P.PSH.2100 - PDS - Pastoral Partners Accelerating the Transition

Summary

Weight loss experienced in transition from northern rangelands to southern backgrounding properties leads to longer recovery times and increased pasture and/or supplementary feeding to recover lost weight. These costs are a major consideration in the transport of cattle, with weight losses having impacts ranging from $40–$160 per head.

This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project aimed to demonstrate and assist producers in northern WA to mitigate liveweight and productivity loss in cattle transitioning from northern rangelands to southern backgrounding properties. This was to be achieved by engaging producers in a series of holistic management workshops focusing on techniques to reduce stress prior to transport.

Objectives

This project aimed to demonstrate practices to mitigate liveweight and productivity loss in cattle transitioning from northern rangelands to southern backgrounding properties for northern WA producers.

Key findings

Despite some disruption due to COVID-19 border restrictions in WA, this project delivered 11 workshops, engaging five core producers, 35 observer producers, 18,500 cattle and 996,000 hectares. Participants reported implementing new practices such as rangelands self-herding techniques, increased handling and education of weaners, and familiarising cattle with truck loading and unloading procedures to reduce stress during transportation.

Benefits to industry

Producers involved in the project identified benefits from participation including improved grazing management to ensure feed on offer is maximised in rangeland systems, improved nutritional management of cattle to reduce impacts of transport, building profitability and productivity across the business, and building knowledge of land stewardship.

MLA action

MLA continues to invest in research to optimise productivity and supply chain efficiency, and adoption programs to support producers in implementing best practice.

Future research

A recommendation for future work was expanded and sustained adoption programs in the region to extend information from previous research to producer groups.