Livestock industries projects
A summary of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) livestock industries current and recently completed projects is shown below.
Our projects are organised into 8 themes:
- Managing the feedbase for optimal production
- Improving reproductive productivity through the application of genetic principles and technology
- Optimising productivity through nutritional management
- Animal husbandry and management
- Buffalo and other livestock species
- International livestock industries development benefiting Australia
- Economics and development of the pastoral industry
- Extension and adoption.
In addition to the above, DAF also has other business units responsible for agricultural diversification, cropping and hay production, market development, investment attraction, animal welfare and biosecurity.
Each quarter, DAF publishes a Pastoral Feed Outlook summarising seasonal conditions, pasture growth, standing dry matter levels, fire risk and drought risk. Subscribe to the NT Pastoral Feed Outlook.
For more information on the progress and findings of our projects, see annual research reports, contact the project leader, or go to the FutureBeef website.
*VRRS – Victoria River Research Station, DDRF – Douglas Daly Research Farm, OMP – Old Man Plains, KRS – Katherine Research Station, BHF – Beatrice Hill Farm, VRD – Victoria River District.
1. Managing the feedbase for optimal production
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Fencing – Crops for Cattle sub-project | This project is looking at how Virtual Fencing (VF) can be used to increase weight gains and manage grazing behaviour. | Victoria River Research Station (VRRS) & commercial properties in Katherine region | Over 1,000 neckbands have been deployed across 4 properties, with positive results across all sites. Virtual fencing was able to hold 98% of the mob at a new water point, keep 100% of the mob out of a scald area within a larger paddock and strip graze cattle across a pivot without breakouts in 98% of the mob. Currently there are over 700 neckbands on all animals above 200 kg at Kidman Springs, and the team is assessing whether the tech can be used to muster without need for a helicopter. | Christie Pearson | 2025 - 2026 | Funding from CRCNA | |
| Low methane feedbase project 1010 | Identification of plant species within the Northern feedbase that can potentially lower methane emissions when grazed or fed to cattle. | Multiple | First plant samples collected at Kidman Springs. Alice Springs sampling in August 2026. | Caz Pettit | 2025 - 2028 | ZNE-Ag CRC (funder), UQ (project lead) | |
| AridGRAZE | Research and Adoption Support to improve climate resilience in Central Australia: refine the scientific derivation of sustainable carrying capacity estimates for different land types in Central Australia; collaborative research and demonstration sites on OMP and commercial stations; develop a Central Australian Carrying Capacity and Grazing Guide; develop an AridGRAZE supported learning package. | Various commercial properties, OMP and desktop assessment | Awaiting final sign-off on 6-year $5M MLA Donor Company Project | Robyn Cowley | Ongoing | MLA | |
| AridGraze – Paddock Challenge | A collaborative research and producer R&D program to define safe carrying capacity for arid Australia, showing how evidence based grazing strategies can improve land condition, climate resilience and profitability. | Mulga Park, Mount Denison, OMP | AridGraze involves continuation of the Paddock Challenge demonstrations at Mulga Park and Mount Denison (Rain Ready Rangelands project), and will introduce a Producer Challenge on OMP where one paddock is managed by a producer group. The project has recently commenced. | Robyn Cowley, Chris Materne & Alison Kain | 2025 - June 2026 | Northern Hub - Future Drought Fund (funder) | Continuing the Challenge: AridGraze brings Research and Producers Together: FutureBeef website |
| Station Smart - Rain Ready Rangelands 2.0 | Provide the pastoral industry with increased knowledge and skills for collection of herd, pasture and climate data to assist in making informed management decisions for improved economic and landscape sustainability outcomes. Involving the establishment of a demonstration site in the VRD and the continued monitoring of the Anthony Lagoon wet season spelling demonstration site. | Auvergne, Newry and Anthony Lagoon Station | GPS collars have been collected from the 2 trial paddocks at Auvergne Station. Data is ready to analyse from the GPS collars and economist has been engaged to investigate future production potential. The final report is due in April 2027. Retrospective utilisation modelling is underway at Newry and an economist has been engaged to investigate future production potential. Monitoring at Anthony Lagoon Station has also commenced. The final report is due in mid-2027. | Christie Pearson | 2025 - June 2026 | Northern Hub - Future Drought Fund (funder) | StationSmart: data-driven practice change - FutureBeef website |
