BULL BREEDING
FIELD DAY
HELEN MCMILLAN
DEPARTS DPIF
WET SEASON
PHOSPHORUS
HI TECH CATTLE
PRODUCTION
NT FEED & FODDER
PRODUCTION
FREE FINANCIAL
SUPPORT FOR
BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION OF
NEW NT FARMERS
CEO
WHAT WHEN AND
WHERE
AROUND THE TRAPS
ISSN: 1325-9539
DECEMBER 2015
Bull Selection and Polledness Roadshow visits Tennant, Alice and
Katherine.
Jodie Ward, Livestock Industry Development, Katherine
‘Select structurally and reproductively sound bulls’ is one of the key messages from the Bull
Selection and Polledness Field Day Roadshow organised recently by the department, which
generated lively discussion and interaction among pastoralists.
Cattle breeding expert John Bertram and Technical Manager of
Genetics Emily Piper from Zoetis were key note speakers and
toured field days in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine
in mid-September.
John Bertram encouraged critical
thinking when it comes to bull
selection
John Bertram encouraged attendees to think critically about the
value of the bulls they purchase and the impact those bulls have
on the breeder herd.
He said it’s important to consider the contribution every bull is
making to the herd as one bull’s genetics will stay in the breeding herd for at least 16 years if
its daughters are used as replacement heifers.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 1
Beef producers were encouraged to insist on Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluations including
analysing semen morphology to ensure bulls are reproductively sound.
This should be carried out before investing in new bulls to ensure the animals are capable of
impregnating breeders and meeting breeding objectives.
Emily Piper provided a comprehensive summary of how gene poll markers work and how
markers can be used by beef producers to maximum advantage.
Increasing the number of polled or hornless animals in the herd is becoming of greater
importance to the industry as animal welfare standards are strengthened. Producers
are focusing on methods to reduce the stress of husbandry procedures on young cattle. For
example, identifying which bulls carry polled genes and including those animals into the
breeding herd.
The overall message of the roadshow was that although there are a number of things to
keep in consideration when selecting bulls, such as breed and temperament, it is important
not to focus too strongly on one particular trait, as other desirable characteristics relevant to
profitability such as fertility or growth will be compromised. A balanced selection criteria as
well as a Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation should be considered before purchasing new
bulls.
It was great to see so much support for the field days throughout the regions. The roadshow
started in Alice Springs at the Quarantine Yards on 11 September, moved on to Helen
Springs Station on the Barkly Tableland on the following day and wrapped up on 14
September at Montejinni Station in the Victoria River District. The department would like to
thank the industry for its support and particularly the stations that hosted the events.
Free financial support for Business
A free, independent and confidential financial support service to help primary producers is
available in the Northern Territory.
Over the past four years, Rural Business Support has been working with NT primary
producers experiencing financial difficulties.
Support includes financial analysis and preparing business plans and cash flows; supporting
businesses with negotiations with banks and financial institutions; identifying and applying
for government assistance as well as offering a referral service to other professionals and
preparing for succession planning.
Two staff members will visit during the first week in December – Charlie Goode and Lachie
Hood.
For further information please Freecall 1800 836 211 or contact either Charlie or Lachie on
0418 850 251.
Charlie Goode
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
Lachie Hood
BARKLY BEEF | page 2
Tweety’s flown the coop! Helen McMillan’s departure from TCK
DPIF
Jane Douglas, Livestock Industry Development, Tennant Creek
Fresh out of university with a Bachelor of Rural Science, with Honours in Soil Science, Helen
McMillan, come to be fondly known as ‘Tweety’, joined the Tennant Creek Livestock Industry
Development team in May 2013, for what was supposed to be only nine months, while
Casey Collier was on maternity leave.
Helen was largely involved in collecting data for rangelands
projects throughout the NT, in particular the Alexandria
Pasture Spelling Trial and the Precision Pastoral
Management Tools project; meaning she was more
commonly found out bush than at home. Her in-depth
knowledge of precision agriculture, soil and plant sciences
made her an invaluable member of the team and she taught
her colleagues as much as they hoped to have taught her.
