ON FARM NATIONAL IN BRIEF Look out for LambEx 2020 Don’t fencemein L2020 and will be chaired by sheepambEx is bound for Melbourne in T rials at the NT Government’s Victoria River Research producer Georgina Gubbins. Station (also known as Kidman Springs) are testing whether Georgina said it’s the first time the event self-herding techniques can be used to establish new rotational will be held in Melbourne but the second grazing patterns without permanent fencing. time for Victoria, which successfully hosted Several months into the herd. In the first few weeks the the 2012 conference in Bendigo. MLA-funded trials, observations GPS data showed the heifers had a“Work will start in earnest on conference reveal that the techniques have strong attraction to the historicallydevelopment shortly but, at this stage, been able to draw cattle into areasovergrazed areas of the paddock. the event is likely to be held in late June traditionally under-utilised, thereby“We think the cattle were (2020) and the search for a suitable venue reducing the grazing pressure on responding to existing landscape has started,” she said. over-used patches. cues such as old cattle pads, “The Best Wool Best Lamb team at Drawing on behavioural science, shorter patches of previously Agriculture Victoria are supporting us as nutrition, physiology and ecology,grazed pastures and freshly gradedwe bring LambEx to Victoria and they’ve self herding is a behaviour-basedtracks,” said Spud Thomas, Kidman kindly offered to merge their annual livestock management approach Springs Station Manager. conference with LambEx in 2020. which provides managers with In response, the research team strategies and tools to positively “We’re looking forward to showcasing the increased the frequency of the feedVictorian sheep industry to our interstate influence grazing distribution. rewards at locations distant from and international visitors too and hope to Self herding for the rangelands the over-utilised areas. be able to roll out many of the features has been developed by Dr Dean which LambEx is known for across Revell of Revell Science and The trial will conclude in mid-2019. Bruce Maynard of Stress Analysis will focus on not only thethe nation.” ■ Free Stockmanship. paddock utilisation patterns and pasture utilisation levels, but also Sign up for updates at lambex.com.au The Kidman Springs self-herding observations of cattle behaviour, trial began in July 2018 when bothcattle productivity and costs, staff and a group of heifers receivedincluding labour, vehicle and feed training prior to the cattle beingrewards. An economic analysis introduced into the trial paddock.of the self-herding technique “A training period is an essentialemployed, in comparison to first step to give the cattle an using fencing to achieve similar opportunity to become familiar withmanagement objectives, will be the attractant station, food rewards undertaken. and cues, or signals, prior to beingSee pages 30–31 to read how moved to a new environment,” self herding is being used in Bruce Maynard said. a WA project. ■ To track the animals and observe Dionne Walsh their grazing behaviour, GPS collars E: dionne.walsh@nt.gov.au were fitted to 10 heifers within the Make time for It’sEweTime OTime!, is returning this year.extension and adoption programs, It’s Ewene of the sheep industry’s most popular• Tuesday, 26 March – Jamestown, SA• Wednesday, 27 March – Karoonda, SAThe forums are scheduled on the following dates: • Thursday, 28 March – Naracoorte, SA The half-day forums will deliver practical tools and • Tuesday, 2 April – Armidale, NSW. information designed to increase producer awareness and provide take-home tips on the principles, The cost is $35 per person, which includes a forum booklet practices and tools of sheep enterprise profitabilityand catering. ■ and productivity. A joint initiative of MLA and Australian Wool Innovation For more information and to register, go to: (AWI), the forums are part of the flagship Making More makingmorefromsheep.com.au/events From Sheep program. T: 1800 070 099 10