NORTHERN beef producers are encouraged to register for a field day being held at Wambiana Station near Charters Towers on Saturday, August 29.
The event will profile the results of long-term land management and animal production research at Charters Towers.
The Wambiana research project – now in its 18th year – gives graziers a unique view of land and stocking strategies through years of climate variability.
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries researchers, led by principal scientist Dr Peter O’Reagain, are now providing research results that beef producers can integrate into their own regimes.
At a time when 80 per cent of Queensland drought declared, it is a timely release of practical information.
“Strategies include heavy and moderate stocking, flexible stocking, rotational wet season spelling and combinations thereof, run in large, replicated paddocks,” Dr O’Reagain said.
“After 18 years there are dramatic visual differences in land condition and animal condition between treatments. This is supported by long-term data on animal production, profitability, pasture condition, water run-off and faunal biodiversity, as well as carbon sequestration,” he said.
“With 2015 the fourth driest year since records began in 1910, there could hardly be a better time to witness the long term effects of the different management strategies.
“People attending the field day in August will have a unique opportunity to see the different paddocks and cattle and get solid data on how the profitability of strategies stacked-up in the long term.”
The field day will commence at 9am and conclude at 5pm with lunch, smoko and an evening BBQ provided.
To register please phone (07) 47 615 151 visit the FutureBeef website or email Yvonne.stanley@daf.qld.gov.au or john.bushell@daf.qld.gov.au by August 14.
