OF RESOURCES ALICE SPRINGS RURAL REVIEW

DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES

ALICE SPRINGS RURAL REVIEW

ARID ZONE RESEARCH INSTITUTE VOL 47 - DECEMBER 2011

Focus on new technology to assist with monitoring female cattle fertility The biannual field day at Old Man Plains Research Station (OMP) focussed on the improvement of cattle fertility by making use of the latest technology available to industry.

The department, in conjunction with Alice Springs Pastoral Industry Advisory Committee (ASPIAC), organised a range of presenters for the day who introduced equipment, such as a battery-operated external pregnancy testing device and discussed topics from ultrasounds versus palpation to breeder structure; from improving heifer conceptions to managing performance recording and from remote livestock systems to a personal reflection on infertility and calf losses. Our thanks to Meat and Livestock Australia, who helped make the day possible.

The first device, ePreg, was produced by Dr. Richard Shephard from HEARD Systems: a hand-held device that is placed against the cow’s flank and then the foetal heartbeat is detected by electrical and auditory sensors. Although it is still in its prototype stage, the testing device shows great promise. The device offers a number of potential benefits to producers such as it enables people who are not proficient at manual pregnancy testing to determine the pregnancy status of their breeders, and testing at times which makes it easier to manage turn-off and trucking

(Continued overleaf)

What’s Inside

· Female fertility - OMP Field day

· Pasture growth predictions in the Arid Zone

· Have you seen any feral camels lately?

· DoR staff as Bushfires NT volunteers

· Improved grazing strategies for central Australia

· Bushfire season 2011-2012 · New staff at AZRI · AussieGRASS December

update · Plant profile: Woolly oat

grass · PIC & waybill notifications · Pastoral Market Update

ISSN 0813-9148

ISSN 0813 - 9148

ALICE SPRINGS RURAL REVIEW, page 2

Monitoring female fertility (Cont) logistics; convenient for small mobs where it may not be economical to use a commercial preg tester. Participants appeared to be quite enthusiastic and many gave the testing device a go. The next presenter was Dr. Joey Rheinberger, Ironmines Vet Clinic, who compared ultrasound to manual palpation. Ultimately she asserted early pregnancy testing is of great value as a management tool. Pregnancy testing helps identify animals that aren’t

Message from the Team Leader Dear Reader In this edition of the Rural Review, we report on a field day at OMP where leading scientists presented some of the latest technology in pregnancy testing. The cattle female fertility field day was initiated by the Alice Springs Pastoral Industry Advisory Committee who identified the need to focus on fertility, or the lack there of, in breeder herds of central Australia. ASRR will feature a number of the presentations in future editions for those who missed the day. The past year has been very productive on the research front with the Northern Beef Research Update Conference being co-hosted by the department in Darwin. Themes included improving reproductive performance and herd profitability. The importance of long-term grazing trials was also emphasized in the session on enhancing sustainable grazing land management. This ties in quite nicely to the long-term grazing trial currently being implemented at Old Man Plains Research Station. Research results from this trial are reported on in this newsletter. An event that has had a huge impact on the Alice Springs pastoral community this year has been the bushfires that ravaged the product of an exceptional growing season. Our commiseration goes to pastoralists who have experienced losses and, as with the live export ban, the department is committed to work with industry to address the challenges created by fires. In this newsletter we regularly feature articles on pasture growth predictions and fire preparedness, but it has become clear that nothing can prepare us for such forces of nature as experienced during the past season. We are fortunate to welcome two colleagues to our team at AZRI. Dr Vivek Bhat is heading the Horticulture team and Dale Jenner is the new GIS officer. I also want to take the opportunity to congratulate Cinzia Rovida who has accepted the permanent position of laboratory manager at AZRI, a position in which she has been acting in for some time. We are a new editorial team and would appreciate your comments and input on producing a newsletter that is of most value to you. Please submit activities of interest to be added to our column on coming events. With the year fast coming to a close we take the opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2012. Greetings Pieter Conradie Manager, Pastoral Production Alice Springs and Tennant Creek


Monitoring female fertility (Cont) performing, as well as allowing cows to be drafted according to stage of pregnancy. This allows cows to be put in paddocks where they are all due to calve around the same time which makes subsequent management more efficient. Ultrasound equipment, however, is probably better utilised by experienced operators. Graeme Hopf is an experienced livestock judge and consultant who informed the OMP audience about the traits of the ideal beef cow, which he summed up as being a ‘cow who gets in calf early, calves easily and gives ample milk … and she must have good temperament and sound conformation.’ He explained further by asserting that proper bone structure enhances the length of an efficient productive lifetime and allows animals to walk further; therefore, it is important that livestock selection is based on correct structure.

