Developing selection and breeding objectives to optimise production and market suitability of Brahmans in the tropic and sub-tropic regions of the Northern Territory

Summary

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) needs to track performance and adoption indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of a host of research and development activities. One invaluable method of obtaining detailed information on producers’ awareness and adoption of new practices is to conduct regular surveys. In 2008 ABARE was commissioned to undertake a survey of beef and sheep meat producers to gain insights into their adoption of a range of practices including:

• awareness of production costs

• pasture and grazing management

• farm management and planning

• livestock production, finishing and marketing.

ABARE’s survey was conducted in the second half of 2008 and targeted producers with more than 300 sheep or more than 300 beef cattle. Specific questions, mostly associated with farm practices during 2007-08, were asked of 184 specialist sheep producers, 316 specialist beef cattle producers and 521 mixed enterprise producers. Producers in northern Australia were asked a slightly different set of questions to those asked of producers in southern Australia to gain insights into the different management practices used in these distinct production systems.
The detailed findings of the ABARE survey are presented in a series of tables attached to this report. Some of the key comparisons indicate that since 2005-06, when a similar survey was conducted by ABARE, there has been:

• an increase in the proportion of producers who calculate production costs for their livestock

• an increase in the proportion of producers who use estimated breeding values (EBVs) or index values in sire selection or purchase

• an increase in the proportion of sheep specialists who more regularly calculate forage or pasture budgets to manage stocking rates

• a decrease in the proportion of producers who have a documented farm plan

• no significant change in the proportion of producers that regularly weigh their livestock to assess weight gain.

In 2007-08, there were also significant differences between the top one-third of producers ranked by rate of return to capital invested and the bottom one-third of producers in their use of a range of management practices and technologies. In particular, top performing farm businesses were more likely to:

• use on-going consultancies for farm management and planning

• use EBVs or index values in sire selection or purchase

• calculate production costs for their livestock

• have documented farm plans

• pregnancy test cows annually, in southern Australia

• manage first calf heifers separate to the main herd, in southern Australia

• calculate production costs in dollars per kilogram, in southern Australia

• routinely cull breeders that don’t become pregnant or raise a calf, in northern Australia.