| NT Sustainable Pastoral Carrying Capacity Project | Developing sustainable pastoral carrying capacities for improved land management practices and soil condition across the Territory’s Rangelands focussing on the VRD and Alice Springs region. | Multiple | The first year of data collection at the newly established VRD SWIFTSYND sites has been completed, and sampling has continued at the central Australian sites. The project has been extended to 2028, allowing for an additional year of pasture, soil and rainfall data to be collected across the VRD and Alice Springs Region. This data will strengthen model accuracy and future carrying capacity recommendations. | Caz Pettit/ Robyn Cowley | 2026 - 2028 | DAFF (funder), NT DLPE | NT Sustainable Pastoral Carrying Capacity Project - FutureBeef website |
| Legume establishment project - Overcoming Knowledge Gaps | Multi property demonstration focussed on the establishment of introduced legumes into native pastures. The project includes a small plot trial looking at establishment techniques, a commercial property demonstration and a weaner live weight gain study on an established augmented native pasture. | VRRS and commercial properties | Monitoring across Kidman Springs and Mt Sanford continued to show that butterfly pea (cv. Milgarra) is the most reliable and persistent legume evaluated, consistently outperforming desmanthus, Verano stylo and Seca stylo. Establishment was generally improved by January sowing and reduced grass competition through burning. Monitoring over the past few years has shown that plant numbers can continue to increase after establishment without grazing. Although published literature suggests a target of around 4 plants/m² for successful establishment, these longer-term monitoring results highlight the importance of assessing persistence and recruitment over multiple seasons rather than relying solely on first-year establishment counts. The grazing component has shown weaner heifers grazing stylo-native grass pastures at Kidman Springs achieving higher growth rates through the dry season and gaining approximately 21 kg more liveweight in 2025 than cattle grazing native pasture alone. A new commercial-scale grazing demonstration established at Mt Sanford in 2026 will further evaluate the productivity benefits of established legumes under northern grazing conditions. | Caz Pettit/Mary Williams | 2023 - 2025 | Northern Hub (funder), WA DPIRD | Victoria River District Legume Establishment Demonstration - FutureBeef website |
| Shruburn: long-term fire experiment at Kidman Springs | Long-term experiment assessing the best timing and frequency of burning to control woody vegetation thickening whilst maintaining optimal pasture condition. Recently collected the same data inside and outside of 50-year long-term exclosures as an ungrazed unburnt comparison to the fire experiment. | VRRS | * Burning every 4 years in the late dry season has achieved the best results for managing/preventing woodland thickening. | Robyn Cowley | 1993 - ongoing | Internal project | Kidman Springs fire experiment (Shruburn) - FutureBeef website |
| Quality Graze – long-term grazing strategies trials for maintaining and improving land condition and producing premium steers in the arid region of Central Australia | Demonstration of how sustainable stocking rates can improve land condition, animal performance and profitability in arid areas. The project also investigates how premium abattoir grids and MSA specifications can be consistently met with cattle from central Australia. | OMP | * Stocking according to long-term carrying capacity enables premium steer turnoff even in very dry seasons | Chris Materne | 2010 - 2025 | Internal project | Quality Graze - FutureBeef website |
| Managing gamba grass with rotational grazing at Douglas Daly Research Farm | Investigating how to best use grazing to reduce the spread of gamba grass whilst achieving good animal production outcomes. | DDRF | Rotational grazing gave good cattle growth rates and prevented gamba grass from seeding and spreading. | Tim Schatz | 2018 - 2026 | Internal project | Gamba grass grazing trial at Douglas Daly Research Farm - FutureBeef website Top Paddock Issue 68 PDF (4.2 MB) Proceedings of the Northern Beef Research Update Conference.pdf |