Departmental presenter, Tim Schatz, reviewed recent research on cost effective ways to improve heifer fertility and ultimately, herd productivity. To begin with, the research indicates that low heifer fertility (in first lactation heifers) continues to be an area that requires improvement. Diseases, such as Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Disease Virus (BVDV), contribute to infertility. Tim outlined a number of factors that affect fertility and pregnancy rate including disease, calf loss, segregation, target mating weights, weaning and body condition with liveweight being the biggest

factor. Heifers must therefore be kept in good condition to improve heifer fertility. Paul Smith from Tieyon Station shared his experience managing a performance recording program in breeder cattle. Paul recognises the value of scientific information to assist with management in central Australia. He shared some of his insights from being involved with research, even including planning his mustering around a weekend when he could involve his kids, minimising the usual mustering pressures. Paul confirmed that Tieyon’s future herd management and property development plans have evolved from this trial and left the audience to consider the old adage: “’What you can’t measure, you can’t manage’ … so start measuring your herd and the questions will appear.” Finally, Dr Peter Saville ended the day with a review of the extent of calf losses on properties in the Alice Springs district. Interestingly, he suggested that the majority of losses are not the result of infertility, but actually take place during the peri-natal and post-natal period (ie. Around calving). Once the problems of fertility have

been addressed, Peter states that: the most important next step is keeping the calves alive. There are many challenges to life in central Australia, from the many diseases which we are unable to provide preventative vaccinations to risk management issues like heat stress and wild dogs. But there are ways to counter the risks: strategically supplementing feed, instituting dog control programs vaccinating new cattle being introduced to established herds and timing of calving.

Graeme Hopf “The bones man”

Calf born at field day


More images from the day

Pasture growth predictions in the Arid Zone: How can it be used? Chris Materne, Pastoral Production, Alice Springs (Extracted from a poster presented at NBRUC, Darwin, 2011) The increased development of our pastoral land has highlighted a need for scientific ways to estimate pasture growth and calculate safe carrying capacities on different land types. Tailoring the GRASP model for arid zones has achieved this, which in turn provides industry with a tool to measure options. As an example, the development of a new watering point at Old Man Plains is illustrated in figure 6. Climate variability can be managed through the development of risk management strategies, while pasture estimates are taken from daily climate records and are therefore unique to that location.

(Cont. over page)

Chris Nott, ASPIAC Chairman has a close look Bryan Gill and Joey Rheinberger, with the ultrasound device

Richard Shephard and the ePreg device Checking the ultrasound


Step1: What Land Types are involved?

Figures 1-5. Land Type Examples and pasture growth in kilogram (kg) biomass per hectare (Ha) on the Old Man Plains Research Station using local climate records. The long term carrying capacity expressed in animal equivalent (AE) per square kilometre (km2) is also provided. Step 2: How much pasture does each Land Type grow? Table one provides an example of modelled pasture growth output and safe long-term carrying capacity estimates for a calcareous oatgrass plain in central Australia. Estimates are derived from location specific daily climate records for the Old Man Plains Research Station. Table 1: Showing estimated carrying capacity for calcareous oatgrass…. Percentile (season quality)

Pasture Growth (kg/Ha)

Carrying Capacity (AE/km2) Long-term Risk

10% 1655 4.5 Extremely High

20% 1228 3.4

30% (Above Average) 1115 3.1 High

40% 869 2.4

50% (Median) 657 1.8 Medium

60% 550 1.5

70% (Below Average) 420 1.2 Low

80% 282 0.8

90% 140 0.4 Extremely Low

Median Growth = 1180kg/Ha AE/km2 = 6.5





Alluvial Buffel Grass

Oatgrass Plains Hard Mulga Spinifex


Step 3: What area of each Land Type already exists within the “watered area” of the paddock (within a 5km radius of each watering point), and how much will it be increased by following the development proposal?

