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Commercially released during the year, a new rust-resistant forage oat
variety – ‘Genie’ – increases yields by 10–15 per cent.
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MANAGING THE LAND
Increase cost efficiency and productivity – on-farm
Ensuring sustainability
Developing and delivering profitable, environmentally- sustainable livestock production systems is a key focus for our research but it can often take years to understand and reap the full benefit.
Northern Australia
The second phase of the ten-year North Queensland grazing trial on ‘Wambiana Station’ concluded this year, showing that good pasture management through moderate stocking rates delivers a raft of triple bottom line benefits. Relative to the commonly used higher stocking rates throughout the industry, the moderate stocking rate increased accumulated cash surplus by $9,000 per 100 hectares after ten years. Animals were on average 50–70 kg heavier, with less year-to-year liveweight variability, and produced higher quality carcases that received approximately 20c/kg more at sale. While liveweight gain per hectare was lower there was no need for drought feeding. Under heavy stocking rates there was a 30 per cent decline in carrying capacity, a three- to four-fold decline in cover of palatable, perennial pasture species and an increased frequency and intensity of runoff with increased nutrient loss. The trial was a long-term collaboration between MLA, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries and the Lyons family, who hosted the research on their property south-west of Charters Towers.
We also concluded field work on the five-year Pigeon Hole project, a $6.4 million joint venture between Heytesbury Beef and MLA, increasing the scope of productivity by 20 per cent in less developed areas of northern Australia. The project will produce grazing and infrastructure guidelines that improve economic performance while maintaining range condition and minimising impacts on biodiversity. The core of the project was funded by individual enterprise investment matched by Australian Government research funds – see here for details about the MLA Donor Company.
A new rust-resistant forage oat variety —’Genie’— was commercially released this year offering producers new grazing options and 10–15 per cent higher yields than current commercial varieties. Bred by the Queensland Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries, the development and commercial release of Genie was managed through the MLA Donor Company with funding from Heritage Seeds and the Australian Government.
Another new product launched during the year was the first registered shelf-stable factory-dosed manufactured feral pig bait – PIGOUT. PIGOUT will assist producers reduce agricultural and environmental damage estimated to be as much as $500 million a year. Trials demonstrated that it is highly target-specific and minimises the risk of uptake by native species and livestock. It took four years to develop and register under the joint efforts of the Pest Animal Control Co-operative Research Centre and Animal Control Technologies Australia, with funding from MLA and the Australian Government.
Southern Australia
After five years of groundbreaking research into mixed farming systems, the national Grain & Graze program came to a close in 2007–08. The project was a collaboration between MLA, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Land & Water Australia and Australian Wool Innovation with over 60 farmer and Landcare groups, research providers and regional management authorities. More than 6,000 producers actively participated in Grain & Graze learning activities. Research demonstrated that adoption of Grain & Graze technologies can deliver an average increase of nine per cent profit.* In addition, more than 200 regional tools and factsheets were developed to assist producers better manage their feed base of crops and pastures, improve their whole farm economics and management of their natural resources, and productivity.
In partnership with the CSIRO, Dairy Australia and the Department of Primary Industries Victoria, we gathered, analysed and condensed 50 years of science on the use of fertiliser on pastures and launched the Farm Nutrient Loss Index. This new tool helps producers make more profitable and environmentally friendly decisions on fertiliser use, and systemises recommendations for fertiliser application in the industry.
* Grain & Graze Final Evaluation Report, 2008
