Peter Williams, Extensive Agriculture BranchDepartment of Primary Industries and Water

Aims

• Focus – increasing the production of red meat / ha

• Beef from ~ 400 kg/ha/year – 1000 kg – 2000 kg?

• Using known technologies –

grazing / fertiliser / irrigation

Sites

• Winnaleah – NE – red soil

• Montagu – NW coast – sandy soil

• Alcomie – NW coast – red soil

• King Island – developed coastal sandy soil

Methods

• Cattle weighed every 4 weeks

• Pasture measured every 4 weeks

• Stocked according to Food On Offer

• Utilisation

Winnaleah – year 1

• Grazing management – 3 treatments/2 reps

2 ha paddocks

• Set stocked – 4 paddock rotation – intensive rotation

• Results – 1218 kg/ha, 1317 kg/ha, 1419 kg/ha

• 17 % increase

Winnaleah – year 2

• Strategic use of N – 3 treatments/2 reps

• Nil N – 45 kg/ha N x 2 – 30 kg/ha N each rotation (whilst sufficient moisture)

• Results – 1020 kg/ha, 1208 kg/ha, 1563 kg/ha

• 53 % increase

Winnaleah – year 3

• Irrigation – 3 treatments/2 reps

• Nil N dry land – 30 kg/ha N dry land – 30 kg/ha N irrigated• Results – 868 kg/ha, 1366 kg/ha, 1628 kg/ha

• 87 % increase

Winnaleah – year 3 (repeat)

• Results to 2/2/09

• 959 kg/ha, 1670 kg/ha, 1864 kg/ha

• Economic analysis

• Final field day – Wednesday 18/3/09

Completed projects

• Finishing lambs under centre pivot

• Wean More Lambs – national program

• Lamb production on Arrotas clover

• Feedlot finishing - 215 days grain fed

Other EAB activities

• Cressy Research and Demonstration Station – 484 ha

• Wool

• Pastures/Grains

• Drought