Figure 6. An example of a water point development proposal on the Old Man Plains Research Station in central Australia. Step 4: Assess the financial viability of the proposed development based on the increase in safe carrying capacity? Table 2. Safe long-term carrying capacity estimate (SCC) for Waterhouse paddock on the Old Man Plains Research Station in central Australia, and the assessment of a proposed water point. Waterhouse Paddock Development Land Type SCC Paddock SCC Paddock SCC

with development

(AE/km2) Area (km2)

SCC (AE)

Area (km2)

SCC (AE)

Alluvial 6.5 3.8 25 6.3 41 Oatgrass Plain 1.8 13.3 24 33.8 61 Hard Mulga 1.0 30.4 30 34.6 35 Spinifex 0.5 1.1 1 2.4 1 Total SCC 48.6 80 77.2 138 Note: 1AE = 450kg dry cow; 1.35AE = pregnant or lactating breeder.

Area within 5km of a water point

X Proposed new water point

X

PERSONALISED PROPERTY PASTURE GROWTH ESTIMATES Are you interested in obtaining land type growth estimates for your property?

If so contact Chris Materne DoR Alice Springs (89518135) [email protected]. Modelled growth estimates are now available to all NT producers to calculate area specific

sustainable carrying capacities for a range of land types across the NT.

mailto:[email protected]


Have you seen any feral camels lately? Dale Starr Media Manager, Ninti One – Australian Feral Camel Management Project While many pastoralists unfortunately have a very good idea of where to find mobs of feral camels, keeping track of a population estimated to be more than one million and spread across in excess of 3 million square kilometres and four states and territories, and with an annual damage bill of over $10 million, is challenging. The Australian Feral Camel Management Project is looking for community support to track and monitor significant feral camel populations and sites being damaged. CamelScan is a free Google mapping tool available at www.feralscan.org.au/camelscan to help landholders, outback communities, and Australians travelling in the Outback report sightings of feral camels to help produce updated regional and national information about feral camels. CamelScan has been developed by the Invasive Animals CRC, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Ninti One Limited, and is part of the FeralScan program that is being rolled out across the country to help with the management of feral animals, with other species to be monitored including rabbits, foxes, myna birds, wild dogs and feral pigs.

Landholders who live with feral camel damage on a day-to-day basis are very keen to see them reduced to a density that they can live with. FeralScan is an important landholder, community, industry, government and business collaboration and we are confident that the CamelScan component will play an important part in national mapping of feral animals and their damage. With a detailed knowledge of their property, station or lands, rangeland landholders are well placed to monitor and record feral camel sightings and other data within the CamelScan site, and our body of knowledge and intelligence about feral camels will grow quickly. The Australian Feral Camel Management Project is supported under the Australian Government Caring for our Country initiative and is addressing the urgent need to significantly reduce feral camel density to lessen their impacts in remote Australia on biodiversity, wetlands, waterholes and other sites of cultural value to Aboriginal people, infrastructure (fences, houses, cars) and personal safety.

Image courtesy of D. Hewitt

http://www.feralscan.org.au/camelscan


Department of Resources staff as Bushfires NT Volunteers

DoR staff have been undertaking a variety of control burns on the Old Man Plains Research Station during the fire season. However three AZRI staff were also involved with combating wildfires in a number of other controlled burning programs. Dave Hancock (Sustainable Plant Industries Group), Lisa Heard (NT Geological Services) and Coral Allan and Dale Jenner (Pastoral Production Group) are volunteers with the Bushfires NT Brigade and have been very busy during the past couple of months in their spare time. It is a huge commitment to give up your personal time for the benefit of the wider community. Keep your eyes peeled when you use the services of the Bushfires NT Volunteers as you may encounter some of our staff members. Members of the public who are thinking about becoming volunteers for this worthy cause can contact Bushfires NT Volunteer Brigade (8952 3066) or NT Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer Brigade (8951 6688).

Dave Hancock, Lisa Heard and Coral Allan Dept of Resources volunteers (Dale Jenner absent).


Sticky Date pudding!

