CMA: Revision of extension material (industry manuals)

Summary

This activity has been conducted to update three key industry manuals that have been developed under the grass-fed beef program;

1. Phosphorus management of beef cattle in northern Australia,
2. Weaner management in northern beef herds, and
3. Leucaena. A guide to establishment and management.

With recent R & D activities new content has been included. Each manual will now be phased out as printed material and replaced with hard copy synopsis eight-page document supported with digital links to a MLA information repository.

The original Leucaena manual has been updated with content on relevant livestock nutrition, development of the Redlands variety and opportunities for a sterile hybrid. New material also covers updated R&D activities, revision of the code of practice, case studies derived from the Redlands4Regions PIFT project, establishment and management guidelines and information on sterile hybrids.

The P management guide has also been replaced and updated with recent material generated from final reports. Synopsis material summarises R&D activities, P deficient soil mapping, revision of the supplementation recommendations, guidelines and up to date information on the physiology of P supplementation for breeders and weaner animals.

The weaner manual has also been revised – although not as significant compared with other collateral, but also captures more recent finding form MLA final reports, costings, supplementation practices derived from UQ and NTDPI and specific reference to the management of weaner heifers.

Material will now be updated ad hoc as case studies are made available and further activities from PDS and/or PGS initiatives can be reported.