PastoralPastoral MEMOMEMO © State of Western Australia, 2007.
Northern Pastoral Region PO Box 19, Kununurra WA 6743 Phone: (08) 9166 4019 E-mail: [email protected]
June 2007 ISSN 1033-5757 Vol. 28, No. 2
CONTENTS
Where has the rain been falling? ...... 2 Welcome from the Editor ...... 3 Kimberley and Pilbara ‘wet’ season round-up ...... 4 Halls Creek Judas Donkey Program ...... 5 Alan Lawford to attend Australian Rural Leadership Program ...... 6 Profitability and sustainability of Indigenous owned pastoral businesses ...... 6 Increase in Pastoral Water Grants ...... 11 Road trip ...... 11 Horse movements ...... 12 Bush Nurse ...... 13 Northern Australian collaborative heifer fertility projects ...... 14 Seedling survival of mesquite in field situations ...... 17 Acacia nilotica on the Durack ...... 18 Biosecurity: It’s up to you...... 19 Cattle transport checklist for the Kimberley ...... 21 Cattle market update ...... 23 Northern Rangelands Calendar ...... 24
EDITOR: Matthew Fletcher
Visit http://www.agric.wa.gov.au PASTORAL MEMO – NORTHERN PASTORAL REGION JUNE 2007
WHERE HAS THE RAIN BEEN FALLING?
Please check the address label on your publication. If it is incorrect or if you would like to be included on our mailing list, let us know!
Disclaimer This material has been written for Western Australian conditions. Its availability does not imply suitability to other areas, and any interpretation or use is the responsibility of the user. Mention of product or trade names does not imply recommendation, and any omissions are unintentional. Recommendations were current at the time of preparation of the original publication.
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WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR
Hello Northern Rangelanders The 2007 dry season is well under way across the Northern Rangelands with caravan parks full to overflowing from Wyndham to Paraburdoo, mustering underway on many stations, cattle boats coming and going from northern ports and good times to be had at the Broome and Pilbara race meetings. The June 2007 Northern Pastoral Memo has something interesting in it for everyone. News of dwindling donkey populations around Halls Creek will be sure to bring a smile to many faces, AQIS has kindly provided information on export numbers from northern ports in 2007 and the Bush Nurse has made a return with some information on nasty viruses carried by mosquitoes.
The feature article for the June Pastoral Memo is a summary of an ‘industry initiative to improve young breeder performance in the Pilbara and Kimberley of WA’. It is great to see some beef research happening across the Kimberley and Pilbara. Although the ‘young breeder project’ for short is not planned to finish until 2009, some best bet management practices to improve young breeder herd productivity have already been identified.
The Pastoral Memo also has a new section for all readers interested in cattle markets locally, interstate and abroad. Information for this section had been kindly supplied by Meat and Livestock Australia. Happy reading Matthew Fletcher
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KIMBERLEY AND PILBARA ‘WET’ SEASON ROUND-UP
By Matthew Fletcher, Kununurra and Peter Smith, Karratha
Kimberley 2006/07 wet season - summary and 2007/08 planning At the completion of the 2006/07 wet season a majority of stations in the Kimberley had received average to above average rainfall (see page 2). February was an extremely lean month for rainfall across the Kimberley and Pilbara and will be remembered as one of the lowest on record, with a majority of leases receiving less than 10 mm of rain for the month. It was not until mid March when a monsoonal trough combined with the passing of the MJO (Madden-Julian Oscillation) and dumped heavy falls of rain across the Kimberley, improving rainfall totals and prospects for the 2006/07 season. It is interesting to compare levels of Total Standing Dry Matter (TSDM) at the completion of the 2006 and 2007 wet seasons (see website at the end of this article). There appears to be less TSDM available to utilise for stock going into 2007 than there was in 2006. TSDM is the total amount of grasses, herbs and small seedlings growing in the pasture layer. What does this imply for rangeland management? At the first muster there is an opportunity to align numbers of stock going back into paddocks with the amount of useful forage available. It is important to remember that cattle do not graze all grasses evenly. Cattle preferentially graze desirable grasses, therefore stock numbers need to be aligned with the amount of desirable forage available to minimise overgrazing of these perennial grasses. Pastoralists aligning stocking rates with the amount of desirable forage grown, provide an opportunity for an increase in desirable perennial grasses on their lease and better animal performance and potentially higher stock numbers in the future. Ultimately this increased productivity from desirable grasses will improve a station’s bottom line. If you would like to know more about desirable grasses on your lease in the Kimberley please give me a call at Kununurra on (08) 9166 4019.
Pilbara 2006/07 season Some areas of the east and central Pilbara received scattered storms before Christmas and while these resulted in some useful pasture response in a few isolated areas, they often produced some serious fires burning large areas of country. One fire in the Millstream area burnt out a large area of good country in the Fortesque Valley. The speed of this fire rendered control measures largely ineffective. As with the Kimberley season, the season in the Pilbara was late with little useful rain until the cyclone influences of George and Jacob in early March and Kara in late March. All of these influences crossed the coast west of Port Hedland and resulted in good falls of rain in the east and central Pilbara. The west Pilbara, west of Karratha, received some useful falls from scattered storms but no general rain. An influence in early May produced some useful falls in the area between Nanutarra and Carnarvon and to the east, but again the west Pilbara generally missed out. The effect of these rainfall events is reflected in the TSDM estimates for 2007 (see website below). While the likelihood of useful winter rain is better in the west Pilbara and further south, good falls will be required to produce any sort of a body feed. Smaller falls are likely to improve the quality of feed on offer but do little to improve the quantity of feed available.