Ingredients (serves 8)250g pitted dates, chopped, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 125g softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 eggs, 1 3/4 cups SR flour, sifted Caramel sauce 1 cup brown sugar, 300ml Method Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 7cm deep, 22cm (base) cake pan. Place dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Pour over boiling water. Allow to stand for 20 minutes. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Using a large metal spoon, fold through date mixture and flour until well combined. Spoon mixture into prepared cake pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn onto a plate. Make sauce Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until sauce comes to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 minutes Pierce pudding all over with a skewer. Pour 1/2 cup of warm sauce over warm pudding. Stand for 10 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serve with remaining sauce

Improved grazing strategies for central Australia 1:

What does modelling suggest? Chris Materne and Robyn Cowley, Pastoral Production, DoR The MLA funded Northern Grazing Systems (NGS) project used pasture, livestock and economic modelling to explore options for central Australia. It was found that an effective strategy for a remote environment dominated by extremely variable and unpredictable rainfall, is a strategy of a safe stocking rates with a low and manageable degree of flexibility. Over the past few months scientists have been crunching local pasture growth and livestock performance numbers in order to gain an insight into what is the best grazing strategy for beef production in central

Australia. This article outlines the results of the modelling that looked at stocking rates and pasture spelling. Stocking Rate and Flexibility A range of stocking rate flexibilities (Table 1) from fixed (no change), through to adjusting stock numbers to follow forage availability were modelled. There were limits to the level to which stock numbers could be increased on an annual or long term basis for the low and moderate flexibility options, but the fully flexible strategy was effectively unlimited in its stocking rate adjustments to follow seasonal conditions.


Genetic markers for polled, African Horn and Scurs genes in tropical beef cattle. MLA final report is now available. Visit the web at http://www.mla.com.au/Research-and-development/Final-report-details?projectid=14195

Table 1: Modelling annual adjustment in different stocking rate flexibilities.

Grazing Strategy

1 2 3 4 5

Fixed

Low Flexibility

Low Flexibility and High Stocking

Moderate Flexibility

Full

Flexibility

Stocking Rate High Annual Flexibility Nil Low Low Moderate Fully

Annual Stocking Rate Adjustment Limits

Up When above LTSR*

+0% +10% +10% +30% unlimited

When below LTSR*

+0% +20% +20% +30% unlimited

Maximum Upper Level +0% +30% +30% +150% unlimited Down When above

LTSR* -0% -25% -25% -50% -100%

When below

LTSR* -0% -30% -30% -50% -100%

Minimum Lower Level -0% -50% -50% -70% -100%** * LTSR = Long term stocking rate which maintains land conditions. ** -100% = Total Destock The results suggest a strategy with low annual flexibility is best in terms of land condition improvement, pasture growth and live weight gain per head (LWG/hd) for most land types in central Australia (Table 2). It also performed well in terms of average live weight gain per hectare (LWG/ha) and average annual profit (coming second to the fully flexible system that enables ten-fold annual increases through to complete destocking. Although the fully flexible strategy appears highly favourable in terms of average annual profit, it comes with extremely high financial risks, with 50% of years making a loss. The fully flexible strategy relies heavily on the rare exceptional growth years such as 2010 to make most of its profits, with many lean or loss years in between. This strategy

also requires the producer to have the ability to dramatically vary breeder numbers annually, an option that is impractical to implement in remote environments such as central Australia. The high stocking rate with low flexibility strategy consistently underperformed across all measures.

http://www.mla.com.au/Research-and-development/Final-report-details?projectid=14195




Table 2: Average modelled property outcomes of different stocking rate flexiblities at Alice Springs. Average of all land types and years (1981-2010).

Stocking Rate Flexibility Fixed Low Flexibility

Low Flexibility with High Stocking

Rates

Moderate Flexibility

Full Flexibility

Average stocking rate (AE/km2) 1.0 0.9 1.3 1.0 1.9 Average annual pasture growth (kg/ha) 319 595 254 503 405 Average % perennial grasses 29 87 7 85 61 Average LWG/ha 0.5 1.1 0.1 1.1 2.5 Average LWG/hd 70 129 41 107 83 Minimum annual profit -$124,317 -$360,274 -$454,010 -$674,977 -$2,565,236 Maximum annual profit $471,048 $541,679 $888,265 $803,613 $6,853,649 No. of negative years over a 30 year period. 8 6 18 12 15 Average annual profit $118,806 $194,669 $53,061 $172,644 $354,230

