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 | 230 collars have been deployed on 3 different properties to ascertain the efficacy of the virtual fence in extensive conditions and how VF can be used to increase weight gains and productivity. Results so far are promising with high conformity to the fence boundary by cattle of various ages and in different applications within commercially sized paddocks. | Christie Pearson | 2025 - 2028 | 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 | Field work due to start in early 2026. Project team are establishing methodologies for plant collection, recording and processing. | Caz Pettit | 2025 - 2028 | ZNE-Ag CRC (funder), UQ (project lead) | |
| 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) | |
| 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. | Victoria River District property | GPS collars have been fitted cattle and exclosures built at Auvergne station. Data will be downloaded from the collars in 2026 and an economist has been engaged to investigate future production potential. The final report is due mid 2026. | Christie Pearson & Jaidyn Eastaughffe | 2025 - June 2026 | Northern Hub - Future Drought Fund (funder) | |
| 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 | Data is being collected 4x per year from existing SWIFTSYND sites in the Alice Springs region and newly established SWIFTSYND sites in the VRD. This will help fill data gaps for carrying capacity information in major land types of the NT rangelands. | Jaidyn Eastaughffe | 2025 - 2026 | DAFF (funder), NT DLPE | |
| 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 | The project has found that January sowing and good seedbed preparation are critical for establishment success. Butterfly pea (cv. Milgarra) has been the most reliable performer, showing strong establishment and early persistence, while Desmanthus (Progardes), Seca and Verano stylos established but at lower densities. Burning improved establishment rates, whereas unprepared native seedbeds performed poorly. The very wet 2023–24 season promoted strong growth but also high grass competition. Early cattle data suggest improved weight gain where legumes are already established | Caz Pettit/Mary Williams | 2023-2025 | Future Drought Fund (funder), UNE (project lead) | |
| Climate Smart Grazing | Pasture modelling research to assist the grazing industry to adapt and manage for variable climate. Provision of NT modelling and research data to support testing and refining modelling of NT grazing systems | Desktop study | The project has recently commenced. | Robyn Cowley | Jan 2025 - May 2026 | QLD Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (funders) | |
| 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. | VRRS | * Burning every 4 years in the late dry season has achieved the best results for managing/preventing woodland thickening. | Robyn Cowley | Ongoing | Internal project | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | 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 | After burning previously under-utilised areas of the paddock, cattle spent significantly more time in burnt areas. As pastures matured, cattle returned to their preferred grazing areas indicating the burn’s influence was short term. The data is also indicating land type preference through the year and across different wet seasons as well as distance cattle walk each day. | 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 | Data collection is ongoing and was last collected in June 2025. | 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 two paddocks were destocked in May to allow for suitable fuel loads in October (recommended time of burning to manage woody thickening). Only one paddock was burnt due to wildfires in other paddocks and the need to retain feed leading into the wet season. | Caz Pettit | Ongoing | Internal project | - |
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 | An application has been put forward for a Central Australia carrying capacity guide as well as related demonstrations on stations and OMP grazing trials to be funded through the AridGraze project. | Robyn Cowley | 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 30x 30m 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 websie celebrating 30 years of selected brahmans - FutureBeef websie 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. | 8 commercial properties and 2 DAF Research stations in the Katherine and Top End regions | Data from the first 2 years of feeding trials has been collated and the 3rd 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 (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 trials have been set up at DDRF and BHF and data collection is underway. | Caity Kelly | 2025-2028 | 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 project has found that the Easy P treatment provided similar results to traditional wet season supplementation. The PDS is continuing at Bullo River | 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 trial has begun at Manbulloo in September 2025 where 100 cows have tech deployed including collars and ear tags to track behaviours over calving. | Christie Pearson | 2024-2028 | CQU (project lead), MLA (funder) | Impact of maternal investment on calf productivity and survival - FutureBeef 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 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 (project lead), MLA (funder)QDAF, QAAFI, NB2 | Calf alive project - 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 | Another trial with a new type of tag is scheduled for the 2025/6 wet season. 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 second 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 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 in its last year of data collection of buffalo through the supply chain from point of capture to disembarkation. The data collection for the supply chain and community case studies is also almost completed. A variation has been 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 free range Buffalo supply chain |
| 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 two Greenfeed units were installed at DDRF. | Tim Schatz | 2025 - 2030 | ZNE-Ag CRC (funder) | |
| 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. 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 1 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 | ||
| 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, QDAF, WA DPIRD, MLA | |
| 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 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 | Alexandria hosted the BHMF in 2025, the next one 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 the biennial Kidman Springs Field Day. | NT wide | Events run in 2025 included the collaborative Farm to Feed Forum in Katherine. The next Kidman Springs Field Day will be held in mid-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 / 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 |
| 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 | 2018-2023 | UA, CQU, Holmes and Co. MLA, Paraway, AACo | Paddockpower project - 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 | 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 |
| 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 | Completed | Internal project | |
| 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, 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | Northern Beef Research Update Conference - Bush to bright lights.pdf | ||
| 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 |
| 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, DAF, QLD Government | - |
| 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 |
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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