Publication Date
1993
Description
In northern Australia's monsoonal zone the dry season nutritional stress is a major constraint to beef production. Between May and November the quality of dry native pastures is extremely low, particularly in digestibility, nitrogen and mineral content, and cattle lose weight. To overcome this serious constraint many innovative technologies in cattle husbandry, supplementary feeding and improved pastures have been developed, Growing water-loving grasses for green forage in the dry season using wet season water in artificial ponds is a permanent forage system being adopted commercially in central Queensland and other regions of northern Australia. Para grass (Bracltiaria mutica) and some native grasses were the first species used. Since aleman grass (Echinochloa polystachya cv. Amity) and hymenachne (Hymenaclme amplexicanlis cv. Olive) were released for commercial use, ponded pasture systems have been extended. In northern Australia natural and developed ponded pastures on 100 000 ha have had a major impact on beef cattle performance in the dry season. The technology may be useful to other countries with a monsoonal climate.
Citation
Wildin, J H., "Ponded Pasture Systems for Beef Production in Seasonally Dry Zones of Northern Australia" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 2.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session13/2
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Ponded Pasture Systems for Beef Production in Seasonally Dry Zones of Northern Australia
In northern Australia's monsoonal zone the dry season nutritional stress is a major constraint to beef production. Between May and November the quality of dry native pastures is extremely low, particularly in digestibility, nitrogen and mineral content, and cattle lose weight. To overcome this serious constraint many innovative technologies in cattle husbandry, supplementary feeding and improved pastures have been developed, Growing water-loving grasses for green forage in the dry season using wet season water in artificial ponds is a permanent forage system being adopted commercially in central Queensland and other regions of northern Australia. Para grass (Bracltiaria mutica) and some native grasses were the first species used. Since aleman grass (Echinochloa polystachya cv. Amity) and hymenachne (Hymenaclme amplexicanlis cv. Olive) were released for commercial use, ponded pasture systems have been extended. In northern Australia natural and developed ponded pastures on 100 000 ha have had a major impact on beef cattle performance in the dry season. The technology may be useful to other countries with a monsoonal climate.