Useful websites 2007 http://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/RainfallAndPastureGrowth/WA/2000s/2007/Apr/ PastureBiomass.gif 2006 http://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/RainfallAndPastureGrowth/WA/2000s/2006/Apr/ PastureBiomass.gif
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HALLS CREEK JUDAS DONKEY PROGRAM
By Chad Richards, Bio-Security Officer, Halls Creek
Date Number Number Number Anticipated Number of collared Station started of runs of hours culled finish date donkeys remaining Bedford Dns Nov-97 48 58.4 1,102 Nov-07 1 :Monitoring Carranya Oct-97 17 17.0 38 Sep-00 0 :Eradicated Koonjie Park Nov-95 38 89.0 683 May-02 0 :Eradicated Lansdowne Jun-97 40 196.7 1,655 Feb-06 0 :Eradicated Margaret River Jul-96 39 106.0 345 Nov-02 0 :Eradicated Moola Bulla May-98 34 62.7 228 Feb-03 0 :Eradicated Nicholson Jun-99 34 115.6 2,506 Dec-09 8 :Ongoing Monitoring Osman Valley Sep-00 27 59.3 524 Nov-07 2 :Monitoring Sophie Dns May-97 43 159.0 1,280 Nov-07 4 :Monitoring Spring Creek Apr-00 23 61.4 259 Dec-09 4 :Ongoing Monitoring Tablelands Apr-00 24 73.6 572 Nov-07 7 :Monitoring Wood River May-00 33 208.0 1,658 Nov-07 12 :Monitoring Alice Dns Jul-97 38 80.4 431 May-03 0 :Eradicated Purnululu Nat Park Jun-97 48 178.0 703 Nov-07 2 :Monitoring Gardner Range Oct-97 31 136.2 715 Mar-07 0 :Eradicated Lamboo Oct-95 58 209.9 1,244 May-03 0 :Eradicated Larrawa Oct-96 29 61.1 255 Sep-00 0 :Eradicated Mable Dns Mar-99 45 143.2 1,014 Nov-07 3 :Monitoring Marion Dns Dec-00 25 111.0 1,281 Nov-07 7 :Monitoring Mornington Nov-00 44 135.6 1,555 Nov-07 3 :Monitoring Ord Reserve Jun-98 51 225.5 1,943 Dec-09 9 :Ongoing Monitoring Ruby Oct-96 30 69.8 452 Oct-01 0 :Eradicated Springvale Nov-97 32 71.5 362 May-03 0 :Eradicated Sturt Creek Oct-97 19 19.2 71 Oct-01 0 :Eradicated Texas Dns Jun-98 33 60.2 363 Feb-03 0 :Eradicated Total 2,708.3 21,239 62 Collars
1. This is just a general summary of the Judas donkey program in the Halls Creek area. 2. The statistics in this table relate to the Judas program in the Halls Creek area, not the overall station totals which began in 1978. 3. If station owners/managers can report any information about donkeys that they see during mustering programs, then that information is very helpful in speeding up the progress of the program and can considerably reduce costs and time taken to reach eradication on that station. http://www.agric.wa.gov.au 5 PASTORAL MEMO – NORTHERN PASTORAL REGION JUNE 2007
ALAN LAWFORD, MANAGER, BOHEMIA DOWNS STATION SELECTED TO ATTEND AUSTRALIAN RURAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
By Alan Lawford
I have recently been selected to attend the Australian Rural Leadership Program and would like to thank the Federal Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry for providing me with the opportunity to participate by sponsoring me, in particular Elwin Turnball for all his help. The program commenced 16 May 2007 and will run for a period of over 18 months. I have been involved in the pastoral industry for over 15 years and am currently the manager of Bohemia Downs Station south-west of Halls Creek. I always try to encourage people, especially the younger generation, to become actively involved in the pastoral industry. We also encourage workers to attend training and conferences which target the pastoral industry. I am the indigenous representative on the Rangelands Coordinating group and that includes projects like looking after country and other land management strategies. One of the other projects is the ranger program which includes land, sea, Alan Lawford. river and desert country management.
PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF INDIGENOUS OWNED PASTORAL BUSINESSES
By Nadene Baldwin and Bob McConachy, KIMSS coordinators, Kununurra
The Kimberley Indigenous Management Support Service’s (KIMSS) principal objective is to service Indigenous pastoral lease holders in order to increase profitability and sustainability of their pastoral businesses….. and this is exactly what is currently being achieved on the Indigenous owned properties operating within the KIMSS project. Lamboo Station, an area of 400,000 hectares, when inducted into the project was operating at a financial loss, had low cattle numbers (~300 head), the majority of infrastructure on the property was not operational, and there were limited employment opportunities. In three years, the property now runs a herd of 1500 head (and steadily increasing), has subleased land to ‘Kidman and Co.’ and is currently in sublease negotiations over the remaining area of southern Lamboo.
