ON FARM NORTHERN CATTLE RESEARCH IN REVIEW PROJECT AIM To provide objective information on three short-term feeding strategies and are most suited to trading and muscle or fat depth and only a minimal to increase the value of culled cows short-term agistment. increase in body condition score. prior to slaughter or market. During this study, the project team “A potential explanation is that changes RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS measured the performance of two in stomach contents were having MLA, University of Queensland, cohorts of cows grazing the floodplain a large and confounding effect on Queensland Department of during 2016 and 2017. Cows were liveweight, even though we took some Agriculture and Fisheries, NT drafted into three weight ranges and measures to control this,” he said. Department of Primary Industries observations were taken at the time of and Resources being introduced to the pasture, about Nestled within this study was a two weeks later and just prior to the sampling program to investigate rumen FUNDING point of sale. There were differences microbial population changes during $197,340 between years. the cows’ initial adjustment period on DURATION the floodplains and how these were 2016–2017 “While grazing the floodplains in potentially associated with performance. 2016, cows continually increased in These analyses are ongoing. KEY FINDINGS TO DATE weight, gaining an average of 32.4kg • The most cost-effective system from day one to day 35 with their Kieren said the floodplains were not an of improving cull cow condition average daily gain decreasing over option for all enterprises and were not (less than $1/kg gained) was time,” Kieren said. suitable for all animal classes. grazing the floodplain. “However, in 2017 we observed a 3% • The high cost of gain for the pellet reduction in weight at two weeks after Kieren McCosker and ration diets was largely due to introduction, but had regained this E: kieren.mccosker@nt.gov.au poor weight gain. weight loss by day 31.” • Feeding cows for short but intensive periods provides the Kieren said despite these fluctuations in Pictured below are cows being finished on greatest opportunity to make profit. weight, there were no changes in eye rations at the research station. 3399