18Nov 2019 by Ian Mclean
Linking weather data to cattle breed adaptation

Linking weather data to cattle breed adaptation

Articles & Publications, Opinion Pieces
By Michael Wellington The introduction of Black Angus and Wagyu cattle into extensive northern Australia has been watched with keen interest. As I was required to deliver a project as part of my livestock consulting internship, I spent some time looking at differences in adaptability among breeds due to renewed interest in this space. I found that most heat stress research has focused on the feedlot and dairy industries. This is logical because these industries have some level of control over the environmental conditions cattle experience. Also, feedlot and dairy cattle are more susceptible to heat stress due to higher metabolic heat production. Conversely, beef cattle in extensive environments have greater scope to regulate their heat load through behaviours such as shade and breeze seeking. There are several heat stress…
Read More
18Nov 2019 by Ian Mclean
2030 – What is your bottom line?

2030 – What is your bottom line?

Articles & Publications, Opinion Pieces
Red Meat 2030 was recently released by the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC). This is a comprehensive document, which sets the vision and priorities of the red meat industry over the next decade. This document complements in many ways the NFF’s 2030 Roadmap, which sets out the vision for Australian Agriculture as a whole over the next decade. These documents are important to you as producers as they will guide industry activities and inform government policy over the next decade. They are industry owned and there has been considerable industry consultation in their development. An aspect I quite like in both documents is the prioritisation of environmental management and sustainability, particularly that they address how the industry will not only need to ensure that it has sound environmental management, but…
Read More
05Nov 2019 by Ian Mclean No Comments
Avoid Magic, opt for Science

Avoid Magic, opt for Science

Articles & Publications, Opinion Pieces
Contributed by Dr Phil Holmes and Ian McLean Unfortunately, and to its detriment, broadacre agriculture is not always an evidence-based industry at producer level. Yes, there are areas where evidence drives what is done, but it is far from universal. Too much attention is placed on fads and searches for silver bullets. By way of contrast, consider engineering. If it was not based on hard evidence, planes would fall out of the sky, buildings would collapse and bridges would cave in. It is the ultimate discipline in everyday life. But back to broadacre agriculture, specifically livestock. Fads go past the front gate of the property every day. Some of them are relatively benign and some seriously detrimental to business. There have been heaps of them. The whole Soft Rolling Skins…
Read More