| FireGraze | Investigating how fire can be used to influence where cattle graze to improve evenness of grazing and land condition. | VRRS | GPS tracking data showed that cattle were strongly attracted to strategically burnt patches, increasing their use of recently burnt areas by 3 to 4 times. This shift redirected grazing towards previously underutilised parts of paddocks and reduced grazing pressure on some preferred land types. The effect persisted through the first dry season after burning before gradually declining, indicating that patch burning can be an effective short-term tool for improving grazing distribution and managing grazing pressure across heterogeneous landscapes. | Caz Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | IRC_Firegraze_CP.pdf |
| Pasture sustainability at Kidman Springs | Monitoring the long-term sustainability of the carrying capacity estimates for Kidman Springs. | VRRS | Analysis of more than 20 years of pasture monitoring data found that pasture yield at Victoria River Research Station has increased over time under stocking rates aligned with long-term carrying capacity. Yield increases were recorded across multiple land types and remained evident after accounting for rainfall variation. Perennial grasses continued to dominate the pasture base, with no evidence of declines in key productive 3P grass species or overall pasture condition. These findings provide rare long-term evidence that managing stocking rates to carrying capacity can maintain pasture productivity and land condition in northern rangelands. Data collection is ongoing and was last collected in June 2026. | Caz Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| Implementing a prescribed burning program at Kidman Springs - practicing what we preach | Demonstration of how to successfully integrate a burning program at the property scale. | VRRS | Paddock-scale burning in line with recommendations from the Shruburn project have been implemented since 2016. In 2025, one paddock was burnt as part of the project. However, wildfires burnt through most of Kidman Springs in the weeks after. Two previously unburnt paddocks will be burnt in October 2026. | Caz Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| Long term vegetation and soil trends with and without grazing by cattle and rabbits | Multiple 50-year, 1ha exclosures (a. excluding cattle; b. excluding cattle and rabbits vs. c. grazing by cattle and rabbits) and 30 x 30 m SWIFTSYND exclosures. Used to look at the impact of grazing on biocrusts and above and below carbon storage. | OMP | Ongoing | Chris Materne | Ongoing since 1970s | Internal project | Bastin, G; Paul, K; Piper, M; Forrester, D; England, J; Pasut, C (2025) Long-term impacts of rabbit and cattle grazing on carbon sequestration in arid rangelands In Proceedings of the International Rangeland Congress, pp. 1561 June 2-6, 2025, Adelaide. |
2. Improving reproductive productivity through the application of genetic principles and technology
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selecting for more methane efficient cattle | Develop methods (including use of gEBVs) that enable effective and accurate selection for reduced methane emissions. It will also create multi-trait selection indexes to enable balanced selection for reduced emissions and production traits. | DDRF | Two Greenfeed units were installed at DDRF in October 2025. Methane emission data will be collected from 2025 onwards and will be linked to genetic data from the cattle in the trial to look for “gene markers” for lower methane emissions. | Gretel Bailey-Preston & Tim Schatz | 2025 - 2028 | ZNE-Ag CRC (funder), UNE (Project Lead), QAAFI, AACo, NSW DPI | - |
| Selection for fertility in a Brahman herd | Long-term demonstration of how selection for fertile Brahman genetics can improve herd performance. | VRRS, DDRF, KRS |
Focus has shifted to aim for more market acceptable traits (eg. polledness and structure) while maintaining fertility. New genetics are being introduced to the herd through AI in December 2025. Cattle are included in the ZNE-Ag CRC project aimed at breeding cattle with lower methane emissions. | Gretel Bailey-Preston | Ongoing, started in 1994 | Internal project | Selected Brahman project - FutureBeef website Celebrating 30 years of selected brahmans - FutureBeef website Northern Beef Research Update Conference - Bush to bright lights.pdf (page 97) Proceedings of the Northern Beef Research Update Conference.pdf (page 127) The repronomics project - enabling genetic improvement in reproduction in northern Australia.pdf Schatz, T. J., Jayawardhana, G. A., Golding, R., & Hearnden, M. N. (2010). Selection for fertility traits in Brahmans increases heifer pregnancy rates from yearling mating. Animal Production Science, 50(6), 345-348. |
