30-Nov-2011

The cattle industry has been around for a long time, but new and innovative Sustainable Farming Practices still continue to be welcomed in the industry.

Rathdowney producers Matthew Arkinstall and Warren Drynan have been behind the creation of a Feed Efficiency Test Station at Running Creek to improve sustainable beef production, which recently won the Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC) 2011 Queensland Landcare Awards at Government House.

The project was awarded the Australian Government award for Innovations in Sustainable Farming Practices, and looks at aspects of feed efficiency links to cattle breeding. It involved the design and development of the systems and software to individually record and calculate cattle feed intakes under controlled conditions and has so far been trialled at a feed test station at Warren’s feedlot at Running Creek. The structure includes a highly modified feed trough, weighing scales, a data logging system, and gates and barricade fencing to control the cattle access to the trough.

The preliminary findings have so far demonstrated that there is a large variation in feed efficiency, ie conversion of feed eaten to body weight, within the breeds that have been trialled. In other words, having cattle with the right genetics means they will need to eat less to gain the same or more weight. Although this has always been the aim amongst cattle breeders, this research provides an insight into a new and more sustainable way of how this can be achieved. The problem is that you can’t tell the difference between the efficient and inefficient ones just by looking at them.

With further funding, Matthew hopes to be able to expand and continue this research to produce more robust results that could have very positive implications from a climate change perspective.

“By using efficient bulls, producers can improve the feed efficiency of their progeny each year, and this has already been proven to reduce methane gas emissions from livestock.’’ said Matthew.

Methane is a well-known greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

‘‘Under the new Carbon Farming Initiative, these producers are able to claim credits for the reduction in emissions, which in large herds, and with continued use of efficient sires, can equate to an unlikely source of income”

There has been some outside interest shown in testing cattle, as well as developing the system for more remote use. The facility has the capacity to test about 35 head, 3 times per year, and has 30 bulls in the final stages of the current trial.

Matthew and Warren will now go on to represent Queensland at the National Landcare awards to be held late next year in Sydney.

For further Information:

Matthew Arkinstall Ph 07 5544 1591 or 0429 618147 or rathdowney.blondes@bigpond.com

Warren Drynan Ph 07 5544 1250 or 0427 119100 or glenapp@harboursat.com.au

Resources:

www.rathdowneyblondes.com.au - (click on feed efficiency), photos and further text.

www.qwalc.org.au – Qld Water and Land Carers (award co-ordinators)