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.
1. Managing the feedbase for optimal production
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FireGraze | Investigating how fire can be used to influence where cattle graze to improve evenness of grazing and land condition. | VRRS | Burning of patch areas on VRRS has been implemented and cattle grazing behaviour is being monitored using GPS collared cattle. The GPS collars were put back on the cows in August 2024 for what will be the 3rd year of data collection. Analysis will begin soon on GPS data to look at the areas the cows grazed in relative to the burnt area. | Caz Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
NT carrying capacity project | Demonstration of how to successfully integrate a burning program at the property scale. | VRRS | Burning was not able to be implemented in 2023 due to environmental conditions. Burning treatments were implemented in October 2024. | Caz Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| 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 is giving good cattle growth rates and preventing gamba grass from seeding and spreading. | Tim Schatz | 2018-2024 | Internal project | FutureBeef website |
| Overcoming the Knowledge Gaps – Introduced legume establishment | Multi property demonstration focussed on the establishment of introduced legumes into native pastures. 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 | The first year of the project has been completed and data is being analysed from the establishment plots at VRRS and the commercial properties. The 2024 animals have been placed into paddocks for the weaner weight gain component of the project. | Caz Pettit/Mary Williams | 2023-2025 | UNE | |
| NT carrying capacity project | Ongoing R&D to refine the scientific derivation of sustainable carrying capacity estimates for different land types. | Various commercial properties and computer assessment | Planning is underway to apply for funding to extend the research to new land types and deliver carrying capacity guides for the NT. | Robyn Cowley | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| Pasture sustainability at Kidman Springs | Monitoring the long-term sustainability of the carrying capacity estimates for Kidman Springs. | VRRS | No data collected in 2024. Will assess again in June 2025. | Caz Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| Quality Graze - 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 | Animal and pasture data collection and analysis has been completed. Work on a report for the period 2011-2023 is underway. | Chris Materne | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| Shruburn: long-term fire experiment at Kidman Springs | Long-term experiment assessing the best timing and frequency of prescribed burning to control woody vegetation thickening whilst maintaining optimal pasture condition. | VRRS | Plan to analyse data between 2013 and 2023 and publish journal paper of new recommendations now that we have post-fire wet season spelling. | Robyn Cowley | Ongoing | Internal project | FutureBeef website |
| '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 Northeast Queensland | Draft final report has been submitted. | Robyn Cowley | 2018-2024 | QLD DPI, QDES, Karingal Systems, MLA | FutureBeef website |
2. Improving reproductive productivity through the application of genetic principles and technology
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consistently meeting premium abattoir grid and MSA specifications for profitable steer turnoff from Central Australia | Investigating and evaluating practical management options for improving the consistency of high premium abattoir grid and MSA compliance from Central Australia. | OMP | A pre-trucking feeding trial found that feeding steers supplementary Lucerne for 3 weeks prior to trucking and improved the MSA grading rate by 11%. However, this was neither significant nor cost-effective. | Chris Materne and Jocelyn Coventry | Ongoing | Internal project | NABRC 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 | A report summarising performance of cattle on OMP from 2015-2024 is underway. | Jocelyn Coventry | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| Selection for fertility in a Brahman herd | Long-term demonstration of how selection for fertile Brahman genetics can improve herd performance. | VRRS, DDRF, KRS | Looking at shifting focus to aim for more market acceptable traits while maintaining fertility. Planning to be included in future genetic research as part of CRC-ZNE project aimed at breeding cattle with lower methane emissions | Gretel Bailey-Preston | Ongoing, started in 1994 | Internal project | FutureBeef website |
3. Optimising productivity through nutritional management
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | 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. | 8 commercial properties and 2 DAF Research stations in the Katherine and Top End regions | Data from the first year of feeding trials has been collated and the 2nd year of feeding trials are underway. Presentations on the project were given at 2 conferences and the VRRS field day. | Tim Schatz & Mel Wooderson | 2023-2026 | CRCNA | FutureBeef website |