Helen was also a major
contributor to the organisation
and running of the biennial
Barkly Herd Management
L-R: Alister Trier, Casey Collier, Helen
McMillan, Jodie Ward and Neil
Forum and the annual Barkly
Macdonald with the Runner-up Chief
Rangeland Management
Minister's Award
Courses. Last year these
courses were recognised by achieving the Runner-Up for the
NT Chief Minister’s Award for Building Regional and/or
Remote Economies.
Helen hard at work grass counting
Life in Tennant Creek wasn’t all about work though. March last year she participated in the
World’s Greatest Shave, and donated her lovely long locks in order to raise money for the
Leukaemia Foundation.
Fast forward two and a half years and Helen has decided that it is time to move on. We wish
her the best of luck in NSW and already miss her smiling face and quick wit both in the office
and in the field.
The aftermath of the World's Greatest
Shave last year
L-R: Skye Spence, Helen McMillan, Jane
Douglas (All DPIF) and Olivia Haines
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
Helen, with Jane Douglas, before
the locks came off
BARKLY BEEF | page 3
Wet season phosphorus – Why? When? Who? How much?
Whitney Dollemore, Livestock Industry Development, Katherine
A key profit driver for a majority of properties in the Katherine region is to maximise
reproductive performance of their breeder herds. Body condition score (BCS) has a great
impact on the ability of a cow to conceive, grow a calf, successfully produce a weaner and
reconceive. Nutrition is intrinsically linked to BCS and so maximising nutrition at the time of
greatest demand will enable preservation of BCS resulting in a higher weaning rate.
Acute phosphorus (P) deficiency can be identified by obvious signs of stiffened gait or peg
leg, bone chewing (increasing the risk of botulism) leading to increased mortality, depraved
appetite (pica) which includes chewing of rocks, dirt, wood, bones or hair (pica will also
occur if an animal is sodium or potassium-deficient) or fragile bones often breaking easily.
Chronic phosphorus deficiency, which is rarely diagnosed, is a significant factor affecting the
reproductive performance of breeder herds as over 70% of rangelands across northern
Australia are severely phosphorus deficient.
It is extremely important economically because it is difficult to identify, manifesting as
reduced performance (growth/reproduction). During the wet season energy and protein in
pastures are in sufficient quantities to meet animal requirements but phosphorus is not and
becomes the limiting nutrient. In order to maximise good quality pasture during the wet
season, supplying additional phosphorus to meet the needs of the animal will aid to preserve
a body condition score for re-conception or to maximise compensatory growth.
Phosphorus supplementation of breeding animals is hard to justify when an immediate
increase in production is not observed in a commercial situation. Breeding animals do have
storages of phosphorus in bone which can be mobilised in times of dietary restriction.
However, a 400kg cow has only 600g (20-30%) of phosphorus that can be mobilised from
bone. If the animal is lactating, during the first four weeks she will use 10g phosphorus per
day (300g) and over another eight weeks she will use 5g of phosphorus per day, the
remainder of her body reserves. Some phosphorus will be supplied by the pasture however,
in regions of acute phosphorus deficiency including most of the NT extra phosphorus will be
required through supplementation.
What is the required amount of supplement for a lactating breeder?
A calculation based on a 400 kg lactating breeder, maintaining weight over the dry season
has the following phosphorus (P) requirements:
1.6gP/L milk produced x 5L milk = 8gP/d + 9gP/day to maintain weight = 17gP/d
A standard black speargrass (Heteropogon contortus) pasture has on average
0.66gP/kgDM. If an animal consumes 3% of their body weight in dry matter per day, this cow
will consume 12kgDM/day.