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Infrastructure developments on Lamboo Station in recent years have been significant, with numerous fences, waterpoints and yards being repaired, reconstructed or built. With a property business plan which KIMSS coordinator Bob McConachy developed with the community last year as a guide, 2007 is a busy year for the station with 25 km of fencing, four waterpoints and three trap yards to be constructed. The manager of the station, Robin Yeeda, in the past four years has completed a Certificate in Beef Production, and most recently completed a Diploma in Agribusiness. He has also recently attended a Rural Leadership Program in Canberra and was the only Indigenous person present from across Australia. Ngunjiwirri Aboriginal Corporation, the managing structure for Lamboo Station, is operating well, with regular monthly meetings to discuss station and community activities. In summary, in a relatively short period of time, the station has been built up practically from a limited base and now has: • Regular income via sublease fees. • Operating infrastructure which satisfies pastoral lease legislation and requirements. • Increasing cattle numbers which, in turn, provides a long-term enterprise opportunity. • Employment and income opportunities for the Lamboo community. Lamboo Station is just one of the KIMSS properties in the East Kimberley. Other properties include Billiluna, Lake Gregory, Gibb River and Bow River stations and Violet Valley Aboriginal Reserve. Over the next 12 to 18 months, these properties will be profiled in the Pastoral Memo, with an aim to provide a brief summary of developments, and extend what these Indigenous owned properties and their associated communities are achieving. For further information on the KIMSS project and any of the above information, please contact Bob McConachy and Nadene Baldwin at the Kununurra office.
Industry recognised trap yards built on Lamboo Station in 2006.
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Annual Campdraft and Rodeo Weekend
6th, 7th and 8th July 2007 Campdrafts • Maiden
• Novice • Ladies • Junior and Juvenile • Jillaroo and Jackaroo Draft • Macdonald Memorial Open • ‘Diamond of the West’ Open
Rodeo events • $1000 Open Saddlebronc
• $1000 Open Bull Ride • Novice Bull Ride • Ladies’ Barrel Race • Men’s Barrel Race • 2nd Division Station Buckjump • Ladies’ Heifer Ride
All enquiries: Karen Anderson (08) 9191 4748
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TheThe PGAPGA KimberleyKimberley DivisionDivision InvitationInvitation BullBull && HorseHorse SaleSale Bos Indicus & Australian Stock Horse (ASH)
Friday 24th August 2007
- Brooking Springs Station, Fitzroy Crossing
Start Time: 10am (morning smoko available at yard before sale commences and lunch also available at yard)
170 BRAHMAN & DROUGHTMASTER BULLS
Elders Northern Territory Bulls 40 Brahman Bulls - a/c Bunda Brahman Stud 40 Brahman Bulls - a/c Stylo Brahman Stud
For further details and enquiries please contact selling agents: Elders Katherine - Peter Kelly 0417 853 796 Elders WA - Kelvin Hancey 0429 914 400 After Hours (08) 9193 5675 - Steve McDowall 0428 914 143
FarmWorks Livestock Queensland & Northern Territory Bulls 40 Red Brahman - a/c Muan, Barlyne, Alma Park, Alma, Rodlyn, Innooroolabar, TMG, LaBelle Brahman Stud. 30 Grey Brahman - a/c Laglan, Mount Hastings, TMG, LaBelle Brahman Stud. 20 Droughtmaster - a/c Crusader, Vitwood, Sevenell.
For further details and enquiries please contact selling agents: FarmWorks QLD - Jim & Lee Edwards (07) 4161 1764 Mobile 0427 092 456 FarmWorks Livestock Perth (08) 9347 0555 Harold Sealy, Livestock Manager 0428 951 464
20 RIDDEN STOCK HORSES (ASH)
- from the Kimberley & Northern Territory
For further details and enquiries please contact: Edgar Richardson - (08) 9479 4599 OR 0409 945 430
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PGAPGA KimberleyKimberley
CentenaryCentenary CelebrationsCelebrations
PGA Celebrates 100 Years 1907 - 2007
The Pastoralists & Graziers Association of WA (Inc.) is celebrating 100 years and to commemorate this milestone in the Kimberley the following events are taking place:
Saturday 25th August 2007
PGA Kimberley Division Meeting
Start Time: 10am (TBC)
Lunch provided
For further details and enquiries please contact: Alex Burbury OR Edgar Richardson at the PGA (08) 9479 4599
Centenary Ball
- Fossil Downs Station, Fitzroy Crossing
Tickets available - $125 per person Includes live music, food, champagne, wine, beer, celebrity auction & breakfast the following morning.
Tickets on sale from 1st June 2007 for PGA members, their staff, family & friends.
And open to others from 16th July 2007.
Enquiries for accommodation & tickets to: Joy Motter (08) 9191 7141
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ROAD TRIP
Halls Creek - East Kimberley Local Conservation District Committee (LCDC) is planning a road trip through the East Kimberley in the first week of July to look at what local pastoralists and businesses are doing on their leases to maintain or improve rangeland condition. The road trip will start in Kununurra and make its way down to Halls Creek and back along the Duncan Road, staying at various stations and businesses along the way. It is planned that the road trip will take about four days. People will be able to join and leave the trip as is suits them. Look for the full details in your mailbox soon. For more information about the road trip please contact Dick Pasfield on 9169 2222.
