Published Wednesday, 21 March, 2007 at 02:39 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
GRAZING TRIAL TO OFFER REAL SOLUTIONS FOR DROUGHT AFFECTED FARMERS
A major beef industry conference held in Townsville this week has been given an overview of a long-term Charters Towers grazing trial that is challenging traditional stocking and land management practices.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the Wambiana Grazing Trial aimed to demonstrate the economic and environmental gains that could be made by implementing sustainable land management strategies.
“The Wambiana Grazing Trial is ultimately about assisting producers manage for drought in a profitable and sustainable way and avoid both damage to their land and the economic losses resulting from drought feeding and poor production,” Mr Mulherin said from Townsville where he officially opened the Northern Beef Research Update Conference today.
“In a project where the main aim is to plan for rainfall variability, only time and testing a number of land management strategies can give a true measurement of the viability of different options,” Mr Mulherin said.
Project leader Dr Peter O’Reagain presented an overview of the trial, and why such a long term commitment has been necessary at the conference.
“Funding for the project has been largely sourced from Meat and Livestock Australia, and it was only through the long-term commitment of MLA and other organisations, and the host property owners, the Lyons family, that the research could be undertaken,” Dr O’Reagain said.
“The trial involves testing five grazing strategies in 10 paddocks on 1000ha of land on Wambiana station south of Charters Towers.
“Strategies tested include heavy stocking, light stocking, a variable stocking rate based on pasture budgeting, a variable strategy based on seasonal climate forecasts and a rotational wet season spell.”
Dr O’Reagain said that even during dry seasons and unseasonably dry summer months, paddocks with lighter stocking rates were able to sustain good animal production and animal condition.
“Apart from a urea lick, they did not require any drought feeding at all,” he said.
“Even though this was an extremely dry period, these paddocks maintained an acceptable ground cover to stop erosion and were able to maintain good pasture composition.”
The research is showing clear economic benefits in terms of gross margins and cash surpluses, of running less animals and managing for climate variability.
“We can see the potential to reach market specifications 6 to 12 months sooner than under heavy stocking rates even during a drought. This has major impacts upon time to turnoff and the whole efficiency of any cattle operation.”
The Wambiana Grazing Trial will have its first major field day on May 12 for graziers and other people interested in hearing more about the ground-breaking research project.
For more information on the field day, or the Wambiana Grazing Trial, contact DPI&F Charters Towers, or DPI&F on 13 25 23.
Media: 323 96530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the Wambiana Grazing Trial aimed to demonstrate the economic and environmental gains that could be made by implementing sustainable land management strategies.
“The Wambiana Grazing Trial is ultimately about assisting producers manage for drought in a profitable and sustainable way and avoid both damage to their land and the economic losses resulting from drought feeding and poor production,” Mr Mulherin said from Townsville where he officially opened the Northern Beef Research Update Conference today.
“In a project where the main aim is to plan for rainfall variability, only time and testing a number of land management strategies can give a true measurement of the viability of different options,” Mr Mulherin said.
Project leader Dr Peter O’Reagain presented an overview of the trial, and why such a long term commitment has been necessary at the conference.
“Funding for the project has been largely sourced from Meat and Livestock Australia, and it was only through the long-term commitment of MLA and other organisations, and the host property owners, the Lyons family, that the research could be undertaken,” Dr O’Reagain said.
“The trial involves testing five grazing strategies in 10 paddocks on 1000ha of land on Wambiana station south of Charters Towers.
“Strategies tested include heavy stocking, light stocking, a variable stocking rate based on pasture budgeting, a variable strategy based on seasonal climate forecasts and a rotational wet season spell.”
Dr O’Reagain said that even during dry seasons and unseasonably dry summer months, paddocks with lighter stocking rates were able to sustain good animal production and animal condition.
“Apart from a urea lick, they did not require any drought feeding at all,” he said.
“Even though this was an extremely dry period, these paddocks maintained an acceptable ground cover to stop erosion and were able to maintain good pasture composition.”
The research is showing clear economic benefits in terms of gross margins and cash surpluses, of running less animals and managing for climate variability.
“We can see the potential to reach market specifications 6 to 12 months sooner than under heavy stocking rates even during a drought. This has major impacts upon time to turnoff and the whole efficiency of any cattle operation.”
The Wambiana Grazing Trial will have its first major field day on May 12 for graziers and other people interested in hearing more about the ground-breaking research project.
For more information on the field day, or the Wambiana Grazing Trial, contact DPI&F Charters Towers, or DPI&F on 13 25 23.
Media: 323 96530