| '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 | Results so far show that the 'Easy P' treatment is providing similar results to traditional wet season supplementation. Fieldwork has finished at VRRS but continues at the Producer Demonstration site (Bullo River). | Tim Schatz | 2020-2025 | QLD DPI, WA DPIRD, MLA, NB2 | FutureBeef website |
| Using supplements to repel buffalo flies and reduce skin lesions | A trial will be conducted at DDRF over the 2024/25 wet season to determine whether a supplement with Allicin (zinc, garlic and sulphur) fly treatment inclusion is effective in repelling buffalo flies and reducing skin lesions on cattle. | DDRF | Project began in October 2024 | Caity Kelly | 2024-2025 | Red Range | - |
4. Animal husbandry and management
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 final year of data collection is underway at Manbulloo. Supplement is being delivered and cattle are being monitored with Walk-over-weigh and collar technologies. | Tim Schatz/Christie Pearson | 2022-2025 | UQ, QLD DPI | FutureBeef website |
| Mooternal | This new project is due to start in 2025. Sensor systems (accelerometers and GPS) will be deployed on cows and calves to investigate how a cow’s “maternal investment” affects its 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, KRS | The project is due to commence in 2025 | Christie Pearson | 2024-2028 | CQU, MLA | - |
| 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 commenced in 2024. | Christie Pearson & Zach Weir | 2024-2028 | Internal project | - |
| Virbac Phosfosol trial | Running in 2024 at KRS and DDRF, evaluating the use of a micronutrient vaccine on young cattle after branding. | KRS, DDRF | The weaners have been weighed and samples collected at regular intervals. The last weighing/sampling is due in Dec 2024. | Tim Schatz | 2024-2025 | Virbac | - |
| Studies on the effectiveness and benefit of various insecticidal ear tags | Ongoing short-term studies at BHF and DDRF investigating options to reduce the impact of biting insects on livestock, and collaborate with external companies in developing new tags. | DDRF, BHRF | Another trail with a new type of tag is scheduled for the 2024/5 wet season. The importance of this work is increasing with the coming ban of Diazinon use in fly tags. | Tim Schatz | As required | YTex | NABRC website |
5. Buffalo and other livestock species
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo crossbreeding / tenderbuff / live export development and supply | Long-term ongoing project at BHF to improve the genetics 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 | Agrifutures website |
| Studies on the effectiveness and benefit of various insecticidal ear tags | The project has four 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 project is currently conducting pilot data collection of buffalo through the supply chain from point of capture to disembarkation. The data collection for the supply chain study is almost completed. | Gretel Bailey-Preston | 2023-2026 | CRCNA, Agrifutures, UQ, , Focus Group Go Asia Pacific (FGGAP), RN MacDonald and CQ University. | CRCNA website |
6. Technical services for overseas markets
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No current projects | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
7. Economics and development of the pastoral industry
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No current projects | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
8. Extension and adoption
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barkly Herd Management Forum | Biennial workshops targeted to head stockmen, assistant managers and managers to present the latest information on managing a pastoral business. | Barkly property | The next BHMF will be in 2025. | Stacey Holzapfel | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| Carrying capacity advisory service | Provide carrying capacity assessments and property development advice on request | - | - | Caroline Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
| 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 wide | Courses are being conducted throughout the NT, course dates and details can be found on the MLA website. | Position currently vacant | Ongoing | MLA | MLA website |
| Field days and other public events | Ad-hoc events to engage with industry. | NT wide | The most recent event was a Field Day/ BeefUp Forum at VRRS in August 2024. | All staff | Ongoing | Various | FutureBeef website FutureBeef website |
| FutureBeef collaboration | Coordinated delivery of extension and adoption programs and information across northern Australia, including the website as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information. | - | NT DAF continues to be an active participant in the FutureBeef extension program. | Stacey Holzapfel, Mary Williams & Georgia Anderson | Ongoing | MLA, QLD DPI, WA DPIRD | FutureBeef website |
| Next Generation Land Managers (Rangeland management courses) | Expanding and upgrading the NT DAF Rangeland Management Course, including updated materials and a new Central Australian 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. Run on request in the Katherine, Barkly and Alice Springs districts. | VRD, Barkly & Alice Springs Stations | The project will be continued as Next Generation Land Managers 2.0, with funding to deliver NT courses and collaborate with WA organisations to run more courses in the Kimberley and Pilbara. | Stacey Holzapfel & Alison Kain | 2022-2024 (proposed to continue to 2026) | Northern Hub (Future Drought Fund) | FutureBeef website |