INCREASE IN PASTORAL WATER GRANTS
By Jim Addison
Pastoralists received some welcome news recently when the State Government announced changes to the Pastoral Water Grants Scheme – including an increase in the maximum grant to $20,000. The Pastoral Water Grants Scheme assists pastoralists to deal with overgrazing and land degradation by contributing to improvements in land management. Assistance with homestead water supplies is also available. It encourages sustainable grazing management and is also designed to secure pastoral properties against water shortages. Since its inception in December 1999, 79 pastoral water grants valued at $800,000 have been approved under the scheme.
Who is eligible? Commercial pastoralists holding leases in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne/Murchison and Goldfields/Nullarbor regions can seek assistance under the scheme. The latest changes mean pastoralists operating a commercial pastoral business can claim 70% of expenditure on approved water supply improvement work up to a maximum grant of $20,000.
What can be funded? Grants are available to establish new watering points, upgrade existing points and install improved homestead water supplies. Types of projects eligible for assistance include construction and enhancement of dams and water catchment performance, drilling, equipping of bores, reticulation, pumps and tanks, water treatment equipment and refurbishment of key water supply systems.
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To be successful, pastoralists must be able to demonstrate the need for improved water supplies on the property. Priority will be given to those stations demonstrating the greatest water deficiency or anticipated environmental benefit to the rangeland resulting from the proposed improvements.
When to apply Grant rounds under the scheme close at the end of February, June and October. Technical officers at the Department of Agriculture and Food’s District Offices are available to assist pastoralists to plan water supply improvements on their leases. For more information on the scheme, contact the Department of Water on freecall 1800 780 300 or visit the Department’s website: www.water.wa.gov.au
HORSE MOVEMENTS
By Kristie Parker, Stock Inspector, Derby
Are you taking horses south of the tick line within Western Australia? Within Western Australia, under the Enzootic Disease Regulations, it is a requirement for horses to be inspected and treated with an approved insecticide for ticks and a ‘Permit to Move’ is required to be issued by a Stock Inspector from the Department of Agriculture and Food prior to the movement south of the tick line. The tick line runs between Mandora Station and Wallal Downs Station. Failure to comply with these regulations is an offence and could result in fines of up to $1000. Contact your local Stock Inspector at least 72 hours prior to movement to arrange an inspection, treatment and a ‘Permit to Move’.
Are you taking horses from the Kimberley into the Northern Territory? All horses travelling into the Northern Territory must travel with a ‘Northern Territory Health Certificate’; these can be obtained from your local Stock Inspector. The Northern Territory Government also requires horses travelling through or into tick free areas of the Northern Territory be treated and inspected prior to entering the tick free area. If you are going south of the Dunmarra Roadhouse (Stuart Highway) they will need to be treated for ticks. For further information on horse movement requirements for the Northern Territory, contact Greg Scott (Regional Stock Inspector) in Katherine on 8973 9754.
Has the horse you are moving south of the tick line — originated from interstate? — ever resided interstate? If so you will need to contact your local Stock Inspector to determine if the horse needs any further tests or treatments and to be issued relevant permits before it travels south.
Are you bringing horses into the Kimberley from the Eastern States? Contact Dave Muirson (Senior Stock Inspector) at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Kununurra, 72 hours prior to movement to arrange inspections and treatments. Maree Glasby, Broome 9194 1400 Kristie Parker, Derby 9191 0333 Chad Richards, Halls Creek 9168 6179 Dave Muirson, Kununurra 9166 4000
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BUSH NURSE
By Joy Motter, Bulka Station, Fitzroy Crossing
This is a late reminder about the annual flu needle for senior citizens, those with respiratory problems and those who have other medical conditions – better late than not at all. Now that the ‘wet’ has gone, most of the insects have disappeared too, except for the mosquitoes. There are several diseases that mozzies can cause and here are two of them.
Australian Encephalitis (AE) also known as Murray Valley Encephalitis. It is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease. It usually occurs in the north of Australia and rarely ‘over east’. The virus is carried by water birds which infect the mozzies when they bite the infected bird. The infected mozzies then might bite you. Not all mozzies carry the virus. Disease symptoms may include: severe headache, neck stiffness, fever, confusion, vomiting, dizziness, tiredness and seizures particularly in children. Contact the doctor as early as possible. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for AE virus. Treatment is pain and fever relief and usually antibiotic cover for the prevention of secondary infections. Prevention is very important. • Wear loose clothing, long sleeves, long trousers and socks. Mozzies can bite through tight-fitting clothes. • Avoid outside areas early mornings and dusk to mid evening. • Use insect repellent on exposed skin, e.g. face, neck and hands – lotions and gels last longer and are more effective than sprays. • Ensure flyscreens are in good order and use mozzie net/tent if camping outdoors. • Use ‘knock down’ insect spray before bedtime to kill mozzies that may be inside.
Ross River Virus (RRV) It is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Australia and in the north of WA. The risk is greatest after the wet season. The virus is spread by mozzies through the mosquito/mammal cycle involving kangaroos, wallabies, possibly other marsupials, e.g. possums, flying foxes and native rodents. Disease symptoms include: Slight fever and tiredness – a rash may occur following these symptoms. Rheumatic/arthritic symptoms, e.g. aches and pains affecting the wrists, knees and ankles are present in most patients. Prolonged symptoms are common and may reappear for up to 12 months (some RRV victims say the aches and pains go on for longer). You need to visit a doctor for diagnosis. Blood testing shows a rise in antibody titre to RRV. Treatment: There is no vaccine to protect against RRV. Pain and fever relief is advised and bed rest in the early stages of the disease. Prevention: See above as same as for AE.
