Publication Date
1993
Location
New Zealand
Description
Annual live-weight gain of steers grazing on virgin tropical semiarid poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) savannah woodland in subcoastal central Queensland fluctuated between 59 kg/head and 200 kg/head over a 7-year period. Average live-weight gain for the 7 years was 136 kg/head/year, which is above expected levels for this vegetation type. Reasons suggested for this animal performance are the use of a stocking rate more lenient than the district average and above-average winter rainfall received during the 7 years of this demonstration project. Removing trees doubled the pasture dry matter yield, which subsequently allowed a doubling of stocking rate for similar per head live-weight gain. These data suggest that local cattle producers do have avenues for Improving their production, but the use of lenient stocking rates on this vegetation type is recommended.
Citation
Bishop, H G.; Chamberlain, H J.; Dodt, R M.; Hilder, T B.; Lambert, G A.; and Anderson, E R., "Animal Production from Tropical Semi-Arid Savannah Woodland in Subcoastal Queensland, Australia" (1993). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 6.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session61/6)
Included in
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Animal Production from Tropical Semi-Arid Savannah Woodland in Subcoastal Queensland, Australia
New Zealand
Annual live-weight gain of steers grazing on virgin tropical semiarid poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) savannah woodland in subcoastal central Queensland fluctuated between 59 kg/head and 200 kg/head over a 7-year period. Average live-weight gain for the 7 years was 136 kg/head/year, which is above expected levels for this vegetation type. Reasons suggested for this animal performance are the use of a stocking rate more lenient than the district average and above-average winter rainfall received during the 7 years of this demonstration project. Removing trees doubled the pasture dry matter yield, which subsequently allowed a doubling of stocking rate for similar per head live-weight gain. These data suggest that local cattle producers do have avenues for Improving their production, but the use of lenient stocking rates on this vegetation type is recommended.
