Abstract:
Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 16 TURN OFF FROM CATTLE PROPERTIES IN CAPE YORK PENINSULA : IMPROVEMENT POSSIBILITIES A.J. BOORMAN* and G.J. HOSEGOOD* SUMMARY Cape York Peninsula provides a hostile environment for beef cattle production. Major problems are isolation, freight rates up to $200/t, botulism, phosphorus deficiency, and in herds under minimum management average branding rates of 45% and lifetime breeder mortalities up to 75%. The adoption of five management practices based on trial work, a survey, and local experience could lead to a doubling of cattle turned off without increasing breeder numbers. An economic analysis indicates profitability of the system depends on distance from suppliers and markets. (Keywords: cattle management, Cape York Peninsula). INTRODUCTION This paper deals with cattle management in the dry monsoonal part of Cape York Peninsula north of 18' S latitude and east of 141' W longitude. Soils of the area are mostly infertile with native pastures for the majority of the year providing only maintenance or sub-maintenance levels of nutrition (Anon 1971). The cattle industry of this region is characterized by large property sizes (up to 6900 km'), low stocking rates (O-25 beasts km'; Boorman and Arthur 1978), low branding rates and high breeder mortalities. Cattle control is poor; bulls remain in the herd all year and single musters rarely recover more than 75% of cattle in an area. Most cattle suffer varying degrees of phosphorus deficiency In addition, due to remoteness with botulism being a major cause of mortality. and poor roads, costs of production are exacerbated by high freight costs (up to $200/t). Recommendations for improvements in cattle production based on management, trials, a survey and local knowledge are made, and their economic implications evaluated in terms of turn off and net return. THE EFFECT OF EARLY WEANING Calves were weaned down to three months in June/July and again in November in a well managed, continuously mated, Brahman cross herd near Laura in 1976 and 1977. This was done to study the effects of weaning at different ages on the growth rates of the calves. The ages of the calves were estimated on physical appearance. As Table 1 shows, the growth rates of calves weaned between three and five months of age in June and July were similar to the growth rates of older calves weaned at the same time. However, although three to five months old calves weaned in November did not grow as well as some older calves over the first wet season, liveweight gain differences disappeared over the second wet season. Mortality rates could not be calculated because musters were always incomplete and the cattle present varied from muster to muster. * Dept Primary Industries P-0. Box 1054 Mareeba Qld 155 4880 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 16 The trial weaners were not calves estimated to be under five crushed grain (1% litres per head molasses and one bag of meatmeal offered a months of daily) or to 60 head supplement, however, since 1978 weaned age are fed a supplement of either molasses and meatmeal (one drum of per week). Table 1 Cumulative liveweight gains of calves weaned at various ages in June/July and in November on a property near Laura on Cape York Peninsula The cows were not weighed or pregnancy tested as part of the experiment, however, weaning caused immediate improvement in their body condition. This was considered responsible for higher branding rates (47% six year average pre early weaning vs 59% two year average post early weaning) reduced breeder mortalities and higher prices for culled cows (30-50% of bullock prices vs 75% of bullock prices). 156 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 16 TURN OFF SURVEY A survey of four properties in 1980 showed that on properties mustering for branding and turn off only in continuously mated herds, branding rates vary widely from year to year (33% - 64%), but average about 45% (44-47) and up to 75% of breeders die by 10 years of age. One property, in trying to break out of this cycle, started culling females at six years of age. This resulted in an increased breeder turn off, but average branding rates fell to 35%. IMPROVING PRODUCTION Five management practices are recommended for improving beef production in the region. These recommendations which are based on local experience, the survey, and trial work both in this region and other parts of north Queensland, are:- (a) Botulism vaccination - Deaths from botulism vary enormously from year to year, but a conservative estimate would be 5%. Annual vaccination of all cattle is required. Wet season phosphorus supplementation - Feeding phosphorus lifted branding rates by 10% in the first year of a trial and by up to 15% the next year (C.B. Mutch, unpublished). supplementation also improves growth rates, and condition in the wet season at Charters Towers Phosphorus of breeders. (W Early weaning of calves - Weaning all calves down to three months at May / July and October November musters inc reased brand ings by 12 % on one prop erty. W Vibriosis vaccination - Vibriosis is endemic in the area (DC. Clague, pers cornm). In a trial at Charters Towers vaccination against vibriosis lifted the calving rate of hiefers by 20% (Allan and Mutch 1971). This would increase the branding rate of a herd under improved management by 3%. All mating age heifers should be vaccinated and all bulls should be vaccinated annually. Feeding stock horses - Horse feeding is a necessary adjunct to the early weaning programme as the success of the programme depends on calves being weaned in the October/November period: Therefore, horses must be fed to be fit and safe to ride. Molasses is a better supplement for horses than grain or stock horse mix as it is cheaper and easier to feed and causes less colic. (e) Table 2 shows the effects of the above practices on turn off from a breeder herd of 1000 head compared to a herd under minimum management. The level of production shown in the column under Improved Management would be achieved after 10 years. Use of the management practices could more than double the number of cattle turned off many Peninsula properties, and this could be done without increasing breeder numbers, although the total herd would increase. However, the increase in total herd numbers would not be a problem on most properties, as carrying capacities could be increased simply by providing extra water. 157 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 16 Table 2 The effects of improved management on turn off from a 1000 breeder herd The economics of adopting improved management depends on the base level of productivity of the property before the new practices are implemented, on cattle prices, and on the distance the property is from sources of supply and markets. An economic assessment carried out in March 1985 showed that if current branding rates average 45%, and lifetime breeder mortality averages 75%, then pre tax returns to improved management will be as shown in Table 3. Table 3 Pre tax net return to improved management from a stabilized Herd of 1000 breeders at four freight rates The assumptions used in the economic appraisal are realistic, but Therefore, a 'good' manager would probably do better than Table 3 conservative. suggests. However, at a freight rate of $210/t even a good manager may not be In reality no grazier able to use all of the management practices as proposedwould move from minimum management to completely improved management overnight, and in fact graziers are adopting the practices piecemeal. While this reduces the total benefit, it increases turn off, spreads the period of capital investment, and helps build the graziers confidence in the system. Management practices being applied to cattle grazing native pastures in Cape York Peninsula are improving the quality and quantity of turn off, even though the efficiency of mustering is not improving, and mating is still uncontrolled. REFERENCES ALLAN, P.J. and MUTCH, C.B. (1971). Aust. Vet. -J. 47: 184. 'Beef Cattle Production in the North-West BOORMAN, A.J. and ARTHUR, B.A. (1978). and the Peninsula' (Qld. Dept Primary Industries: Brisbane). COMMONWEALTH DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT and QUEENSLAND DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. 'Resources and Industry of Far North Queensland' (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra). 158