Question: What do you rub on an itchy pig? Answer: Oinkment.
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NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN COLLABORATIVE HEIFER FERTILITY PROJECTS
P.C. Smith, Karratha and M.R. Jeffery, Derby
This is a summary of the Pilbara and Kimberley activities of this MLA-supported project presented at the recent Northern Beef Research Update Conference in Townsville.
Introduction The low fertility of lactating first calf heifers is generally regarded as the biggest area of inefficiency in northern Australian breeding herds and two projects are currently running on commercial properties in the NT and northern WA to address this problem. The projects were designed and are being run in collaboration by NT DPIFM and DAFWA staff and have been underway since late 2004. Current levels of heifer fertility on commercial properties are being documented and demonstration sites have been set up on commercial properties where improved management practices are being researched and demonstrated. Cattle managers are also being surveyed on their estimates of current heifer performance, their management practices and their attitudes towards changing the way they manage heifers. The aim is to increase the awareness of cattle managers about the problems with heifer fertility in their regions, and of practices that can be used to improve it. At the end of the projects (in 2009) a best practice manual for heifer management will be produced. The purpose of this paper is to give an outline of these projects and report on the preliminary findings.
INDUSTRY INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE YOUNG BREEDER PERFORMANCE IN THE PILBARA AND KIMBERLEY OF WA
Introduction The profitability of pastoral leases in the Pilbara and Kimberley is determined by the number, weight and value of cattle produced and sold, less the input costs. Limited information available indicates that, in common with many extensive northern Australia cattle enterprises, female sales as a percent- age of total sales in the Pilbara and Kimberley seldom exceeds 35% with a range of 15–40%. This indicates that at least one half of the females bred in many enterprises do not leave the property. Similarly, long-term estimates of reproductive rates (progeny weaned/breeding age females exposed to bulls in the previous season) range from 45–75%. While some enterprises are certainly more productive than these figures suggest, there is opportunity to improve productivity by improving the efficiency of reproduction and increasing female sales. In common with producers across northern Australia, pastoralists in the northern rangelands of WA have identified young breeders (defined as young females in the breeding herd until they conceive their second calf) as a high survival risk group in the breeding herd with often less than optimal reproductive performance.
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Pastoralists project management groups An expression of interest for pastoralists to be involved in a group to oversee and contribute to project development and management was advertised in the Northern Pastoral Memo in 2004. In the Pilbara this resulted in the formation of a group which included cooperators in the site activities and pastoralists responding to the expression of interest. The Kimberley management group is made up of the pastoralists on the RBRC and other cooperating managers.
Survey of current practices and attitudes A survey was developed and conducted to provide a background of current practices and pastoralists’ attitude to adopting alternative management practices. A 40% sample of pastoralists representing a range of herd sizes and the major land systems of the Pilbara were interviewed. Participants were advised that they would again be asked to participate in a similar survey towards the end of the project in 2008/09 as part of project evaluation.
Survey results A sample of the results of a survey of 40% (n=22) of Pilbara pastoralists conducted during 2004/05 are included in Table 1. Table 1. Summary of Pilbara survey results
Herd information Average herd size 6,800 Av. calves marked/weaned 2003/04 2,300 Av. females sold 2003/04 880 Enterprises using botulism vaccine 83% Enterprises segregating heifers following weaning 78% Enterprises mustering breeders more than once a year 40% Enterprises vaccinating bulls for Campylobacter 28% Enterprises control mating heifers – (bulls actually removed) 5% Attitude towards changing heifer management: Agree/strongly agree “Would change if new techniques are demonstrated to be better.” 67% “Are definitely thinking of changing what we do.” 56%
While this information has not yet been statistically analysed, it provides an overview of cattle management practices in operation in the Pilbara in 2004/05 and shows an encouraging attitude of pastoralists to change.
Performance recording on commercial properties Four performance recording sites were established in the Pilbara to document the performance of young breeders under current management systems. The management aim at two sites was to intentionally mate heifers in the second year following weaning as ‘two-year-olds’. At the other two sites heifers were intentionally mated in the year following weaning as ‘yearlings’. Groups of heifers were individually identified on each of four properties with liveweight, body condition score (BCS), and reproductive information recorded as convenient for cooperating pastoralists. Individual animal performance of these young breeding females will be monitored until they have the opportunity to conceive their second calf.
