acacia is palatable with high proteinleaf, but the leaf yield in central-westernQueensland is only 80kg/ha, which willnot compensate for the loss of 1000 kg ofpasture.
7. Sow legumes. A well-establishedlegume/grass pasture is the closest thing toa silver bullet that graziers will find, as it willincrease carrying capacity by at least50 per cent. Select the legumes that arebest matched to your soil types e.g. stylosfor lighter country and Desmanthus, butterflypea and Caatinga stylos for clay country. Getadvice on sowing and establishment methodsas pasture seed is expensive. To reduce seedcosts, obtain uncoated seed where available.
8. Burn country. Fire is not for every situa-tion, but the lack of fire can allow density ofwoody plants to increase, causing declinesin pasture production. The higher the natural
A common misconception in the beef industryis that unless you are cell grazing, you are nota good grazier and a poor manager of grazingland. However, over time we have witnessedmany graziers who have jumped head first intointensive systems, then gone into receivershipor sold their properties soon after making thechange.
So what is going on?
Upfront capital costs to implement an intensivegrazing system are high, particularly if a largeproportion of the property is to be converted.Experience has shown that the days of the silverbullet in the extensive grazing industry are longgone, but some graziers still think like HarroldLasseter and his search for the lost gold reef.
Often, the search for a new way of doingthings begins when the financial situation inthe business becomes dire. A different grazingsystem is frequently viewed as a way out of atough financial situation. Graziers that adoptthis approach spend money that they don’thave, then when the system doesn’t meet theirexpectations (financially, production-wise orenvironmentally), they can find themselves in anuntenable position.
The take home message from this is, look at thefundamentals first. They are simple, relativelyeasy to adopt, produce results reasonably quicklyand if they cost money, produce a good return onthe investment.
THE FUNDAMENTALSWhat are they?
1. Know what drives pasturegrowth. There are only three things:
• land type• land condition• climate (rainfall and frost).Only land condition can be managed.
2. Adequate distribution of stockwater. Having man-made waters anycloser than four kilometres apart (maximumwalking distance of two kilometres) is overcapitalisation. If you are on 100 per centbuffel pastures in Central Queensland, theeconomics may support waters a bit closer.
fertility of the land type, the more dramaticthe reduction in pasture growth. Fire willhelp to suppress woody plants (both nativeand exotic species). Fire can also playan important role in changing pasturecomposition e.g. reducing wire grass andincreasing black spear grass, or prepar-ing a seedbed and reducing competitionbefore over-sowing legumes. In paddockswith a mosaic of land types, burn theleast-grazed land types to encouragegrazing next year. The golden rules forusing fire are:
• Is fire the answer?:Make sure that fireis the correct management practice toaddress the problem at hand.
• Pre-fire planning: use a forage budgetto ensure there is sufficient grass tocarry the type of fire required to addressthe problem at hand and at the time ofyear that is appropriate.
• Post-fire management: wet seasonspelling country that has been burnt iscrucial. If you cannot lock up country forthe wet season after a fire, don’t burn.
Addressing these eight fundamentals are thecrucial first steps. Then look for options tofine-tune the way country is managed andverify that the trends are positive.
Bob ShepherdPrincipal Extension Officer(Grazing Land Management)DAF Charters [email protected] 802 430
No silver bullets in extensive grazing
Which side of the fence will respond best to rain?
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