Pasture Spelling The modellers also investigated the effects of pasture spelling and stocking rates on land condition. As would be expected, the land condition of an oatgrass pasture could be maintained in B condition if 1) stocking rates were low enough, or 2) if spelling was frequent enough. But what spelling and stocking rate regime delivers the best results? Regardless of stocking rate modelled, six month spelling every year resulted in land condition improvement from B to A condition (Figure 1). A six month spell every second or fourth year only resulted in land condition improvement if stocking rates were below 1AE/km2. Spelling lengths any shorter than six months (such as 2 or 3 months), regardless of frequency, were little better for land condition than continuous grazing, and are not shown here. Large improvements in land condition were achievable without spelling; however stocking rates needed to be reduced to very low levels (Figure 1). The results indicated that it was better for land condition improvement if a paddock is grazed at twice the long term safe stocking rate (LTSR) for half the year followed by six months spelling, than to graze it at the LTSR continuously. For example, an oatgrass dominated paddock that was grazed for half the year at 1.2 AE/km² and spelled the remainder (average SR of 0.6 AE/km²) averaged 87% perennials versus a paddock that was continuously stocked at 0.6 AE/km² which averaged 69% perennials (Figure 1). In other words, placing the stock from two paddocks (with similar carrying capacity and LTSR stocking) into one, and rotating between paddocks every six months, was better for land condition than leaving the stock in both paddocks to graze continuously.


Figure 1 (See page 13): Effect of six month spelling, and stocking rates, on average % perennials of an oatgrass pasture that started in B condition in Alice Springs. Below 60% perennials, there was a decline in land condition. Above 60% perennials there was an improvement in land condition (average of 20 different 30 year climate windows).

What’s next? This is the theory but what happens in real life? At present NTDoR is implementing these modelled “best practice” strategies on the Old Man Plains Research Station alongside the present fixed continuous and rotational strategies already implemented. Over the next ten years these strategies will be monitored and their performance on both pasture health and livestock productivity assessed. Bushfire Season 2011 - 2012: What Lies Ahead ? Grant Allan, Bushfires NT, Alice Springs Tel: 8952-3066 The fires in central Australia during 2011 were more problematic than expected but the real extent of their occurrences was anticipated (Figure 1). Many fires were difficult to suppress as the continuity of the fuel loads were unforgiving and any weak points in containment lines were quickly breached. Pastoralists are still assessing the impacts and many properties had significant proportions of their pasture burnt (Figure 2). The rains in late October / early November, that reduced the fire activity, have provided a welcome relief and the relatively cool temperatures have helped pasture recovery. Even areas that received relatively little rainfall have reported grass growth that indicates soil moisture is still available. Although the Bureau of Meteorology had forecast above-median rainfall for most of the NT over this upcoming summer season, their more recent update has reduced its extent for the southern NT (Figure 3), although La Nina conditions persist. This has positive and negative benefits. From a positive perspective, there will be a limited potential for large proportions of the recently burnt country to recover sufficient fuel loads to burn again in 2012, which will be advantageous for the containment of further fires. There was more post-fire rainfall and greater soil moisture conditions after the fires in January 2011 that lead to rapid fuel recovery

Oatgrass (Starting in B condition)

0102030405060708090

100

0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Stocking Rate (AE/kmsq)

% p

eren

nial

s

No spell

1 six month spell every 4 years

1 six month spell every 2 years

1 six month spell every year

Sustainable level where landcondition is maintained at Bcondition


and their capacity to burn again in September 2011. On the negative side, the amount of pasture recovery on the more recent fires will be reduced. This will increase the value of the unburnt pasture and the challenge of maintaining healthy cattle. The rainfall to date has not been sufficient to increase the greenness of the unburnt country to stop further fires for the rest of the summer. The expected increase of temperatures and warmer winds for the next few months will quickly increase the fire potential unless there is more rainfall. Although there are still significant patches of unburnt country in the Northern Alice Springs pastoral district, the greatest proportion is in the Southern Alice Springs pastoral district. Fortunately this region has received the most effective rainfall during October and November which will help minimise the fire potential in the short term. This region had lower fuel loads and fire potential for 2011 but this rainfall should increase its fire potential in 2012. However it will not be until February / March before we can more confidently improve our forecasts and finalise our schedules of strategic activities that Bushfires NT are committed to undertake.