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Results Information recorded at these sites during the project is summarised in Table 2. It should be noted that the reproduction information is not yet complete for some of these sites as two of the sites do not intentionally mate heifers until they are ‘two-year-olds’. Mating in the year following weaning as ‘yearlings’ was intentional at Pilbara 1 and Pilbara 2, with mating in the second year following mating as ‘two-year-olds’ being the aim at Pilbara 3 and Pilbara 4. Table 2. Summary of the reproduction information collected from Pilbara and Kimberley ‘data collection’ sites
1 yr post weaning 1 yr post weaning 2 yo Missing Weaning 2 yo Calf Site N ‘yearling’ ‘yearling’. preg. % for (avg. wt) (avg. wt) loss (avg. wt) preg. % (lactating) 2 yrs Pilbara 1 250 208 kg 332 kg 64% 16% 6% Pilbara 2 229 218 kg 297 kg 382 kg 37% 64% (13%) 16% 2% Pilbara 3 162 143 kg 261 kg 341 kg 22% 5% Pilbara 4 200 60% 22% 18% Kimberley 1 302 303 kg 82% (85%)** 18% (No 3’s) Kimberley 1 (No 4’s) 477 306 kg 51%* * Mating period reduced from 6 to 2 months for mating of No 4 maiden heifers. ** Recorded in 2006 following a good 2005/06 season.
Discussion The information recorded at the sites summarised in Table 2 and additional sites in the Kimberley has identified a number of management practices likely to improve young breeder productivity. Issues identified for consideration for inclusion in best practice systems currently being demonstrated/ evaluated at different locations as part of the next phase of the project include: • The relatively high conception rate achievable by heifers in the year following weaning in average to better years - ~60% conceptions recorded at two sites in the Pilbara and ~80% recorded at one Kimberley site. • The difficulty in controlling bulls in extensive areas – pregnancy rates up to 60% recorded before heifers intentionally mated at one site in the Pilbara. • The need to run young breeders as a separate group until they wean their first calf to provide the opportunity for preferential management, e.g. supplementation or earlier weaning should seasonal conditions deteriorate. At one Pilbara site 24% of heifers pregnant to calve early in 2005 during a failed growing season have failed to turn up at musters in the following two years. • The potential role of supplements and grazing management strategies to optimise growth rates of heifers to improve maiden and 1st calf mating outcomes. • The need to match the nutritional requirements of the different classes of breeders to the available supply which is especially important in 1st calf heifers.
Future activities – Pilbara and Kimberley The project is currently in its third phase of trialling and demonstrating best practice management practices on three cooperator properties. An additional site in the Kimberley is investigating and demonstrating the effects of supplementation to improve the growth rates of heifers following weaning and prior to mating on maiden and first calf cow reproductive performance. The project is demonstrating active cooperation between pastoralists and agency staff in WA and across northern Australia in identifying and addressing a production issue.
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SEEDLING SURVIVAL OF MESQUITE IN FIELD SITUATIONS
By Linda Anderson, Project Officer, PMMC
Seedling mortality studies of mesquite were conducted in the Pilbara, in areas where the grazing of mesquite pods by livestock had led to concentrated areas of seedling germination around stock camps and waters. Studies commenced in May 2005, following good rainfall in April and May. The study found that initial seedling germination rates of mesquite were high, and that mortality rates of seedlings over an 18-month period were also high. Once collected data was transformed to cover a more ‘useable’ area or a realistic herd size, the number of live seedlings which survived 18 months in field conditions was astonishingly abundant. Two field studies were undertaken. The first involved monitoring the survival rate of mesquite seedlings when fenced to exclude cattle (natural competition). The second trial investigated the survival of seedlings emerging from individual cattle dung with no protection from livestock trampling (natural competition + trampling).
Natural competition conclusions Initial observations tracked 2433 mesquite seedlings across 5 blocks (each 4 m2), with densities ranging from 210 to 666 seedlings/4 m2. Three sites were destroyed during the course of the trial. After 18 months of monitoring the remaining enclosed sites had an average seedling survival rate of 18%. At one site where fencing had been destroyed but the posts remained in-situ (trampling occurred freely), a seedling survival rate of 2.5% was observed. Basic analyses suggest that under the observed situation, 525,000-1,665,000 mesquite seedlings/ ha are possible. After 18 months, and at a natural competition loss of seedlings at 82%, the remaining population of seedlings would still total around 100,000 to 300,000 seedlings/ha. If cattle are retained in the area (as one would expect) and the effects of trampling are included, seedling mortality over 18 months increases to 97.5%. Whilst a kill rate of 97.5% is high, a potential 13,000-42,000 seedlings/ha would still survive!
Natural competition + trampling conclusions Fifty random, intact cow dungs were selected in two locations close to watering points. Initial observations tagged 681 mesquite seedlings (514 live) in 91 of the 100 cow dungs, with a range of 1-65 seedlings/dung. After 18 months, 9% of seedlings were alive, with the remainder perishing under natural conditions (65%), unrecoverable (21%) or trampled by stock (5%).
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Let’s put this in a semi-realistic situation: • Cattle dung, on average, 15 times per day. • Initial average number of live seedlings/dung observed was five. ∴ A single beast can dung out 75 live seedlings in one day. • On average, seedpods may be present on plants for 60 days a year. ∴ A single beast can dung out 4500 live seedlings in a year. • After 18 months, a survival rate of 9% was observed in the trial. ∴ After 18 months, the dung of that one beast will still support 405 seedlings. If on average a mill supports say 200 head of cattle, some 80,000 seedlings would still be alive at each mill 18 months after a mass germination occurred!
