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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 44(9)

BeefCheque — a ‘dirty boots’ approach to achieving profitable beef production in Gippsland

K. A. Howard A , S. J. Walsh B and K. S. Lamb C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Primary Industries, RMB 1145, Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia. Corresponding author. Email: kristy.howard@dpi.vic.gov.au

B Department of Primary Industries, RMB 2460, Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.

C RMB 1750, Heyfield, Vic. 3858, Australia.

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44(9) 851-862 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA03057
Submitted: 3 March 2003  Accepted: 24 December 2003   Published: 22 October 2004

Abstract

The objective of the BeefCheque extension programme is to provide producers with the skills to grow and use more pasture, produce more beef and make more money. A pilot programme operated in Gippsland (in Australia’s South East) from 1995 to 2000 using 15 beef producer groups, each centred on a focus farm, and consisted of monthly farm walks and other ‘dirty boots’ activities. Each BeefCheque group progressed through a series of activities planned by the group and their facilitator. A total of 420 producers participated, with 250 producers participating at any one point in time (9% of Gippsland beef producers and 19% of cattle produced in Gippsland). Project success was evaluated using Bennett’s hierarchy as a framework. In a survey at the end of the first 5 years, 94% of respondents had tried one or more new grazing management practices, and 54% had tried at least 11 new grazing management practices. This had increased from 2 years previously when the median number of practices learnt was 9 or more. An analysis of a small percentage of farms involved in benchmarking over 4 years (10–21% of producers involved in BeefCheque) showed significant increases in total liveweight output (kg/ha), saleyard price ($/kg beef liveweight), gross farm income ($/ha), net income ($/ha) and farm operating surplus ($/ha). These results matched or exceeded the goals set for the first 5 years and were achieved despite 3 years of exceptionally dry conditions. The success of BeefCheque has been attributed to its use of practical on-farm demonstrations, farm walks and rigorous discussions leading to trialing and use of grazing management practices that increase pasture utilisation and, ultimately, profitability. This led to the overall conclusion that the ‘dirty boots’ activities and approach are important for developing skills and achieving significant change at all levels of farm management.

Additional keywords: grazing, extension, participatory approaches.


Acknowledgments

We thank Bruce Manintveld (DPI) for helping with the analysis of the farm record book data and Stephen Hooper (ABARE) for supplying the ABARE data in the format used in this paper. We are grateful to the National Livestock Reporting Service provided by MLA for making available valuable information on market prices for cattle. Thanks also to Robyn Green who was instrumental in providing statistical analysis of the data, Liz Jacobson for help with editing the manuscript, and Catherine Allan, Jason Trompf and Anna Ridley for their critical reviews of this paper. MLA and DPI provided the financial support for the programme. The commitment and enthusiasm of the producers, BeefCheque Board, the facilitators and specialist deliverers is gratefully acknowledged.


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