| Top End multibreed composite project | Long term demonstration producing a Tropical Composite that maintains adaptability to the tropical environment but also increases meat quality and therefore reduces market risk. This herd is also selected for fertility and reaching a turnoff weight for market. | BHF, DDRF, KRS |
Focus has shifted to aim for more market acceptable traits (eg. polledness, uniformity and structure) while maintaining fertility. New genetics are being introduced to the herd through AI in December 2025. A report is being prepared to summarise the project to date. Now also included in the ZNE-Ag CRC project aimed at breeding cattle with lower methane emissions. | Gretel Bailey-Preston | Ongoing, started in 2000 | Internal project | Repronomics-ii - FutureBeef website
|
Improving breeder herd efficiency in the arid region with performance recording and objective selection | Performance recording and demonstration of using objective selection and management practices to improve performance in central Australian conditions. | OMP and AZRI | Data collection is ongoing. A report summarising performance from 2018-2024 is being produced. An AI program was completed in October 2025 (with support from the Droughtmaster society) to introduce new genetics into the herd. | Recruitment underway & James Duffy | 2025 - 2027 | Internal project | Artificial insemination program introduces new genetics to herd |
| Akaushi-cross production in central Australia | Investigating potential for marbling with grass fed cattle in central Australia. | OMP | Two year groups of Akaushi x Droughtmaster animals have been bred and will be studied to see how their growth and marbling compares to Droughtmasters. | Chris Materne | 2021 - 2027 | Internal project | OMP Akaushi bulls - FutureBeef website |
3. Optimising productivity through nutritional management
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crops for Cattle | The project aims to foster intensification of the northern cattle industry by integrating northern cropping and cattle production systems to increase weight gains of cattle during the dry season. It will investigate the feasibility and profitability of supplementary feeding strategies (using feeds produced in northern Australia) to increase cattle weight gain over the post weaning dry season, resulting in a higher proportion of steers being turned off after one post weaning wet season and more efficient heifer performance from increased pre-mating weights. | Eight commercial properties and 2 DAF Research stations in the Katherine and Top End regions | Data has been collected over 3 years from commercial properties and research stations. This data is now being analysed and the final report is under way. | Tim Schatz & Mel Wooderson | 2023 - 2026 | CRCNA (funder) | Crops for cattle - FutureBeef website |
| Using supplements to repel buffalo flies and reduce skin lesions – Crops for Cattle sub-project | Trials will be conducted at DDRF and BHF over the 2025/26 wet season to determine whether Allicin (zinc, garlic and sulphur) fly treatment inclusion in supplement blocks is effective in repelling buffalo flies and reducing skin lesions on cattle. | DDRF, BHF | The data collection is completed. The final report is underway. | Caity Kelly | 2025 - 2026 | CRCNA (funder) and Olsson’s | - |
| 'Easy P' phosphorus supplementation project | Determine if an easy to implement method of P supplementation is an effective method for producers in P deficient areas who find it difficult to supplement during the wet season. Also conduct a producer demonstration site (PDS) demonstrating the method. | VRRS , Bullo River | The Easy P method of providing phosphorus (P) supplement in bulk at the beginning of the wet season (as well as inclusion in dry season lick), was compared against the traditional method of regularly delivering P supplement through the wet. The Easy P method gave similar or slightly better cattle performance, proving to be an effective method of P supplementation in northern Australia. This project is now completed with the final report underway. | Tim Schatz | 2020 - 2026 | MLA (funder), QDAF, WA DPIRD, NB2 | Schatz T, Hearnden M, Maxwell C (2023) Easy P – evaluation of a Phosphorus supplementation strategy that is easy to implement in areas that are difficult to access during the wet season. Proceedings of the Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT, 22-25 August 2023. |
4. Animal husbandry and management