0.66gP/kgDM x 12kgDMI = 7.92gP/day
If the requirement for P is 17gP/day and it consumes 7.92gP/day from pasture that leaves a
deficit of 9gP/day. So, expanded to 1,000 breeders for 6 months (Nov-Apr):
1000 breeders x 9gP/hd/day = 9000g/d = 9kg/d x 183 days = 1,647kg of P for the wet
season
If the lick was straight Kynofos which has 21% phosphorus, than the amount of Kynofos
required to provide 1,000 breeders with enough P for the wet season is:
1,647kgP x 21/100 = 7,843kg = 8 tonne @ a consumption of 42g/breeder/day
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 4
However, if the P is supplied in a lick mixture and the Kynofos makes up 40% of the lick:
21% x 40% = 8.4%P in the lick, therefore, 1647kgP x 100/8.4 = 19607kg = 20 tonne
of lick @ consumption of 107g/breeder/day
The benefits of wet season phosphorus
supplementation have been outlined in
the MLA publication – Phosphorus
management of beef cattle in Northern
Australia, as a 10% increase in weaning
rate, a 15kg/year increase in live weight
gain and a 2% reduction in breeder
mortalities.
Without P
With P
GM/10,000 AE
$866,100
$965,800
GM/AE
$86.61
$96.58
GM difference/AE
$9.97
Currently, a wet season phosphorus loose lick mix (50% salt, 40% P and 10% Gran am) is
estimated at $955/tonne delivered to Katherine. Using Breedcow, the gross margins on
adding phosphorus supplementation to a standard dry season lick supplementation regime
is shown in the adjacent table. According to this analysis additional supplement cost can be
recovered in two years. The economic and production benefits from phosphorus
supplementation are shown in case studies of properties across northern Australia in the
aforementioned MLA publication available at: http://www.mla.com.au/News-andresources/Publication-details?pubid=6024.
Although feeding phosphorus in the wet season is the most cost effective supplementation
strategy, further minimising of costs could be achieved by segregating animals according to
their phosphorus requirements. For example, keeping growing animals together, heifers
separate to the breeder herd or separating breeders according to the predicted time of
calving/lactation. Phosphorus supplementation is most important for late pregnant heifers
and cows, growing stock and lactating cows.
Other strategies to minimise cost may include, not feeding lick to breeders (three years of
age or older) that will not lactate in the current year or selecting for a cow with a moderate
frame size, therefore lower requirements for phosphorus.
Supplying phosphorus supplements to stock will increase the amount of pasture eaten by
each animal and so it is important to calculate stocking rates correctly based on an increase
in dry matter intake of 10-30% (Jackson et al. 2012).
Reference:
Jackson, D., Rolfe, J., English, B., Holmes, W., Matthews, R., Dixon, R. M., Smith, P., and MacDonald, N. (2012). "Phosphorus management
of beef cattle in northern Australia", I. Partridge, (ed.). City: Meat and Livestock Australia Limited: Sydney.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 5
Hi-Tech Cattle Production
Sally Leigo, Research Leader, Precision Pastoral Management Tools Project
The Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation’s Precision Pastoral
Management Tools (PPMT) project may seem to have been a bit quiet over the past couple
of years; however, we’ve been heads down and tails up, fervently working on the Precision
Pastoral Management System (PPMS) software and conducting field work. In fact, the team
has now completed its fieldwork with Glenflorrie Station in the WA Pilbara region, making
that the first research site to be wrapped up.
The PPMT project held its first field day at Glenflorrie Station on 28 October, with an
excellent representation of beef producers from the Pilbara region. The field day was the first
opportunity for beef producers to learn more about the PPMS software and to see the RLMS
in the paddock.
What is the PPMS?
The PPMS is software (which will be customised for each station) that reports on the trends
in cattle and pasture production. Its unique attribute is that it automatically collects, analyses
and reports on cattle live-weight and pasture production data, and it does so with little error
and without labour expense. Figure 1. summarises how PPMS works:
1. The system receives data collected by a satellite on the pasture greenness.
2. Cattle live-weight data collected via the RLMS is also supplied.
3. On a weekly basis, the beef producer is then able to review trends in cattle liveweight and pasture greenness, to determine whether any actions are required (such
as the sale of cattle, supplementation or stocking rate adjustments).
Figure 1. How the PPMS works.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 6
How has Glenflorrie Station found using the PPMS?
We are really excited at the potential benefits that this
R&D project looks to deliver to the pastoral industry.
The ability to monitor cattle live weights in real time
on such a broad scale whilst simultaneously monitoring
feed on offer, and make critical decisions before it
impacts on the bottom line, is a game changer in my
opinion…We have found it [the PPMS] to be a reliable
and easy to use system.
