Seasonal performance of beef cattle on native pasture at Katherine, N.T

Abstract

Nine years' data on the liveweight of beef cattle steers from 1 to 4 years of age carried on native pasture at Katherine, N.T., are summarized. Cattle began to gain weight at the start of the main flush of wet season pasture growth, following effective rainfall of two inches or more in the previous fortnight, on a mean date of November 27. Weight gains continued until shortly after the end of the wet season, on a mean date of May 23. Maximum rates of gain were reached in January, maximum rates of loss in November. The mean net annual liveweight gain was only 107 lb. Variation in rates of gain and loss throughout the pear were largely related to changes in the nitrogen content of the pasture.