Cattle Beef Systems

What are the 5 different rainfall zone in Australia

• Summer dominant = summer is wet season

• Summer rainfall = summer is wet season but more rainfall outside of summer

• Uniform rainfall = rainfall occurs uniformly across the year

• Winter rainfall = winter is wet but still get rain outside of winter

• Winter dominant = winter is wet season

What type of soil does Australia have and what is the general impact of this type of soil on pasture growth

Aus has “ancient soil” due to no volcanic action → reduces ability for new soil to coat land which is more high in nutrients. Having older soil means it lacks capacity to hold water and nutrients

Which type of sand holds more water and nutrients: finer particles such as clay or larger particles such as sand

Clay

Compare the type of pasture that you see typically in southern vs northern australia

Southern: higher rainfalls have things like perennial ryegrass. Lower rainfalls have annual plants like clover

Northern: Typically native grasses

What example of plant could be used to help provide more nutrients to a lower nutrient pasture region

Legumes because they fix nitrogen

Compare the breed of cows that you see typically in southern vs northern australia

Southern: Bos taurus british and european breeds

Northern: Bos indicius breeds

Compare british breeds vs european breed cattle

British breeds have more fat at a lighter weight and have good marbling on their meat. They are also higher in fertility. They are typically used for western markets

EU breeds are leaner but they are also bigger which is better for feedlots, however they have lower fertility. They are used for asian consumer markets

What are the types of enterprises you would see in southern australia. which is most common. Briefly explain the final product of each one

1. Specialised breeding → weaner calves for other enterprises

2. Breeding and growing → yearlings for other enterprises

3. Breeding and finishing → finished cattle for slaughter

4. Specialised growing and background → weaners/yearlings for specialised finishers

5. Specialised finishing on pasture → finishes cattle for domestic/EU markets

6. Specialised finishing in feedlots → finishes cattle for domestic/JapOx markets

What are the types of enterprises you would see in northern australia. which is most common. Briefly explain the final product of each one

You would only see an extensive grazing system of both breeder and finisher operations. However typically only higher rainfall areas have finisher operations due to their better pastures potentially. Majority of the product is live cattle or finished cattle for grinding beef

Compare the size of enterprises that you see typically in southern vs northern australia

Southern: average is 305 Ha with like100-400 heads

Northern: average can range from 14 000 - 270 000 Ha with like 1000 - 10 000 heads

Compare the time of calving that you see typically in southern vs northern australia

Southern: Can have either an autumn calving or spring calving with usually one event per year

Northern: Usually during the wet season (Oct-March)

Compare the joining period that you see typically in southern vs northern australia

Southern: Recommendation is 6 weeks

Nothern: Controlled mating = 3-5 months, continuous mating is year-round with no defined joining period

What are the in calf benchmarks for a southern beef system

>90% adults in calf and >85% heifers in calf

What is the reproductive performance measurement you use in northern beef systems

% pregnant within four months of calving = P4M,

When and how do you pregnancy test in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

In southern aus = 30 days after bulls removed for ultrasound and manual palpation is 50 days after bulls removed

In northern aus = done during first round muster either ultrasound or manual

What do you do with empty/dry cows after pregnancy testing in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

In south = cull empties 

In north = cull empties, keep 1st PTIC but cull empties who fail to conceive after a second pregnancy test.

How many bulls do you need per cow in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

South = ~1 for every 40-50 cows + 20% for replacement

North = 2-4% in whole herd but 1 per 40 cows

What is the typical management regime for bulls in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

south = vax + drench + BSE ~60 days before mating every year

north = BSE ~60 days before mating

What is the BSE ? 

• Physical attributes

• Scrotal size

• Semen assessment

• Serving ability

• +/- serving ability test → not done as often but looks at the number times a bull mates in a period of time + corkscrew penis

When is the marking period in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

south = 6 weeks to 6 months

north = weaning

What occurs during marking periods

Castrations, vax, drench, ear tag, branding with ear tags (NDIS ± prop ID)

When does weaning occur in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

South = as early as possible → 100 days old or 100 kg typically but nor more than 6 months old OR when mum is ≤2.5 BCS

North = first round muster → 100 days old or 100 kg typically but nor more than 6 months old OR when mum is ≤2.5 BCS

How do you wean calves in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

South = yard wean 10 days → put onto best quality feed

North = yard wean → turn onto spelled wet season pasture

When do you spay in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

South = not done

North = used as contraception when you have scrub bulls via willis dropped ovary technique preferably

Which stock do you spay in North australian beef systems

either heifers not designated for breeding but need time before sale or surplus lactating stock that need to put on weight before sale

What vaccines do you use in beef systems. Are there any specific ones used in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

5 in 1 = clostridial diseases

7 in 1 = covers leptospirosis

Vibrovax → against vibrosis

Pestiguard → against pestivirus

Respiratory disease vax if entering feedlot

North systems may use:

• singvac for botulinism → due to pica occurring when you have phosphorous deficiency

• Combavac 3 in 1 → tick fever

What two ectoparasites do you only find in north australia. How do you treat it

The two ectoparasites found only in northern Australia are the tropical cattle tick and buffalo fly.

Cattle tick treatment = use bos indicus breeds, control with pour-on, injectable or plunge dip before start of wet season

Buffalo fly = insecticide impregnated ear tags when flies become a worry

Which cattle are most affected by worm burden/fluke burden

Worms effect all young stock up to 15 months of age + bulls. Adult females tend to develop immunity

Fluke affects most classes of stock

When might you drench for worm control

• Weaning time = drench

• First and second calvers = drench in January

• Bulls = twice a year

What are the common trace mineral deficiencies in southern vs northern Australian beef systems

South = selenium , copper, cobalt and iodine

North = phosphorous (in wet season) and protein (in dry season) 

How might you fix low protein in northen beef systems

Supplementing with urea to help GIT microbes break down fibrous dry feed to increase protein intake