Murray Grey from Glenflorrie Station
The Grey family has found that the PPMS helped them to minimise weight loss
from their cattle through making better timed decisions for their supplementation
program, minimising handling stress and adjusting stocking numbers in their
paddock.
Murray Grey outlined that by just preventing the weight loss of 10kg/head (on
average) for a herd of 400 head, amounted to four tonnes of beef. At $3/kg,
preventing the loss of four tonnes of beef added up to the avoidance of a $12 000
loss for one herd, in only one year.
What’s next for the PPMT Project?
The PPMT project will be completing its last summer of field work on the four remaining
cattle stations involved. Further field days are expected to be delivered in 2016 in the
Northern Territory and Queensland. Watch the Rural Review for updates.
Figure 2. Locations of the five cattle stations involved in the PPMT project
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 7
You can stay up to speed with the PPMT project via our social media accounts:
You can also sign-up to receive project updates via the PPMT Project website:
Precision Pastoral Management Tools Project
If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or drop me line:
Sally Leigo
Research Leader – PPMT project
Phone: 08 8951 8144 or 0467 770 661
Email: sally.leigo@nt.gov.au
NT fodder and seed production 2014
Arthur Cameron, Plant Industries Development, Darwin
DPIF’s Plant Industries Development Group conducted a survey to estimate hay, silage and
seed production in the Northern Territory during 2014. These figures include the mulching
hay made in the Darwin Rural area. The figures are tabulated below.
The hay production in 2014 at 84 370 tonnes increased from the 50 570 tonnes produced in
2013 on the back of the higher numbers of live cattle exported from Darwin in 2014. This
year’s production is the highest recorded in the Northern Territory, exceeding the 2010 total
by 1050 tonnes.
Seed production, at 75.5 tonnes was higher than in 2013.
The value of the hay produced in 2014 is estimated at $23.02m and the seed at $1.29m.
The high demand for hay following the increased numbers of live cattle exported during the
year pushed up the average price of hay.
These figures represent the majority of the production in the NT in 2014.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 8
The production is presented in Table 1 below by the Australian Bureau of Statistics district.
Table 1. Hay and Seed Production in the NT by District (tonnes)
District
Feed Hay
Alligator
750
Barkly and Central NT
7450
Daly
23200
Litchfield Shire
18920
Lower Top End
32050
Total
82370
Mulch Hay
Seed
43.5
2000
32
2000
75.5
These figures were compiled with the assistance of Departmental Officers Casey Collier
(Tennant Creek), Peter Shotton (DDRF) and Coral Allan (AZRI).
Sabi grass Hay at Katherine Research Station
Jarra Hay cutting at Maneroo in April 2014
Introduction from the new CEO of NT Farmers
My name is Shenal and it gives me great pleasure to introduce myself
to you as the new CEO of NT Farmers. I am delighted to be back
here in the Northern Territory after a number of years away working in
northern Queensland. I recall the time I worked at the Darwin Port
Corporation as the opportunity that helped lay the foundation for my
career. To be back in the NT working to build a prosperous future for
northern agriculture is the best way that I can continue contributing to
the northern development agenda.
New CEO of NT Farmers,
As a professional I have spent my time in the tertiary education,
Shenal Basnayake
shipping, port and regional development sectors. I have worked in both
urban and rural locations in Australia spending the last seven years in
northern Australia, across the Northern Territory and northern Queensland.
I have spent a considerable amount of time supporting the organic and new growth of the
agriculture sector in northern Queensland, particularly through advocating for infrastructure
and policy priorities that are crucial for sustainable growth. I have experience running my
own business as well as working for a large multinational company, and local and state
governments in senior positions.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 9
I have worked overseas in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Japan with business experience in
several other parts of Asia, the Middle East and Europe. All of these experiences and skills
gathered along the way have helped me build a strong foundation in the stakeholder
engagement, policy, business development and program management spaces which I
believe are crucial to driving the future developments planned for NT Farmers and the
agriculture sector in the NT.
