21 st century pastoralism project andy bubb desert knowledge cooperative research centre
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21 st Century Pastoralism Project Andy Bubb Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre. The DKCRC is committed to creating economic opportunities for desert people and a demonstrable difference for remote Indigenous communities, through the application of excellent research and training. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
21st Century Pastoralism Project
Andy Bubb
Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
The DKCRC is committed to creating economic opportunities
for desert people and a demonstrable difference for
remote Indigenous communities, through the application of
excellent research and training.
21st Century Pastoralism
1. Engaging Aboriginal Pastoralists
2. Improving Economic Sustainability
3. Managing for a Variable Climate
4. Utilising Technology
Utilising Technology
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The project’s monitoring covered costs, reliability, ease of use and benefits of the new equipment plus time and cost
savings.The benefits include:• lifestyle changes• reducing the number of bore runs saving fuel, time and
money.
Future benefits expected:• better control of Total Grazing Pressure and pastoral
country condition• stronger production results through better utilisation of
available feed• environmental gains through pasture regeneration
De Rose Hill Station Allan & Kylie Fuller own and manage the 180,000 hectare
property located 50km south of the Northern Territory/South Australian border on the Stuart Highway, running around
2000 head of black angus cows.
De Rose Hill Station
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Bore Runs 2006 Bore Runs 2007
Len & Joy Newton’s Mt Ive Station Mt Ive is a 85,250 hectare, wool growing property in the
Gawler Ranges with saltbush flats that borders Lake Gardiner in the North.
New water point
Telemetry
Solar pump
Evaporation control
Mount Ive Station
SA Monitoring Results
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Mount Ive Station Staff Hours Comparison before and after telemetry intallation
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Mt Ive costs before and after telemetry
before installation 2006 af ter installation 2007-8
The Alice Springs region Northern Territory Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mines research Station covers 50,000 hectares of sandy Mulga country and open oatgrass plains.
Old Man Plains Research Station
“Since installing the telemetry in January at the furtherest water point on the property, we have reduced our bore run from 3-4 times a week to just one saving around 200km weekly.”
Debbie Roberts, manager
The North Australian Pastoral Company’s
MONKIRA Station
Located in western Queensland's channel country, the 373,000 hectare grower property for weaner steers is dominated by the mighty flood plains of the
Diamantina River, which produce highly productive pastures of blue bush and native sorghum.
Telemetry
Solar pump
Liner
Evap-cap
Pump Controller
Monkira Station monthly water management operating costs analysis
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April May J une J uly August September October November December J anuary February March
before telemetry 2006 after telemetry 2007-8
Future of WaterSmart
• Looking for further funding
• Roll out results of past work to WA and Western NSW
• Opportunity to test new equipment
• Would you like to be involved?
www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/watersmart
An interactive ‘clearing house’ of project information including:Water delivery (reticulation systems including guidance on design, pipe and valve information etc.)Water control and monitoring systems (telemetry)Water point locationEvaporation management Information related to:
◦On-ground experiences◦ Field trials◦ Latest technologies◦ Costs and benefits◦ Field Days and demonstrations◦ Manufacturers and suppliers◦ Funding and subsidies
available◦ Industry links
The page provides links to allow information sharing by landholders on what they have found to have worked, problems they have faced and overcome and the opportunity to have discussions around the country with other graziers, suppliers, manufacturers etc through an interactive forum
Wide Open Spaces
• Extensive pastoralism is built on low input/low output production systems
• Opportunity to collect data on animals once or twice per year
• Infrequent data collection results in little opportunity to use the data collected
Remote Livestock Management System
• Ability to individually manage animals
• Allow for intensive management to be adopted on extensive properties
• Increase the profitability of pastoral production
“Take opportunity to use a bio-security cost as a money
making tool”
Opportunity to:
• Automatically Wean
• Control Mate
• Track weight gains and loses
• Identify time of calving
Autodrafter at Napperby
Video of Autodrafter