Pasture update | Fleurieu Peninsula, SA



MLA and the Grassland Society of Southern Australia, together with Fleurieu Beef Group and Fleurieu Forward Farming Group, are bringing together a range of speakers to present up-to-date research topics at an MLA Pasture update.
Speakers and topics:
1. Professor Wayne Pitchford, Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Adelaide:
- two local case studies using EBVs to discover opportunities to maximise productivity in a commercial grassfed beef herd.
2. Five minute snapshots of five animal science student post-graduate degree projects related to pastures and beef production:
- public attitudes to animal welfare – Emily Buddle, PhD student
- handling pasture finished cattle in Lairage – Farrah Preston, PhD student
- modelling nutrient requirements for finishing grassfed steers – Curtis Vilani, Honours student
- carcase pricing feedback to producers – Chloe Trotta, Honours student
- genomic selection in Waygu cattle – Rudi McEwin, PhD student.
3. Melissa Rebbeck, consultant, climate and agricultural support and Greg Butler, consultant soil and soil biology:
- key pasture productivity results from local soil health trial sites on acid sandy soils
- retaining soil moisture and nutrients in sandy soils.
4. David Brown, consultant, Holmes Sackett, Wagga Wagga:
- beef business profit drivers.
5. MLA speaker (TBA):
- MLA’s sustainable feedbase R&D outcomes
- handy tools and resources from MLA.
6. Melissa Rebbeck and Greg Butler, consultants:
- farm walk to local beef producer Geoff Bowles’ property with a pasture/soils/biochar focus
- assess pasture quality (and quantity) for growing beef weaners
- inspect soil structure and soil profile with different soil treatments.
Registration details
Registration:
Download the flyer and registration form here.
RSVP by 17 November to GSSA Secretary Melinda Caspersz T: 1300 137 550 or E: office@grasslands.org.au
Further information:
Contact GSSA Organiser Tim Prance 0427 812 655.