Optimising supplement use in Australia's northern beef industry
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
This project was developed to determine individual animal lick intake (as opposed to herd level intake) and how this may relate to productivity. In addition, there was a focus on whether offering individual nutrients in separate licks would provide any benefit (in productivity or cost) compared to feeding commercially available 'wet' (P dominant) or 'dry' (urea dominant) season licks. Remote monitoring systems were used to track animal movements and lick intake and compared to animal performance measures (pregnancy status, liveweight, body condition score, lactation score) at the twice-yearly musters. Results showed there doesn't appear to be an advantage to offering free-choice minerals and that difference in performance between animals is more likely explained by nitrogen use efficiency than grazing behaviour or lick intake.
Objectives
* Individual animal data collected on timing and selection of supplement as well as intake level.
* Analysing the individual animal data (including grazing behaviour) to look for links to productivity.
* Determine whether there is any advantage to offering minerals individually for animals to self-select.
*Assist in the validation of remote monitoring technologies and development of appropriate algorithms and application for commercial situations.
* Benefits of vitamin D supplementation on P levels in cattle.
Key findings
* There is no advantage to offering free choice of individual nutrients (N, S, or P) compared to commercial blends of nutrients.
* High productivity cattle don't appear to graze different areas of the paddock or consume higher levels of lick. Their improved performance seems due to higher nitrogen use efficiency.
Benefits to industry
The project has delivered some key messages around the use of remote monitoring equipment to track animal behaviour and lick intake. It has also highlighted the value of using tail hair sampling for nitrogen isotopes to help identify more nitrogen efficient animals.
MLA action
Maintained the advice to supplement with phosphorus licks/blocks during the wet season (as a minimum, or year-round as appropriate for individual situations) in phosphorus-deficient areas.
Feed urea-based licks during the dry season to help improve digestion of poorly digestible forages.
The use of tail hair sampling for nitrogen isotopes has been incorporated into an upcoming Northern Breeding Business (NB2) project focusing on assessing relevant management options (nutritional and environmental) for improving breeder herd efficiency in northern Australian herds.
Producers interested in becoming involved in NB2 should visit www.mla.com.au/nb2.
NB2 producer groups will work together to develop plans for improving weaning rates, decreasing mortality rates, and improving salable liveweights.
Getting nutrition right with phosphorus and/or urea supplementation is likely to be a major part for those not already supplementing.
Future research
It would be good to understand why cattle selected more S than urea or P during the dry season on this station, and whether that applies to all sandy forest country.
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For more information: Contact Project Supervisor: Tim Huggins E: reports@mla.com.au |
