Central Australian Quality Graze Steer Challenge PDS
| Project start date: | 15 March 2014 |
| Project end date: | 15 January 2017 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | Northern Australia |
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Summary
In 2011, the Quality Graze trial was implemented on Old Man Plains Research Station (OMP), Alice Springs, Northern Territory to investigate the feasibility of consistently supplying grass-fed beef to premium markets. In 2014, with the aim to directly involve producers in cattle and grazing research, Meat and Livestock Australia funded a producer demonstration site (PDS) at OMP.
This project tapped into the producers’ competitive nature to establish the Central Australian Quality Graze Producer Steer Challenge (Challenge), to compare their steer performance with other producers and research animals under the latest industry grazing land management recommendations at a neutral venue.
The Challenge participants experienced how their steers met requirements to access premium markets through applying improved management practices, which include a grazing strategy and carrying capacity appropriate for the environmental conditions. Participant’s improved knowledge and appreciation of how to manage their central Australian feed base to enable access to premium beef markets has laid the foundations for research adoption through providing a production need for change.
Objectives
The objectives of this PDS were to:
• investigate and demonstrate growth rate potential and consistency of grass fed cattle in central Australia
• investigate and demonstrate the ability of central Australian cattle to be grown and finished on native pastures for Meat Standard Australia (MSA) grading
• provide a neutral venue for producers to compare their steer performance under the latest industry grazing land management recommendations
• demonstrate the effectiveness of the Remote Livestock Management System to help producers pinpoint timing of sale to their selected market
• increase producer understanding of changes in pasture quality and subsequent impacts on animal liveweight performance.
Progress
This PDS identified the following:
• environmental conditions have greater influence on cattle performance than genetics
• pasture quality in central Australia enables liveweight gain regardless of season
• it is possible to achieve consistent liveweight gain regardless of season by managing for pasture quantity
• production systems based on a 24-month cycle provide a high probability of a pasture growth event in central Australia
• steers produced under recommended grazing land management principles can be finished at 30 months of age, and are able to meet MSA standards in terms of weight for age and fat requirements
• the Remote Livestock Management System (RLMS) has the potential to assist producers’ management decisions to help them achieve MSA grading.
