ON FARM NORTHERN CATTLE Queensland beef producers Tom Saunders (left) and Brett Blennerhassett (right) talk leucaena with MLA Managing Director Jason Strong. red basalt soil. Good planting conditions Weaners put on leucaena at 220kg “We did get some psyllid affect, where and follow‑up rain meant there was an came out after 300 days at 400kg, we lost production in parts for up to two establishment success rate of 75%. which amounted to close to double months,” Tom said. Grazing began in the 2017 dry season the property’s typical weight gains, “So we’ll try some Redlands to see what with a high stocking rate. Early results Tom said. advantage that will bring.” are showing weaners on leucaena had Stocking rates on leucaena were 1:3, Management the key an average daily gain of 0.48kg/day compared to 1:6 on native grasses. The an improvement on weaners grazing leucaena on Whitewater was planted Good management will be key to the native pastures only, which typically in timbered country in rows 10m apart, success of leucaena in northern grazing remained at maintenance (i.e. not losing with the diet of cattle estimated to be systems, according to The Leucaena or gaining weight). 30% leucaena. Network. Executive officer Bron Christensen (pictured left) said leucaena should only be planted if the intention Here are Bron’s top tips for is to manage it, including taking on the managing leucaena: responsibility of controlling leucaena that establishes outside the planted • Leucaena shouldn’t be planted in area on your property. ■ areas where rivers, creeks and flood channels can disperse seed pods Nigel Tomkins or seed. E: ntomkins@mla.com.au • Keep leucaena at least 20m away Producers looking to purchase from external fence lines and Redlands seedshould contact maintain a buffer strip of strong grass : pasture between leucaena plantings Bruce Mayne and creeks or boundary fences. E: brucemayne@outlook.com • Fully fence leucaena paddocks and Peter Larsen graze or cut leucaena to keep it E: leucseeds@outlook.com within the reach of animals. The full Code of Practice is • Minimise seed set and chemically available at leucaena.net manage any ‘escapees’ with Access®. 17