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mooternal | Sensor systems (accelerometers and GPS) will be deployed on cows and calves to investigate how a cow’s “maternal investment” affects it’s calf’s productivity and survival. The project will develop sensor based behavioural algorithms and investigate the relationship between specific behaviours and events and the resultant calf outcomes. The insights gained from this research will contribute to the development of recommendations for producers, aiming to offer practical interventions to enhance calf survival and productivity on their properties. | Manbulloo | Mooternal is entering its second year of data collection at Manbulloo with tech being fitted in September 2026. Data from the previous year has been analysed and algorithms for calving and behaviours are being developed. | Christie Pearson | 2024 - 2028 | CQU (project lead), MLA (funder) | Impact of maternal investment on calf productivity and survival - FutureBeef website |
| Studies on the effectiveness and benefit of various insecticidal ear tags | Ongoing studies at BHF and DDRF investigating options to reduce the impact of biting insects on livestock, and collaborate with external companies in developing new fly tags. | DDRF, BHF | These trials are ongoing. The importance of this work is increasing with the ban of Diazinon use in fly tags. | Tim Schatz and BHF staff | As required | YTex | |
| Evaluation of later mating | Controlled mating has usually commenced in late December in the VRD due to difficulties putting bulls out during the wet season. However, this results in the first calves being born in September, while green grass is not available until mid-December. This trial is evaluating whether there are benefits from starting controlled mating later, resulting in calves being born (and peak lactation occurring) when pasture conditions are better. | VRRS | The trial is underway at VRRS in its third year of data collection. | Christie Pearson & Zach Weir | 2024 - 2028 | Internal project | - |
5. Buffalo and other livestock species
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply chain best practice to improve the health and welfare of free-range buffalo harvest in Arnhem Land – Northern Territory | The project has 4 main objectives: 1. Analyse current evidence, practices, risk factors, and indicators of adverse animal mortality, health, and welfare outcomes. 2. Evaluate the influence of animal-, management- and environmental-based factors on key animal welfare outcomes. 3.Develop recommendations for policy and practice changes that will reduce the risk of animal mortalities and adverse health and welfare outcomes. 4. Identify the opportunities for economically feasible buffalo harvesting on traditional lands whilst achieving acceptable animal welfare outcomes and meeting the economic development, cultural, and ecological goals of indigenous communities. | Arnhem Land and some commercial properties that have buffalo | The data collection for this project is now complete. The final report is underway and recommendations will be completed shortly. A variation was approved to complete a preliminary market development and opportunity report which is underway. | Gretel Bailey-Preston | 2023 - 2026 | CRCNA (funder), AgriFutures Australia (funder), UQ (project lead), Focus Group Go Asia Pacific (FGGAP), RN MacDonald and CQ University. | Ensuring best practice in the Buffalo supply chain - CRCNA website Ensuring best practice in the buffalo supply chain - AgriFutures website |
| Buffalo crossbreeding / Tenderbuff / live export development and supply | Long-term ongoing project at BHF to improve the performance and meat quality of buffalo and ensure best practice transport and stunning practices and market development. | BHRF | The buffalo research has been scaled back and the herd size reduced. | - | Paused | Internal project | The Australian water buffalo manual - Agrifutures website |
6. Technical services for overseas markets
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No current projects | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
7. Economics and development of the pastoral industry
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No current projects | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
8. Extension and adoption
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZNE CRC Producer Demonstration Site | DDRF is a PDS for the ZNE CRC. It involves demonstrating methane emission reduction practices, documenting cattle performance, setting up flux towers and Greenfeed units to measure gases, and holding field days and extension activities. | DDRF | The project commenced recently and 2 Greenfeed units were installed at DDRF. | Tim Schatz | 2025 - 2030 | ZNE-Ag CRC (funder) | |
