THE 2014 Rabobank Beef Challenge is once again focused solely on the graziers in the Richmond Shire with the Flinders and McKinlay Shire opting not to stage the Challenge this year because of the drought.
Conversely, the Richmond Shire graziers elected to continue with the Challenge to obtain information as to which breeds do better on a particular dietary supplement under drought conditions.
Ten mobs of six early weaners were put into the same paddock on Alistair McClymont’s Wilburra Station where they will stay and be weighed and tested monthly. One third of each mob (two head) will be fed a loose lick supplied by Stocklick Trading, one third a molasses (M5U) based lick with a Novus Nutrition additive and one third the Beachport mineral supplement which will be added to their water trough.
Matt Bekker, Novus Nutrition helped formulate the additive for the M5U and told the North Queensland Register the Rabobank Beef Challenge will be the first time the formula settled upon will be used in a public experiment.
The product contains a methionine hydroxyl analogue which will allow for more efficient and safer processing of urea. This allows the grazier to use a urea-content as low as five per cent. The supplement contains an appetite inhibitor which allows the beast to consume just .15pc of its body weight and still achieve a good overall weight gain.
The supplement also contains antioxidants which assist with detoxing the liver resulting in a healthier animal.
Some of the faecal samples gathered and tested by Emma Hegarty from Daff when the cattle entered the paddock, contained intestinal worms. The graziers agreed to test again in one month and, if necessary, treat the animals and measure any effect the treatment may have on the animal’s weight gain.
The samples also contained a percentage of protein that suggested they had been foraging on plant life other than grass. Kirri Broad, Daff Longreach said this could be prickly acacia or herbages in the animals’ home paddocks and expected the protein content to fall in the next dung test.
The results of this weigh-in recorded that the animals ranged from 147-290kg with an average weight gain over the month of .52kg/day with a highest weight gain of 1.02kg/day and a lowest of zero.
President of the Richmond Challenge group, Mick McCoy said that any industry stakeholders and graziers are welcome to come along to the weigh-ins and view the monthly results of the Challenge.
“There is always a lot of useful information gained from each weigh-in and we don’t mind sharing it with other cattle producers or whoever might find it useful,” Mr McCoy said.
