Publication Date
1993
Description
Leucaena leucocephala is a legume widely adapted to the tropics and subtropics and is currently recommended for sowing on fertile clay soils in the subconstal (100-1000 mm) rainfall areas of Queensland. It produces high quality forage that can be used as browse with native or sown grass pastures to improve live-weight gain of grazing beef cattle. At Banana in central Queensland a commercial grazing enterprise has been developed on 1450 ha of land cleared of brigalow scrub and cropped for 20-30 years before sowing to leucaena. Leucaena has been established on about 80% of the property. Stocking rates are varied with seasonal conditions and a flexible paddock rotation is used to match grazing time (8-15 days is common) with available pasture. Steers gain weight rapidly and for extended periods (e.g., 0,9 kg/head/day for 168 days at a stocking rate of I beast/1.2 ha) and are finished for the Japanese trade often within 12 months of purchase. Beef cattle and pasture production are monitored on the property, which is used as a producer demonstration site to demonstrate important management aspects and the value of leucaena as browse for cattle.
Citation
Clem, R L.; Esdale, C R.; Conway, M J.; and Macintyre, D, "Beef Production from Commercial Leucaena leucocephala Pastures in a Dry Subtropical Environment" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 30.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session55/30
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Beef Production from Commercial Leucaena leucocephala Pastures in a Dry Subtropical Environment
Leucaena leucocephala is a legume widely adapted to the tropics and subtropics and is currently recommended for sowing on fertile clay soils in the subconstal (100-1000 mm) rainfall areas of Queensland. It produces high quality forage that can be used as browse with native or sown grass pastures to improve live-weight gain of grazing beef cattle. At Banana in central Queensland a commercial grazing enterprise has been developed on 1450 ha of land cleared of brigalow scrub and cropped for 20-30 years before sowing to leucaena. Leucaena has been established on about 80% of the property. Stocking rates are varied with seasonal conditions and a flexible paddock rotation is used to match grazing time (8-15 days is common) with available pasture. Steers gain weight rapidly and for extended periods (e.g., 0,9 kg/head/day for 168 days at a stocking rate of I beast/1.2 ha) and are finished for the Japanese trade often within 12 months of purchase. Beef cattle and pasture production are monitored on the property, which is used as a producer demonstration site to demonstrate important management aspects and the value of leucaena as browse for cattle.