| Next Generation Land Managers (Rangeland management courses) | Ongoing delivery of the NT DAF Rangeland Management Course. The Rangeland Management Course is a 1-day introduction to grazing & pasture management, pasture and weed ID and cattle nutrition for first/second year stock camp staff. Courses are run on request in the Katherine, Barkly and Alice Springs districts. | VRD, Barkly & Alice Springs Stations | Northern Hub is funding continued delivery of NT courses and collaboration with WA organisations to run more courses in the Kimberley and Pilbara. In 2025, 13 NT courses and one WA course were delivered, with a total of 156 station & industry staff attending. | Stacey Holzapfel & Alison Kain | Ongoing (current funding 2022 - 2026) | Northern Hub - Future Drought Fund (funder) | |
| FutureBeef collaboration | Coordinated delivery of northern beef industry information and advice through various platforms, including the FutureBeef website, webinars and monthly eBulletin. | NT DAF continues to be an active participant in the FutureBeef project. | Stacey Holzapfel & Mary Williams | Ongoing | MLA (funder), QDAF (project lead), WA DPIRD | ||
| EDGE Network (Meat and Livestock Australia) training courses | Provide MLA-accredited training on topics including: Grazing Land Management, Grazing Fundamentals, Breeding, Nutrition and Business. | NT DAF is not a current deliverer of EDGE courses. We work closely with MLA and deliverers to promote and support courses being held in the Northern Territory. | Position currently vacant | Ongoing | MLA | ||
| Barkly & VRD Herd Management Forums (HMF) | Workshops targeted to head stockmen, leading hands, middle management and service providers to present the latest information on managing a pastoral business. Traditionally run on the Barkly every 2 years, with a VRD Herd Management Forum also being trialled. | Barkly property | Alexandria Station hosted the Barkly HMF (BHMF) in 2025. A VRD HMF is being held at VRRS in 2026 and the next BHMF is planned for 2027. | Stacey Holzapfel | Ongoing | Various | Recap of the 13th biennial bhmf - FutureBeef website |
| Carrying capacity advisory service | Provide carrying capacity assessments and property development advice on request. | - | Ongoing ad-hoc advice | Caroline Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | Contact caroline.pettit@nt.gov.au |
| Field days and other public events | Events to engage with industry, including research station and project field days and paddock walks. | NT wide | Events run in 2025 and 2026 have included the collaborative Farm to Feed Forum in Katherine, Bullo River field day, KRS Open Day, DDRF Field Day, Kidman Springs (VRRS) Field Day and OMP Field Day (October 2026). | All staff | Ongoing | Various | Kidman springs beefup forum highlights - FutureBeef website DDRF field day recap - FutureBeef website |
| Producer demonstration sites | Small on-property demonstrations to increase local uptake of proven technologies or practices. | NT wide | - | Stacey Holzapfel | - | - | PDS producer demonstration sites - MLA website |
Recently completed projects
| Project | Purpose | *Location | Updates/findings | Project leader | Timeframe | Funder/Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'The Sweet Spot': improving breeder herd performance through optimal pasture utilisation | A multi-agency desktop project to quantify the effect of pasture utilisation rates on reproductive performance of beef cattle across northern Australia (including central Australia). | Desktop study and modelling of 60 sites across Alice, Katherine and Barkly regions in NT and North East Queensland |
Final report published. | Robyn Cowley | 2018 - 2024 | QDAF, QDES, Karingal Systems, MLA | |
| Calf watch | Developing a system to remotely monitor calving using birth sensors and GPS tracking collars. Also to use the system to investigate the factors contributing to foetal and calf loss in northern Australia. | Manbulloo | The Calf Watch project was completed and a final report has been submitted to MLA. | Tim Schatz | 2018 - 2021 | University of Florida, MLA | Calfwatch developing a system to remotely monitor calving in northern Australia - FutureBeef website |
| Paddock Power: unlocking the secrets to sustainable and profitable intensification | Measuring the impact of large under-watered paddocks on reproductive performance, providing recommendations for sustainable paddock development and a mapping tool and investment calculator for producers to make confident investment decisions. | Commercial Barkly Tableland properties | The project has been completed and a final report has been submitted to MLA | Christie Pearson / Caz Pettit | Completed | UA, CQU, Holmes and Co. MLA, Paraway, AACo | |
