Research, development and adoption for the north Australian beef cattle breeding industry: an analysis of needs and gaps

Abstract

This review seeks to analyse and prioritise needs and gaps in research and development (R&D) for the north Australian beef cattle breeding industry, and to advise on options to increase rates of adoption and successful implementation of this R&D. The material reviewed includes the peer-reviewed literature as well as industry reports and other relevant publications in three targeted areas of R&D deemed to be important by industry leaders and supporting scientists: (i) breeding herd management, (ii) feedbase management, and (iii) management of environmental sustainability. For breeding herd management, the need for uniform definition and consistent utilisation of appropriate productivity metrics is highlighted, with emphasis on assessment of maternal reproductive efficiency in terms of weaning (or branding) rates. Priority is given to the urgent need for reliable means of remotely assessing causes of neonatal calf mortality to enable the development and application of management interventions that improve calf survival rates. The highest priority for feedbase management is to increase producer awareness and willingness to adopt stocking rates that are appropriately matched to the long-term carrying capacity of native rangeland pastures that predominate in northern Australia. Other opportunities include increasing the use of perennial, tropically adapted legumes, where conditions permit, to improve soil fertility and nitrogen intake of cattle, and devising strategies to overcome widespread phosphorus deficiency through diagnosis and supplementation, especially in the wet season. In order to enhance environmental sustainability in the face of climate change, priorities include improving producer awareness and use of increasingly robust tools for predicting key weather events, as well as developing genetic strategies to increase heat tolerance of cattle and evaluating management interventions to mitigate heat stress. Conclusions drawn from these sections are summarised and used to make recommendations on priorities for increasing adoption of existing research-proven practices and technologies, and for further R&D on selected topics.

Emergence and Early Growth of Four Desmanthus Species in Three Alkaline Clay Soils

“…Alternatively, sowing rates could be adjusted to account for these differences. However, if several species are sown as a blend, which is the case for the Progardes ® Desmanthus cultivars [12,13], then it is possible that the more adapted species will emerge more quickly and dominate establishment.…”

“…Desmanthus is a genus of legume that has become naturalised in Northern Australia [9,10]. It is expected to increase the productivity of tropical pastures, particularly in medium to heavy clay soils that have a neutral to alkaline pH to which the legume is adapted [11,12]. However, recent research has demonstrated that there are significant differences in yield potential and P acquisition efficiency among cultivars of Desmanthus [13].…”

Revisiting tropical pasture intake: what has changed in 50 years?

“…The relationship of pasture biomass with these factors (soil erosion, carbon storage and biodiversity) has not changed over time, but societal attitudes, and hence the importance placed on these factors, have. More than ever, our ability to control grazing to maintain a healthy pasture ecosystem is critical to both the economic and environmental drivers of the industry (Chilcott et al 2020;Bell and Sangster 2023).…”

Malnutrition of pregnant beef cows and the impact on passive immunity transfer to calves

“…4). Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that improving water infrastructure can increase milk delivery and neonatal calf health (Bell and Sangster 2023;Fordyce et al 2023). However, this hypothesis is yet to be tested.…”