Figure 1a. Change of AussieGRASS TSDM (Total Standing Dry Matter) : Dec 2009 to Feb 2011 (left) The red areas show the dramatic increase in pasture biomass from NW to SE across central Australia. This reflects the regularity of rainfall associated with the NW cloud bands that dominated rainfall patterns over the past 15 months. The SW corner of the NT received less rainfall and the fuel loads have not changed significantly and is the only area with a lower fire potential. Figure 1b. NAFI Fire History 2011 – Area burnt to 30 November 2011 (right) The area burnt had a high correlation with the increased area of pasture biomass on the NW to SE pattern across central Australia.


Figure 2. Number of pastoral properties by proportion burnt within the Alice Springs Bushfire Region. The information was calculated from the NAFI fire history data for 2011 up to the end of October.

Figure 3. Bureau of Meteorology rainfall forecasts for Australia. The more promising forecast for the Nov 2011 – Jan 2012 (left), issued on 25 Oct 2011, captured the November rainfall but contrasts with the less promising view for the Dec 2011 – Feb 2012 (right), issued on 22 Nov 2011.


Dr Vivek Bhat joined the Department of Resources at the Arid Zone Research Institute in Alice Springs in June. An experienced agriculturalist, Vivek has been involved in research on a wide gamut of crops from irrigated cotton at Kununurra through to strawberries in southwest Western Australia. He has also worked in the private sector in the field of organic agriculture in South Australia. Internationally he has conducted research into Indian tropical plantation crops with his work leading to the development of two improved cacao hybrids. Vivek is keen on broadening his agricultural horizons with research on horticultural crops suitable for the arid zone. Part of this will involve assessing the viability of reclaimed water for horticultural production systems. Table grapes industry in central Australia is expected to have greater input as it was his domain back in the tropics.

Dale Jenner joined the Department of Resources’ Pastoral Production unit as a Geographic Information Systems Officer in June. Although Dale will provide GIS services territory wide, he is based in the Alice Springs office at AZRI. His main role will be to analyse spatial data and do mapping for various pastoral properties in the Northern Territory. Dale enjoys making maps and is looking forward to learn more about the pastoral industry.

Dale is originally from Darwin, but he has lived and worked in Alice Springs previously and was eager to return to central Australia. He previously worked for the Department of Lands and Planning as a Land Information officer, producing maps and providing spatial data for various government and non government clients. In his spare time, when Dale is not doing his uni course work, he can be found flying model planes.

Dale has become an important member of the pastoral production team at AZRI. He has learned a lot of new skills such as fire fighting and grass surveying, but as the GIS work increases he will focus on providing quality assured spatial information and technical advice. If you have the need for a property development map, don’t hesitate to ask Dale who will be happy to assist.

Want to know what’s coming up? See What, When & Where on page 30. Your event not listed? Email details to: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Plant Profile: WOOLY OAT GRASS, LEAFY NINE – AWN Enneapogon polyphyllus

Coral Allan, Pastoral Production Alice Springs Plant Description Upright tufted annual or short lived perennial tussock grass that grows to 45 cm in height. It has numerous stems, which may be bent at the base. Leaves are 15cm long and 3mm wide and have a cover of soft fine hairs. Seed heads are compact and narrow. Florets are 2 – 3 mm long, usually white but sometimes purple and smooth with a tuft of hair at the base. Grazing Value

· Good nutritional value and high palatability · Individual plants provide little bulk but

contributes to a large bulk of feed when pastures are in good condition

· Valuable fattening pasture · Provides good green pick after rain · Can be eliminated from the pasture if

overgrazed during the short period when seed is being set

Habitat

· Shallow gravely soils, sandy soils and red earths

· Also on limestone soils Notes

· Can act as a pioneer species on disturbed areas · Grows in the warmer months but can grow year round with adequate rainfall

Information Source Allan, C & Wilson, D (2006) Central Australian Grass Guide, NT Government Cunningham et al. (1992). Plants of Western NSW, Inkata Press, Sydney Milson, J (2000) Pasture Plants of north-west QLD. QDPI.


