Start your stocktake now
01 March 2016
Now is the perfect time for northern producers to start planning for the next dry season by calculating a forage budget and adjusting paddock stocking rates.
Help is at hand through the Stocktake Plus app, developed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ FutureBeef team and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
The app is a grazing, monitoring and management decision support tool for producers and advisors predominantly located in northern Australia, but it also has some useful functionality for producers located in other regions.
Meat & Livestock Australia’s General Manager, On-Farm Innovation and Adoption, Dr Matthew McDonagh, said adjusting stocking rates to meet current feed supply, animal requirements and ground cover targets was considered best management practice within a grazing business.
“The app allows the user to determine the appropriate balance of stock to the available pasture,” Dr McDonagh said.
“Producers can set up their own properties and paddocks and the app will then produce reports, based on pasture estimates, including long-term carrying capacity and land condition benchmarks.
“It will help you to plan for wet season paddock spelling to improve land condition and take better care of your pastures.”
The app’s mobility allows users to capture data while in the paddock and later securely synchronise their device (via Wi-Fi or 3G access) and upload the data to their personal account.
This allows users to capture important production data for analysis; manage property resources; understand their property environment over time; view and export data through a personal and secure portal.
For fact sheets on how to use the Stocktake Plus app and to download it for Apple or Android devices, visit www.stocktakeplus.com.au.
For more information or to learn more about forage budgeting and how to use the Stocktake Plus app, or express an interest in attending a Stocktake workshop, please contact Kiri Broad (DAF Longreach), kiri.broad@daf.qld.gov.au or mobile 0428 102 841.
For media enquiries contact: Josh McIntosh, Media Manager, p: 0404 055 490, e: jmcintosh@mla.com.au