21st Century Pastoralism Project

Andy Bubb

Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre

The DKCRC is committed to creating economic opportunities

for desert people and a demonstrable difference for

remote Indigenous communities, through the application of

excellent research and training.

21st Century Pastoralism

1. Engaging Aboriginal Pastoralists

2. Improving Economic Sustainability

3. Managing for a Variable Climate

4. Utilising Technology

Utilising Technology

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The project’s monitoring covered costs, reliability, ease of use and benefits of the new equipment plus time and cost

savings.The benefits include:• lifestyle changes• reducing the number of bore runs saving fuel, time and

money.

Future benefits expected:• better control of Total Grazing Pressure and pastoral

country condition• stronger production results through better utilisation of

available feed• environmental gains through pasture regeneration

De Rose Hill Station Allan & Kylie Fuller own and manage the 180,000 hectare

property located 50km south of the Northern Territory/South Australian border on the Stuart Highway, running around

2000 head of black angus cows.

  

De Rose Hill Station

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Bore Runs 2006 Bore Runs 2007

Len & Joy Newton’s Mt Ive Station  Mt Ive is a 85,250 hectare, wool growing property in the

Gawler Ranges with saltbush flats that borders Lake Gardiner in the North.

 

New water point

Telemetry

Solar pump

Evaporation control

Mount Ive Station

SA Monitoring Results

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Mount Ive Station Staff Hours Comparison before and after telemetry intallation

2006 staff hours 2007 staff hours

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Mt Ive costs before and after telemetry

before installation 2006 af ter installation 2007-8

The Alice Springs region Northern Territory Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mines research Station covers 50,000 hectares of sandy Mulga country and open oatgrass plains.

Old Man Plains Research Station

“Since installing the telemetry in January at the furtherest water point on the property, we have reduced our bore run from 3-4 times a week to just one saving around 200km weekly.”

Debbie Roberts, manager

The North Australian Pastoral Company’s

MONKIRA Station   

Located in western Queensland's channel country, the 373,000 hectare grower property for weaner steers is dominated by the mighty flood plains of the

Diamantina River, which produce highly productive pastures of blue bush and native sorghum.

Telemetry

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Liner

Evap-cap

Pump Controller

Monkira Station monthly water management operating costs analysis

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April May J une J uly August September October November December J anuary February March

before telemetry 2006 after telemetry 2007-8

Future of WaterSmart

• Looking for further funding

• Roll out results of past work to WA and Western NSW

• Opportunity to test new equipment

• Would you like to be involved?

www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/watersmart

An interactive ‘clearing house’ of project information including:Water delivery (reticulation systems including guidance on design, pipe and valve information etc.)Water control and monitoring systems (telemetry)Water point locationEvaporation management Information related to:

◦On-ground experiences◦ Field trials◦ Latest technologies◦ Costs and benefits◦ Field Days and demonstrations◦ Manufacturers and suppliers◦ Funding and subsidies

available◦ Industry links

 The page provides links to allow information sharing by landholders on what they have found to have worked, problems they have faced and overcome and the opportunity to have discussions around the country with other graziers, suppliers, manufacturers etc through an interactive forum 

Wide Open Spaces

• Extensive pastoralism is built on low input/low output production systems

• Opportunity to collect data on animals once or twice per year

• Infrequent data collection results in little opportunity to use the data collected

Remote Livestock Management System

• Ability to individually manage animals

• Allow for intensive management to be adopted on extensive properties

• Increase the profitability of pastoral production

“Take opportunity to use a bio-security cost as a money

making tool”

Opportunity to:

• Automatically Wean

• Control Mate

• Track weight gains and loses

• Identify time of calving

Autodrafter at Napperby

Video of Autodrafter