Property Identification Code (PIC)

Does your rural block / property have Livestock? Is your property registered with a PIC?

The owner of an identifiable property must have a PIC registered for that property. An identifiable property is a property that keeps any of the following livestock - Alpacas, buffalo, camels, cattle, crocodiles, deer, goats, honey bees, horses, llamas, pigs (including wild pigs), poultry, sheep.

The PIC is permanently registered to a specific parcel of land as described by the Lands Title Office, not to the owner of land. Upon sale of the property the PIC remains with the property, it cannot be transferred to another property.

The PIC is required to be used for most livestock movement and identification documents such as NT waybills. The PIC is also required for the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). The property name and PIC are provided to the NLIS national database.

PIC Registration is free of charge – please complete PIC Registration form www.nt.gov.au/d/nlis or contact your Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer (RLBO) for assistance. Waybill – PINK COPIES – Reminder

Have you sent your PINK copies in to your Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer recently? Waybills are used to record the movement of livestock in the Northern Territory. The waybill system also acts as a deterrent to stock stealing, provides certification of the property of origin for abattoirs and export markets and provides detailed documentation for station management. It is compulsory to use waybills under the Livestock Act. It is a mandatory requirement for cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, alpacas, llamas, deer and pig owners to complete a waybill whenever stock are moved outside the boundaries of a property. NOTE: Post PINK copies within 28 days to Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer Check PICs – www.pic.primaryindustry.nt.gov.au

Darwin Region Katherine Region Tennant Creek Region Alice Springs Region Ian Doddrell (RLBO) Greg Scott (RLBO) Tom Haines (A/RLBO) Greg Crawford (RLBO) Dept of Resources GPO Box 3000 Darwin NT 0801

Dept of Resources PO Box 1346 Katherine NT 0851

Dept of Resources PO Box 159 Tennant Creek NT 0861

Dept of Resources PO Box 8760 Alice Springs NT 0871

http://www.nt.gov.au/d/nlis

http://www.pic.primaryindustry.nt.gov.au/


December 2011 9th December AZRI Social Club Christmas party

Alice Springs Town Council Christmas Carnival

11th December Carols by Candlelight at Anzac Oval 31st December New Years Eve. Live band and fireworks at

Lasseter’s Casino 2012 Any coming events you’d like to share? Contact the ASRR team on 8951 8114.

The staff of DoR would like to congratulate Rob Cook on his receipt of the Courage medal at the recent Pride of Australia

awards. Well done, and well deserved Rob! Disclaimer While all care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is true and correct at the time of publication, the Northern Territory of Australia gives no warranty or assurance, and makes no representation as to the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this publication , or that it is suitable for your intended use. No serious business or investment decisions should be made in reliance on this information without obtaining independent and professional advice or both in relation to your particular situation. Reproduction of Rural Review articles The Department of Resources (DoR) welcomes the reproduction of articles appearing in this newsletter, but requests that the technical information be confirmed with the editor or author, prior to publication. The Department also requests that acknowledgement be made for any original work.


GLOSSARY

ASPIAC: CAGLM: CLMA: CSIRO: DAFF: DCQ: DET: DK-CRC: DNRETAS:

Alice Springs Pastoral Industry Advisory Committee Central Australian Grazing Land Management Central Land Management Association Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Desert Channels Queensland Inc. Department of Education & Training Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport

DoR: GRASSp: MLA: NABRC: NBRUC: NLIS: NLP: NTCA PIC: RFID: VRD:

Department of Resources Pasture Growth Model Meat & Livestock Australia North Australian Beef Research Council Northern Beef Research Update Conference National Livestock Identification System National Landcare Program Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association Property Identification Code Radio Frequency Identification Device Victoria River District

If undeliverable return to: Arid Zone Research Institute PO Box 8760 ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871 Alice Springs Rural Review

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PRODUCED BY DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES This publication contains commodity market information prepared for DOR staff use in strategic research and extension planning. While DOR exercise care in the compilation and preparation of this information, no responsibility is taken for its accuracy or for the completeness of any information that is reproduced from other sources. DOR denies any loss or damage to any person whether caused directly or indirectly by the use of any of the information provided.

OF RESOURCES ALICE SPRINGS RURAL REVIEW

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