ACACIA NILOTICA ON THE DURACK
After the initial discovery of the infestation near the Durack River in the east Kimberley in October 2003, progress has been slowly gaining momentum in an effort to eradicate the only known large infestation of prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica) in Western Australia. Prickly acacia is a Weed of National Significance and is endemic to parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory. It is a native of Africa and West Asia and was introduced to Australia in the 1890s as an ornamental shade and shelter tree. The seed is mainly spread by cattle, water movement and accidentally by humans on machinery. It can Prickly acacia spikes. be quite fast growing and forms large dense thorny thickets along waterways and stock watering points. This reduces access for stock to water points and reduces the tourism and environmental values of our landscape. A helicopter survey has established that the infestation has been contained in the area bounded by the Durack River to the south, the Pentacost River to the east and ranges on the north and west. This is an area of approximately 1500 hectares in which there are three main patches along little creeks and scattered plants along the remaining flood plain and marsh country. The land concerned is vested in the Department of Indigenous Affairs. Nulla Nulla community, led by David Clark, was initially appointed to start control work on one of the main patches that leads into the Durack River. Funding from Joorook Ngarni through CDEP program and DIA as well as the Kimberley Zone Control Authority from the Declared Plant and Animal Trust Fund, allowed this control work to get underway.
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Since then, further funding has been received from the Department of Environment and Conservation through Biodiversity Conservation Initiative (BCI) as well as the National Prickle Bush Management Committee which has allowed a contractor to be appointed to speed up the control work. The contractor sprayed approximately 50% of the mature seeding trees and completed Stage 1 of the plan at the end of last year. The contractor will be re-commencing in early June this year to complete spraying the remaining mature trees before starting Prickly acacia pods. follow-up spraying of regrowth. The Nulla Nulla community will continue with their support through employing a team of people funded by the CDEP program and will be managed by Joorook Ngarni. In the 2007/2008 financial year funding through the NRM (Natural Resource Management) program has again been secured for follow-up spraying of regrowth plants. It is hoped that with the continued support of the Nulla Nulla community, Joorook Ngarni and DIA as well as back-up funding from other sources, eradication can be achieved.
BIOSECURITY: IT’S UP TO YOU.
Tracey Vinnicombe, Kununurra
As pastoralists you are likely to be the first to recognise when there is a different plant starting to appear. You may notice a strange weed or grass coming up along roadsides, around yards and hay storage areas or perhaps where the machinery and vehicles are parked. What is it, where did it come from and more importantly, how did it get there and what will the impact be on your cattle and/or country? Biosecurity is not just a buzz word but should be a way of life on pastoral leases, as a way of protecting the country’s future and the future of the owners. In just a few years the spread of weeds throughout the Kimberley has increased. This is due to factors including machinery going backwards and forwards from State to State, transfer of hay, general people movement and tourists. Ask yourselves: Does machinery that comes on to your land or moves from one area to another on your land wash down? Where has the hay come from and what weeds might be in it? What are you doing to prevent the introduction of new and additional weeds or to control the early spread of weeds before they have a detrimental effect? Here are some weeds to watch out for that are considered a priority in the Kimberley:
Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) Native to Africa, it was introduced as a pasture grass. However, its introduction onto a tourist station in the East Kimberley has reminded us all how unwanted it is.
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It requires a high rainfall, so naturally in the Kimberley it’s most likely to appear in waterways or along roadsides. It grows up to 4 metres in height and is erect with a tussock-forming base. A fluffy seed head puts it high up into the trees. The thick base crowds out any natives and if burnt this grass makes an intense fire, seriously damaging or killing trees, and with little or no native ground cover left, will encourage severe erosion. Seeds will easily transfer with machinery and tourist traffic, so watch out around waterholes, fishing spots and roadways for this one.
Mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion) Spreading at an alarming rate, it is an introduced invasive declared or noxious weed in the NT. Mostly avoided by stock when mature, it is a vigorous and quick spreading grass that readily dominates native species and is of major concern to the pastoral and conservation authorities. Growing up to 3 metres in height, it stands out as a fluffy-headed, tall, pale tussock-type of buffel- looking plant. Water, wind, Mission grass wallabies as well as hay, (Pennisetum machinery and general polystachion) in full traffic will spread this one. flower at the end of the wet season. Sicklepod senna (Senna obtusifolia) Another contaminant of hay and pasture, also declared. It competes with and excludes native plants, it degrades pastures and has been reported to be toxic to stock. It can develop large seed reserves which can germinate at any time of the year with the right conditions. Spread by machinery and in hay.
Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypifolia) One you all should know about by now as it is declared in the East Kimberley, P4, so work should be carried out to inhibit its spread. That’s enough for this month. Don’t forget the Ag Department weed management plan funding. Contact Sam Mills, Mick Everitt, Chad Richards or myself. Always remember: • Prevent the introduction. • Control the spread. Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypifolia) flower and new leaf. • Devise a maintenance plan. • Establish ongoing monitoring.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact your local Department of Agriculture and Food, Biosecurity Officer: Mick Everett 9191 0328 Derby Chad Richards 9168 6179 Halls Creek Sam Mills 9166 4047 Kununurra
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CATTLE TRANSPORT CHECKLIST FOR THE KIMBERLEY
Kristie Parker, Stock Inspector, Derby
Have you considered these points prior to loading cattle? Take a minute to read through the checklist and make sure the cattle meet the requirements for transport.