The Northern Territory is currently the strongest performing economy in Australia. This was
not achieved by pure luck, but by dedication and hard work from all you see around you. I
believe that the future for agriculture in the NT is bright and what is already a valuable
contributor to the health of the NT's economy will have an increasingly greater role to play in
helping the NT achieve ongoing growth. During the early stages of my discussions with NT
Farmers around this role, I started looking at some of the key statistics and reports around
the regions agriculture sector and the challenges it faces. It soon became apparent that
there are many challenges that needed to be addressed and quickly, but also the many
examples of success and opportunity that needed to be embraced and celebrated.
The current threat posed by breaches to our biosecurity, the need for ongoing
improvements to our water, energy, communications and transport infrastructure, land
tenure, native title, farm management practices, access to new markets, and foreign
investment to name a few are areas of focus for both NT Farmers and me over the coming
months. In addition the opportunities presented through the recent release of documents
such as the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper and the White Paper on Developing
Northern Australia need to be harnessed.
Over the coming months members will see and hear from me as I aim to meet, listen and
work with them. NT Farmers members will also have the opportunity to hear about the new
NT Farmers strategic plan and how they will be party to contributing to its success. For those
who have already been involved in this process I thank you for your time and insights. I
believe that a successful organisation is one that evolves with the times and creates a
positive culture around its employees and members. The new strategic plan will see us
become a more focused and responsive organisation. As a member-based organisation it is
crucial that we engage, understand and respond to the issues raised by our members and
stakeholders, you can trust me when I say that we are here for you.
NT Farmers has a strong brand and presence within the NT which l will be taking onto the
national and international stages. This enables us to showcase our achievements and
opportunities as well as help build strategic partnerships that benefit our members and the
growth of our industry. I firmly believe in the power of partnerships and being engaged with
as many strategic stakeholders as possible, being informed and using this information to
influence positive outcomes for our members.
I look forward to meeting with you shortly and thank you in advance for entrusting me with
the opportunity to represent you. In the words of Henry Ford
'Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is
success'
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
BARKLY BEEF | page 10
What When & Where
December 2015
Christmas Day
25 December
Boxing Day
26 December
January 2016
Australia Day
26 January
March 2016
NT Cattleman's Assoc 32nd AGM &
Industry Conference, Gala Dinner,
Ladies Luncheon
17-18 March
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
Alice Springs
BARKLY BEEF | page 11
Around the Traps
Have you taken a good photo? Send it into casey.collier@nt.gov.au
Participants discuss bulls at the silent auction
Some of the bulls bred during the Helen Springs Bull
Breeding PDS
Bull guru John Bertram talks bulls with Trisha
Cowley (DPIF)
Participants at the Barkly Herd Management Forum
Helen McMillan and Casey Collier (DPIF)
Thomas Haines competing in the Challenge at the
Barkly Goldrush Campdraft held in Tennant Creek.
Santa and Rudolph getting into the Christmas spirit.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES
www.dpif.nt.gov.au
Abbey Haines and her team ready to compete
in the Junior Draft at the Barkly Goldrush
Campdraft.
BARKLY BEEF | page 12
Barkly House Staff List
BARKLY HOUSE
First Floor, 99 Paterson St
PO Box 159, Tennant Creek, NT, 0861
Fax: (08) 8962 4480
Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries
Regional Management
Executive Officer
Helen Kempe
08 8962 4484
Administration Officer
Skye-Lea Ries
08 8962 4488
Regional Stock Inspector
Thomas Haines
08 8962 4458
M: 0401 113 445
Stock Inspector
Greg Maguire
08 8962 4492
M: 0457 517 347
Pastoral Production Officer
Casey Collier
08 8962 4493
Pastoral Production Officer
Jane Douglas
08 8962 4483
Animal Health
Pastoral Production
Barkly Landcare & Conservation Association
Landcare Facilitator
Angela Carpenter
08 8962 4494
Helen, Skye, Tom, Greg, Case, Jane and
Angela wish everyone a wonderful
Christmas and holiday season. May the
New Year bring with it luck, cheer, rain
and lots of it! We look forward to
catching up with you in 2016!
POSTAGE
PAID
AUSTRALIA
If undeliverable, please return to:
Department of Primary Industry &
Fisheries
PO Box 159
TENNANT CREEK NT 0861