RESILIENT BUSINESSES NORTHERN CATTLE FEEDBASE f Clean slate for profitable paddocksRESEARCH INREVIEW While rebuilding account events such as water, increasing the risk of PROJECT NAME after fire or flood floods which can change calf predation or dehydration. Paddock Power can seem like a land condition) to assess Large, poorly watered RESEARCH daunting task for many how many cattle they can paddocks can also have an ORGANISATIONS producers, it’s also an sustainably support. impact on reproduction and NT Department of opportunity to reposition Downsize for productivity business profitability due to: Primary Industry and fences and watering “Many paddocks in northern • over‑ and under‑utilised feed Resources (NT DPIR) pointsto improve Australia are too big and • reduced live weight gain FUNDING paddockproductivity. under‑watered to achieve and body condition as ORGANISATIONS optimum productivity cattle walk long distances MLA and NT DPIR Dr Dionne Walsh, who and pasture utilisation,” between water and feed manages the Rangeland GOAL Dionne said. • reduced re‑conception and To gather data about Program of the NT Departmentof Primary In the Barkly Tableland calf survival rates from poor productivity increases Industryion, for example, averageregand Resources,is breeder body condition from paddock leadingthe MLA‑supported paddock area is 218km² • incomplete musters development and PaddockPower project (21,800ha) and some are more develop a calculator. than 1,000km² (100,000ha). • limited opportunities for tounlock the secrets controlled mating BUDGET of profitable paddock Previous research has shown • difficulty in strategically MLA: $416,000 development. that developing more water managing pastures. In‑kind: “After an event such as fire orh “Project findings will refinepoints is a sound investment NT DPIR: $266,000 flood, te immediate need is for achieving better pasture industry: $1,100,000 oten to just geft fences and utilisation and increasing current recommendations on water point spacing and DURATION waters back up but, where carrying caacity.p provide better information April 2019 – April 2021 there’s an opportunity to However, the improvements on where to place new stagger rebuilding efforts, in breeder herd performance infrastructure to maximise a rethink can contribute to and/or live weight gain return on investment,” Dionne Walsh imroved grazipng and herd that can be achieved from Dionne said. E: dionne.walsh@nt. producvity,” Dtiionne said. infrastructure development gov.au Paddock Power will deliver a She said producers can are less clear. user‑friendly online calculator Paddock Power updates: maximise their investmenti tell us they need“Producers so producers can compare facebook.com/groups/ n wire and water by data 326686724590667the costs of differentproductivityon potential considering: to justify investment infrastructure development increases futurebeef.com.au/ • Water location: For example, intions andevaluate theinfrastructure tonew op ir projects/paddockpower troughs in the corner of createsmaller, better profitability based on specific a paddock dramatically Paddock planning tools:land types, cost base and watered paddocks. farmmap4d.com.au concentrate grazing. livestock productivity. ■ • Water spacing:Th rulee “ThePaddock Power project, ofthumb is 6km which includes trackingbetween water pointsin extensive cattle movements with GPS, grazingsystemsand 1–2km is measuring the influence of inmore intensiveareas, to paddock area and distance improvelandscape use. to water on breeder herd performance, steer live • Carrying capacity: weight gain, mortality Repositioning fences rates, operating costs and and water points is an feedbase management.” opportunity to reset stocking rate policies. Dionne said some producers Dionne recommends speculate low rates of calf seeking independent, survival could be partly evidence‑based advice driven by cows leaving about the current status newborn calves to return of paddocks (taking into several kilometres back to Dr Dionne Walsh, Rangeland Program Manager, NT DPIR. 20