Brands/earmarks • All cattle must be branded and/or earmarked; the exception may be calves less than 6 months old travelling with their mothers. • Make sure they have been branded in the correct place on the body and that the earmark has been placed in the correct ear, either the left or right ear depending which one the earmark has been registered to. (There are only two places for a brand to be legally marked on cattle, either the nearside shoulder or the nearside rump.) • Cattle must be marked with the CORRECT brand and/or earmark. • Make sure the brand registration is current, represents the brand/earmark of the legal owner and is registered to the correct property.
NLIS electronic devices/transaction tags • All cattle are required to be fitted with electronic devices before leaving their property; this includes calves travelling with their mothers. • Animals leaving their property of birth require a white NLIS electronic device unless moving directly to an export depot; however, as a minimum requirement will need to be fitted with a transaction ear tag. • Bought in cattle that have not been previously identified with an NLIS electronic device require an orange NLIS electronic device. • All NLIS devices must be fitted to the offside (right) ear. • Cattle being moved between properties belonging to the same owner, but which have different PIC numbers MUST be tagged with the appropriate coloured NLIS electronic device and the movement recorded on the database. • Cattle with NLIS electronic devices must be registered to the PIC of consignment on the NLIS database before transport. • There are only two ways cattle can travel in the Kimberley wearing transaction ear tags: 1. Cattle travelling directly to an export depot and which are consigned for export are legally allowed to be fitted with transaction ear tags. 2. When Mature Bulls (those born before 1 July 2003) are being moved under the NLIS Exemption Special Arrangements and Exemptions (using transaction ear tags), the cattle need to be consigned separately from those with NLIS RFID tags and also have a separate NVD/Waybill. The receiving saleyard or export depot must agree to receive the animals before they leave the property. They must be consigned for immediate export of for sale for slaughter only. All bulls must be clearly identified, bearing a paint brand and kept separate from other animals both in transit and in the yards. *This exemption is only a transitional arrangement and ends on 30 June 2007. http://www.agric.wa.gov.au 21 PASTORAL MEMO – NORTHERN PASTORAL REGION JUNE 2007
*Note: It is a legal requirement for Transaction ear tags to display a serial number and the PIC number on the front of the tag with the lettering and numbering to be no less than 1 cm in height.
Waybill/NVD Waybill • All cattle being transported must be accompanied by a waybill. This includes cattle being transported between properties. • Correct information must be filled out on the waybill, ensure that what is being transported is reflected on the waybill; this includes number of cattle, brands/earmarks, PIC, date, etc. Writing ‘various’ under the PIC section is not acceptable. • A separate waybill must be written out for cattle who are wearing a transaction ear tag and for cattle who are wearing electronic devices. The cattle are to be kept separate from the other animals both in transit and in the yards at arrival.
Transferring the movement on the database and who is responsible • If you are the purchaser of the livestock you are required to ensure that the cattle have been transferred on the database.
‘Fit to load’ for transport With animal welfare becoming an increasingly significant issue for the industry and the public, it is imperative that all animals loaded are actually fit to undertake the journey. An animal is fit to travel if: • It is bearing weight on all four legs (if it bears NO weight on one leg – it’s not fit). • It is not suffering from any disease or injury that could be made worse by the transport. • It is not more that eight months pregnant. • As a minimum, have vision out of at least one eye. • It is able to keep up with the mob at loading and unloading. • It is physically strong enough to undertake the journey. • Does not have any open wounds. • The horns have been tipped and the animal is loaded separate to hornless cattle. • Horns are healed after dehorning and not bleeding or weeping. • It is suitable for transport according to the Code of Practice for the Transport of Cattle.
If you are unsure or need assistance, contact your local Stock Inspector. Broome 9194 1400 Halls Creek 9168 6179 Derby 9191 0333 Kununurra 9166 4000
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CATTLE MARKET UPDATE
Export numbers (Northern ports 2007) • 11,374 head of cattle have left the Broome Port as of the end of May 2007. • 15,995 head of cattle have left the Wyndham Port as of the end of May 2007. • 1,205 head of cattle have left the Port Hedland Port as of the end of May 2007.
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NORTHERN RANGELANDS CALENDAR
EVENT LOCATION DATE CONTACT
June 2007 Broome Race Round Broome June 2, 9 & 23 Foundation Day June 4 Port Hedland Races Port Hedland June 10 Derby Race Round Derby June 16 Roebourne - Family Day Roebourne June 16 Marble Bar Cup Marble Bar June 30 Derby Cup Derby June 30 July 2007 Roebourne - Ladies Day Races Roebourne July 7 Fitzroy Valley Rodeo Fitzroy July 6, 7 & 8 Broome Races July 7, 14 & 21 Kununurra Ag Show Kununurra July 13 - 14 Halls Creek Rodeo Halls Creek July 28, 29 & 30 August 2007 Bushmen’s Rodeo & Campdraft Broome Aug. 3, 4 & 5 Broome Races - Ladies Day Broome Aug. 8 Broome Cup Broome Aug. 11 Derby Rodeo Derby Aug. 10 - 12 Newman Races Newman Aug. 17 & 20 Halls Creek Cup Halls Creek Aug. 12 Brooking Springs, Fitzroy Valley, Aug. 24 Bull Sale Broome September 2007 Bushmen’s Night Rodeo Kununurra Sept. 29
We are always looking for more events to include. Please check your diary for events happening in your local area.
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