Nutrition

Basic Guidelines for a Feedlot Operation

Feedlotting involves the provision of an artificial environment in which cattle are placed together in a confined area to consume a predetermined diet. Profit comes from the growth of the animal and carcase value relative to the cost of feed and other inputs. Invariably marginal returns endorse the necessity to minimise costs and maximise returns through increased animal weight and carcase value. [more]

Cattle Weight Changes on Pangola T.S. Pasture at Berrimah Research Farm

Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) was introduced to the Northern Territory during the late 1950s and was later included in some pasture species trials (J.D. Sturtz, pers. comm., 1981). Hendy (1971, 1972) looked at its productivity under different cutting and nitrogen fertilizer regimes. This demonstrated its persistence and productivity, and stimulated the planting of larger areas at Berrimah Research Farm (B.R.F.) so that animal production from a Pangola grass/legume pasture could be measured. [more]

Cobalt and Copper in Cattle and Pastures in the Top End of the NT

Deficiencies of cobalt/vitamin B12 and copper result in general ill-thrift in cattle. Thus it is natural that there has been speculation about deficiencies of these elements in Top End cattle which often appear unthrifty. [more]

Feeding Australian Commercial Cattle in South East Asia

Over half a million feeder cattle are exported from Australia to Asia each year and this trade is epxected to continue to grow. Asian feedlotters usually prefer 50% or more Brahman cross steers/heifers and liveweights (LW) of 208-400kb (Malaysia), 330 kg (Philippines) and 350kg (Indonesia.) [more]

Feeding Australian Commercial Cattle in the Philippines

More than 150, 000 head of live cattle are exported from Australia to the Philipines annually. Both steers adn heifers are imported for value adding operations mainly located around Manila (Luzon) and in Mindanao. Cattle with at least 50% Brahman content are normally selected with a growing prference fro crosses with later maturing European breeds.[more]

Examination of Faeces for the Identification of Plant Species in the Diet of Cattle

Identification of plants in the diet of both healthy animals and those apparently affected by their diets is not always readily obtained in the live animal. A method to determine the plant species consumed and an indication of the relative proportions therein may be advantageous on occasions for diagnostic purposes. [more]

Improving the Nutrition of Ruminant Livestock Kept by Smallholders in SE Asia

Ruminant livestock are an important food source in village cultures. This article outlines some strategies to increase the nutrition of livestock in these environments. [more]

Making round baled silage

Silage is a preserved feed resource for ruminants. Baled silage can be made using balers, which produce round bales of hay. The material is baled at a lower dry matter (DM) content and higher moisture than hay, wrapped in plastic film and allowed to ferment into silage. [more]

Management of the Orphan Calf

Summarises some of the management issues associated in raising an orphan calf. [more]

New Feeding Bans on Ruminants to Prevent BSE

In order to maintain consumer confidence in the safety of red meat, Australia banned the importation of cattle, embryos and meat and bone meal from infected countries since 1988. [more]

Nitrogen Nutrition of Cattle in the Southern NT: Nitrogen requirements, sources and use

Nitrogen is one of the major nutrients required by cattle. Under extensive pastoral conditions nitrogen is often a limiting factor to production. An understanding of the role of nitrogen in the soil - plant - animal system can aid management decisions to improve production. [more]

Nitrogen Nutrition of Cattle in the Southern NT: Supplementary Feeding

Pasture protein levels in the Southern NT often fall below those required by stock to maintain weight. During these times providing supplementary nitrogen can improve production [more]

Nutrition and Management of Stock in Coastal Regions of the NT

The northern NT in general is not good cattle carrying country. High rainfall and temperatures cause rapid leaching of the poor nutrivative value soils. Therefore, good management of stock is critical. [more]

Palatability Scoring of Forage Plants in Central Australia

About 600,000 camels (Camelus dromedarius) are believed to inhabit the arid centre of Australia, mainly in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Most of these camels are feral. A small camel industry has developed, which harvests selected animals for domestic and export markets, primarily for meat. Camels can eat more than 80% of the common plant species found in Central Australia. Some plant species are actively sought by camels and may need to be protected. [more]

Rice as a Livestock Feed

In Asia rice has been cultivated for many centuries as the staple feed for human consumption and farmers value the by products of the rice mill as livestock feed. Furthermore, they often keep a proportion of the grain harvest to supplement their buffaloes and cattle during pregnancy and lactation or prior to the ploughing season. Rice straw is also fed as a basal diet to these animals. [more]

Seasonal Changes in Soil Available Phosphorus Concentrations

Soil available phosphorus levels increased during the wet season and then decreased during the following dry season.
A soil sample taken during the dry season will not accurately predict the amount of phosphorus available to pasture legumes during the subsequent wet season. [more]

Silage in the Top End

Fodder conservation in times of abundance during the wet season can overcome feed shortages in the mid to late dry season and allow increased animal production in the Top End. [more]

Supplementary Feeding of Grazing Livestock in the Top End

This article focuses on answering the the question: What are the important nutrients to supplement grazing cattle and when? [more]

The Mineral Status of Cattle in the NT

An investigation into the Mineral Status of Cattle in the North West Coastal Region of the Top End of the Northern Territory. [more]

The use of Centrosema Hay as a Fodder Source for the Northern Territory Cattle Live Export Industry

The recent growth of the South East Asian live cattle market has been a major boost to the economy of the Northern Territory. [more]

Urea Poisoning in Cattle

Urea is used as a source of non-protein nitrogen in feed supplements. Urea poisoning is one of the more commonly suspected toxicities of cattle in the NT. [more]

Vitamins and Stress - Literature Review of Responses in Cattle to Fat-Soluble Vitamins A, D & E

This review of the literature was undertaken in response to a request from a large cattle station involved in the live cattle export business. They were concerned about the stressful effects of sea transport on cattle, particularly the likelihood of weight losses. Some manufacturers of injectable vitamin supplements claim, among other things, that they offset stress in cattle. [more]