Surveying the management practices and research needs of graziers in the New England region of New South Wales

Abstract

Abstract. The inaugural committee of the Cicerone Project commissioned a survey of livestock producers in the New England region to determine the research problems and production practices which were of greatest importance to graziers. In addition, an assessment was made of the level of interest livestock producers had in participating in a proposed producer-led research and adoption project. The survey was mailed to livestock producers in five districts across the New England region during October and November 1997. The survey results concerning land and pasture management issues suggested that a majority of livestock producers in the New England region found the challenges of dry seasons, fertiliser use, pasture composition and pasture persistence to be major problems. A further issue identified was the problem of resistance to drenches used for internal parasite control in sheep. It was clear that producers depend largely on pastures as the primary feed source due to the high cost of supplementary feed. There was considerable interest in learning how to fill gaps in the feed supply, and the management of the feed supply through droughts. Thus, one desired focus of future studies was to explore management systems that might improve the productivity, resilience, stability and longevity of pastures in the New England region. In addition, a focus on grazing management and its effects on pastures and on internal parasite control was suggested by survey respondents. Of the 316 responses to the survey, 76% expressed interest in becoming involved in the Cicerone Project, confirming the desirability of forming a producer-led research and adoption network within the New England region. One hundred and eighty-one respondents expressed an interest in becoming partner members, 100 respondents indicated they were interested in having their farm included in a network, while 139 people were interested in attending regional workshops where further details about the nature of the Cicerone Project would be developed. The survey was clearly of interest to commercial-scale livestock producers as the average size of respondents' sheep flocks and cattle herds was over 5000 and 500, respectively. The results of this survey provided empirical evidence to support the formation of the Cicerone Project, which was created in 1998 following the approval of a business plan by the primary funding agency, the Woolmark Co.Additional keywords: producer led, research and adoption partnerships, sustainable and profitable grazing enterprises.

Reflections on the concept, conduct and findings of the producer-led Cicerone Project

“…However, after seeing the initial survey results (Kaine et al 2013) turned into research on the three farmlet systems it became obvious, during the many field days and farm walks, that the results were interesting and credible. We suggest that farming system research is successful when it presents objective evidence that leads to greater understanding which then affects the response of land managers in ways that result in positive benefits on their farms.…”

“…The stages of the Project were: * 1998: the Cicerone Project commenced, led by a Steering Committee which planned to create an environment in which researchers and producers could learn from each other, in the full context of wool growers' operational environments . A survey was conducted of livestock producers across the region to determine their views on the most important issues facing them at this time (Kaine et al 2013). * 1999: the central learning farm was planned to study the effects on the profitability and sustainability of three different wholefarmlet management systems (Scott et al 2013d).…”

“…The principal needs identified included the management of the pasture feed supply, especially during droughts, in order to allow the condition of livestock to be maintained, particularly during pregnancy, without excessive expenditure on supplementary feed (Kaine et al 2013). Another concern related to the resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes to several drenches.…”

“…With the support of the funding body, the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation, the Project set out into 'uncharted waters', under producer leadership, to find out what the needs of livestock producers in the region were (Kaine et al 2013) and then, to address those needs through a collaborative Project with research, extension and consultant partners.…”

Grazing systems and worm control in sheep: a long-term case study involving three management systems with analysis of factors influencing faecal worm egg count

“…As part of the producer-led Cicerone Project , a survey of the research needs of livestock producers in this region was undertaken by Kaine et al (2013). This revealed considerable concern about control strategies for sheep intestinal worms and the potential for drench resistance as well as interest in alternative control strategies including that of intensive rotational grazing (IRG).…”