| Rain ready Rangelands | The aim was to demonstrate research-derived grazing management strategies on commercial properties. Involved a ‘Paddock Challenge’ in which learnings from the OMP Quality Graze project were implemented on commercial properties and cattle performance and land condition were measured. Work on the Barkly focused on providing demonstrations of how wet season spelling can influence Mitchell grass recovery using multispectral drone imagery, vegetation assessments and soil health assessments. FORAGE has also been successfully customised and demonstrated for NT pastoral stations in the VRD, Barkly and Alice Regions as part of the project. | Anthony Lagoon, Mulga Park, Mt Dennison | The project has been completed and a final report submitted to TNRM. | Caz Pettit | 2022 - 2024 | TNRM | Rain-ready-rangelands - FutureBeef website |
| Repronomics II: accelerated genetic improvement of reproduction | To increase the accuracy of fertility EBVs which will improve the rate of progress through genetic selection for Brahman and tropical composite cattle. Collaboration with AGBU and QDAF. | DDRF, VRRS, BHF | Fieldwork has finished and a final report has been produced in collaboration with project partners. | Tim Schatz and Gretel Bailey-Preston | 2020 - 2024 | UNE, AGBU, QDAF, MLA | Repronomics-ii project - FutureBeef website |
| PhenoBank | The female reproduction Phenobank project was undertaken to collect datasets to build a reference population to facilitate genomic selection in northern Australian cattle. A large reference population is needed for more accurate genomic Estimated Breeding Values (gEBVs). The Phenobank project used existing datasets from research herds and commercial producers with stored DNA samples create the database. | Northern Australia | The project has been completed and a final report has been submitted to MLA. | Gretel Bailey Preston | 2018 - 2021 | MLA, UQ, UNE, AGBU, CSIRO | Phenobank improving fertility in-northern Australian beef herds - FutureBeef website |
| Assessing the production benefits from using pain-relief at the branding cradle | Investigating the welfare impact and production benefits from providing alternative methods of pain relief at the time of dehorning or castration. | DDRF, BHF and commercial properties. | This project has been completed and a final report has been submitted to MLA. | Melissa Wooderson | 2019 - 2023 | MLA, QDAF | Pain relief during castration and dehorning project - FutureBeef website |
| Improving breeder herd efficiency in the arid region with performance recording and objective selection | Demonstration of how to use objective selection data and practices to increase adaptation to central Australian conditions. | OMP | Recording breeder performance, production and herd dynamics. Report is being prepared and will be published by October 2026. | Jocelyn Coventry | Completed | Internal project | - |
| Central Australia Self Herding (CASH) producer demonstration site | On-property demonstration of the applications of Rangelands self herding techniques in Central Australia.5-year partnership with Bruce Maynard (external provider). | The project has been completed and a final report submitted to MLA. | Lakota Taber | 2020 - 2024 | MLA, Bruce Maynard | Central australian self herding cash project - FutureBeef website | |
| Reducing calf loss from exposure | Investigating the effectiveness of providing shade in treeless rangelands of the Barkly to reduce calf mortality. A collaboration between NT DAF, CSIRO and CQU. | Commercial properties | The project has been completed and a final report has been submitted to MLA. This project began while Kieren McCosker was working for NT DAF and concluded when he was working for UQ. | Kieren McCosker (UQ) / Georgia Glasson | 2018 - 2023 | CSIRO, University of Florida, CQU, UQ, MLA, University of Sydney | Reducing calf loss from exposure project - FutureBeef website |
| Water medication PDS | This PDS aims to demonstrate practical aspects of implementing water medication systems to address nutritional deficiencies and accessibility issues at a commercial scale. | Barkly property | Water medication was implemented in one paddock on a Barkly property to replace dry lick supplementation for one year. Phosphorus and Urea were successfully supplemented through water medication, and the technology was user friendly and offered benefits such as remote monitoring. Cattle supplemented via water medication were observed to have similar production results to cattle supplemented via dry lick, and costs in this scenario appeared to be similar; however, further trials in various locations and seasons are recommended to confirm this. The final report has been submitted to MLA and published on the MLA website. | Stacey Holzapfel | 2020 - 2023 | MLA, NB2, DIT AgTech | Providing mineral supplementation via water producer demonstration sites - FutureBeef website Demonstrating new technologies for providing mineral supplementation via water - MLA website |