| Northern Australian Climate Program (NACP) - extension project | USQ-led project to improve weather and climate tools and literacy for the northern beef industry. NT DAF are on the steering committee. | Northern Australia | The project has been extended until mid-2026. | Robyn Cowley | 2018-2026 | USQ, QLD DPI, WA DPIRD, MLA | NACP website |
| Producer demonstration sites | Small on-property demonstrations to increase local uptake of proven technologies / practices. | NT wide | - | Stacey Holzapfel | - | - | MLA website |
Recently completed projects
| Project | Purpose | Location | Recent updates | Project leader | Timeframe | Collaborators | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 / castration. | DDRF, BHRF and commercial properties. | The project has been completed and a final report has been submitted to MLA. | Melissa Wooderson | 2019-2023 | MLA, QLD DPI | FutureBeef website |
| 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 work is continuing to identify calving from accelerometer data collected during the project and in subsequent years. A final report has been submitted to MLA. | Tim Schatz | 2018-2021 | University of Florida, MLA | FutureBeef website |
| Central Australia improved feed | Investigating improved pastures and the use of irrigation in central Australia. The risk of oxalate poisoning of cows grazing irrigated Buffel grass is also being investigated. | - | Fieldwork has been completed and a final report is underway. A report for Territory Grape Farm is completed. Results extended through the NT Rural Review and FutureBeef. | Chris Materne | 2022 | Janet Chisholm (Territory Grape Farm) and Tim Driver (Precision Pastoral) | - |
| Inside Edge | Improve modelling of grazing systems. Provide producers with information to prepare for and manage the impacts of drought, improve the northern Australian grazing simulation module GRASP and link to BoM’s new generation seasonal forecasting system ACCESS-S and DNRM’s new land assessment tool (LCAT) as grazing decision support tools. | Desktop study and modelling | The project has finished, and a final report has been submitted. | Robyn Cowley | 2017-2022 | QDES, QLD DPI, QLD Government | - |
| Methods for Central Australian producers to reliably meet MSA standards | Research into factors affecting compliance rates for MSA grading of central Australian cattle. | OMP, Oolloo Farm | - | Jocelyn Coventry and Chris Materne | - | Oolloo Farm | NABRC 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 | MLA 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 | 2018-2023 | UA, CQU, Holmes and Co. MLA, Paraway, AACo | 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 | FutureBeef website |
| 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 | 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 | 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, BHRF | Fieldwork has finished and a final report is being produced in collaboration with project partners. | Tim Schatz and Gretel Bailey-Preston | 2020-2024 | UNE, AGBU, QLD DPI, MLA | FutureBeef 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. | - | MLA are in the process of publishing the new manual. One case study is available on the FutureBeef website. | Stacey Holzapfel | 2023-2024 | MLA | 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 | The final report has been submitted to MLA and published on the MLA website. | Stacey Holzapfel | 2020-2023 | MLA, NB2, DIT AgTech | FutureBeef website |
Contacts
| Location/Area of responsibility | Contact person and position | Contact number | Contact email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin | Tim Schatz Director Livestock Industries | 08 8999 2332 | tim.schatz@nt.gov.au |
| Darwin | Caroline Pettit Principal Rangeland Research Officer | 08 8999 2014 | caroline.pettit@nt.gov.au |
| Darwin | Robyn Cowley Senior Rangelands Officer | 0419 829 493 | robyn.cowley@nt.gov.au |
| Darwin | Ben Wirf Pastoral Geographical Information Systems Officer | 08 8999 2026 | ben.wirf@nt.gov.au |
| Darwin | Grant Hamilton Buffalo Development Officer | grant.hamilton@nt.gov.au | |
| Katherine | Leanne Vandersman Executive Officer | 08 8973 9728 | leanne.vandersman@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Christie Pearson Livestock Research Officer & Katherine team leader | 08 8973 8476 | christie.pearson@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Melissa Wooderson Beef Research Officer | 08 8973 9740 | melissa.wooderson@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 | Caity Kelly Livestock Research Officer | 08 8973 9731 | caity.kelly@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine | Piper Smith Livestock Technical Officer | 08 8973 9728 | piper.smith@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Chris Materne Pastoral Production Officer | 08 8951 8135 | chris.materne@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Lakota Taber Pastoral Technical officer | 08 8951 8144 | lakota.taber@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Jocelyn Coventry Pastoral Production Officer | 08 8951 8142 | jocelyn.coventry@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Alison Kain Pastoral Extension Officer | 08 8951 8101 | alison.kain@nt.gov.au |
| Alice Springs | Georgia Anderson Pastoral Extension officer | 08 8351 8136 | georgia.anderson@nt.gov.au |
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