Improved Beef Productivity through Predator Control
| Project start date: | 30 March 2021 |
| Project end date: | 28 February 2026 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | Queensland |
| Site location: | Central Queensland: Banana |
Summary
This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) is designed to demonstrate improved calf survival and productivity gains in beef enterprises through delivery of best practice wild dog management.
Objectives
By November 2025, in the Banana Region of Central Queensland:
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All core and observer producers will understand their baseline herd reproductive performance and identify the size and timing of reproductive losses between conception and weaning.
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All core and observer producers will have implemented a vaccination program to ensure reproductive losses are not due to preventable diseases.
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Core producers will demonstrate a 5% reduction in calf damage from wild dogs. Calf damage includes bite evidence on hindquarters, hamstrings, shoulders, neck, tail and ears as well as tears in skin or ears. Damage will be identified through visual assessment of the animals when they come into the yards for branding and weaning. In paddock assessments will also be recorded if seen at the time.
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80% of core producers will implement best practice wild dog management through control methods such as baiting, trapping and shooting.
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Achieve a 3% decrease in the prevalence of hydatids in core producer meat processed at Teys Biloela.
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Implement a series of skills and training development activities to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of the 100% of core producers as well as 60% of observer producers in best practice wild dog management.
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Engage Teys Biloela to include Animal Health Summaries in feedback data for livestock producers.
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Conduct a field day and other activities in years 3 and 5 of the project to showcase the results and encourage adoption of key practices by 50 attending producers.
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Increase in pregnancy and weaning rates through the adoption of best practice wild dog management techniques. Baseline pregnancy and weaning rates will be recorded before commencement of the project to clearly demonstrate any increase in rates throughout the life of project.
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All producers will have an understanding of economic tools available to assess beef business performance.
Progress
The Improved Beef Productivity Through Predator Control (IBPPC) project aims to demonstrate improved calf survival and productivity gains in beef enterprises through the delivery of best-practice wild dog management in the Banana region of Central Queensland.
Since learning about the canid pest ejectors (CPE) in early 2022, the group purchased five kits at the end of 2022, one for each property, to allow the producers to trial the CPEs and their effectiveness commencing in 2023.
The group has also increased their recording activity using the Wild Dog Scan app utilising not only recording the ‘in-paddock’ sightings and control activity but also what they’re seeing in the yards during processing. Melinee Leather, a PDS participant commented that the alerts of sightings by other producers on the Wild Dog Scan app were particularly valuable to the group.
Supporting organisation Fitzroy Basin Association has also supplied the group with five remote monitoring cameras to allow producers to monitor wild dog activity out in the paddock to assist landholders with their control methods and understanding where the dogs are active on their properties.