| Case studies - revised weaner management of northern beef herds | Two new case studies of NT properties were developed, showcasing their weaner management strategies. These case studies will be published in the next edition of the MLA “Weaner Management in Northern Beef Herds” handbook. | Both case studies were published by MLA in the 2025 Weaner Management in Northern Beef Herds handbook. One case study is also available on the FutureBeef website. | Stacey Holzapfel | 2023 - 2024 | MLA | Weaner management in northern beef herds.pdf - MLA website (from page 39) MLA Northern beef productivity Lakefield case study July 2024.pdf - FutureBeef website | |
| Northern Breeding Business (NB2) pathways to practice - breeder herd efficiency and managing calf wastage for northern production systems | This collaborative project across northern Australia aims to create a producer led, peer-to-peer, research, development and adoption model that will result in measurable practice change to improve breeder herd efficiency and reduce calf wastage. | The NB2 review has been completed, no NT DAF facilitated group was established. | Stacey Holzapfel | 2020 - 2024 | NB2, MLA | Northern Breeding Business (NB2) program - MLA website | |
| Calf Alive | The project aims to investigate the interaction between nutrition and environmental extremes on calf wastage and herd productivity. It involves supplying high protein supplements to cattle prior to calving and studying the effects on calf loss using various technologies. | Manbulloo | The data collection is completed and the final report is underway. | Tim Schatz/Christie Pearson | Completed | UQ (project lead), MLA (funder)QDAF, QAAFI, NB2 | Calf Alive Project - Future Beef website |
Contacts
| Location/Area of responsibility | Contact person and position | Contact number | Contact email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin | Tim Schatz Regional Director and Principal Pastoral Production Research Officer | 08 8999 2332 | tim.schatz@nt.gov.au |
| Darwin | Caroline Pettit Principal Rangeland Research Officer | 08 8999 2014 | caroline.pettit@nt.gov.au |
| Darwin | Arthur Cameron Principal Agronomist | 08 8999 2214 | arthur.cameron@nt.gov.au |
| Darwin | Michael Finey Livestock Research Officer | 08 8999 2252 | |
| Darwin | Ben Wirf Pastoral Geographical Information Systems Officer | 08 8999 2026 | ben.wirf@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Leanne Vandersman Executive Officer | 08 8973 9728 | leanne.vandersman@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Christie Pearson Livestock Research Officer | 08 8973 8476 | christie.pearson@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Gretel Bailey-Preston Livestock Research Officer | 08 8973 9749 | gretel.baileypreston@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Stacey Holzapfel Pastoral Extension Officer | 08 8973 9730 | stacey.holzapfel@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Mary Williams Pastoral Extension Officer | 08 8973 9878 | mary.williams1@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Jaidyn Eastaughffe Rangelands Research Officer | 08 8973 9878 | jaidyn.eastaughffe@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Kate Holzapfel | 08 8973 9739 | kate.holzapfel@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Caitlin Kelly Livestock Research Officer | 08 8973 9731 | caity.kelly@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Mel Wooderson Beef Cattle Research Officer | 08 8973 9740 | mel.wooderson@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Piper Smith Technical Officer | 08 8973 9721 | piper.smith@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Robyn Cowley Senior Rangelands Officer | 0419 829 493 | robyn.cowley@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Chris Materne Pastoral Production Officer | 08 8951 8135 | chris.materne@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Alison Kain Rangelands Extension Officer | 08 8951 8101 | alison.kain@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Georgia Anderson Pastoral Technical officer | 08 8351 8136 | georgia.anderson@nt.gov.au |
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