Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
The Rangeland Journal The Rangeland Journal Society
Journal of the Australian Rangeland Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The effect of earlier mating and improving fertility on greenhouse gas emissions intensity of beef production in northern Australian herds

B. R. Cullen A C , R. J. Eckard A , M. Timms B and D. G. Phelps B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Longreach, Qld 4730, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: bcullen@unimelb.edu.au

The Rangeland Journal 38(3) 283-290 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ15063
Submitted: 30 June 2015  Accepted: 29 February 2016   Published: 6 June 2016

Abstract

Approximately 5% of Australian national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are derived from the northern beef industry. Improving the reproductive performance of cows has been identified as a key target for increasing profitability, and this higher efficiency is also likely to reduce the GHG emissions intensity of beef production. The effects of strategies to increase the fertility of breeding herds and earlier joining of heifers as yearlings were studied on two properties at Longreach and Boulia in western Queensland. The beef production, GHG emissions, emissions intensity and profitability were investigated and compared with typical management in the two regions. Overall weaning rates achieved on the two properties were 79% and 74% compared with typical herd weaning rates of 58% in both regions. Herds with high reproductive performance had GHG emissions intensities (t CO2-e t–1 liveweight sold) 28% and 22% lower than the typical herds at Longreach and Boulia, with most of the benefit from higher weaning rates. Farm gross margin analysis showed that it was more profitable, by $62 000 at Longreach and $38 000 at Boulia, to utilise higher reproductive performance to increase the amount of liveweight sold with the same number of adult equivalents compared with reducing the number of adult equivalents to maintain the same level of liveweight sold and claiming a carbon credit for lower farm emissions. These gains achieved at two case study properties which had different rainfall, country types, and property sizes suggest similar improvements can be made on-farm across the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion of northern Australia.

Additional keywords: carbon farming, grazing systems, rangelands, tropical pastures.


References

Alcock, D. J., and Hegarty, R. S. (2011). Potential effects of animal management and genetic improvement on enteric methane emissions, emissions intensity and productivity of sheep enterprises at Cowra, Australia. Animal Feed Science and Technology 166–167, 749–760.
Potential effects of animal management and genetic improvement on enteric methane emissions, emissions intensity and productivity of sheep enterprises at Cowra, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014). Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2012–13. Available at: www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/7121.0Main+Features12012-2013?OpenDocument (accessed 10 April 2015).

Bentley, D., Hegarty, R. S., and Alford, A. R. (2008). Managing livestock enterprises in Australia’s extensive rangelands for greenhouse gas and environmental outcomes: a pastoral company perspective. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 60–64.
Managing livestock enterprises in Australia’s extensive rangelands for greenhouse gas and environmental outcomes: a pastoral company perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXovVGq&md5=e6425dd09637d949241b9921e353986aCAS |

Bortolussi, G., McIvor, J. G., Hodgkinson, J. J., Coffey, S. G., and Holmes, C. R. (2005a). The northern Australian beef industry, a snapshot. 2. Breeding performance and management. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 1075–1091.
The northern Australian beef industry, a snapshot. 2. Breeding performance and management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bortolussi, G., McIvor, J. G., Hodgkinson, J. J., Coffey, S. G., and Holmes, C. R. (2005b). The northern Australian beef industry, a snapshot. 3. Annual liveweight gains from pasture based systems. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 1093–1108.
The northern Australian beef industry, a snapshot. 3. Annual liveweight gains from pasture based systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Browne, N. A., Eckard, R. J., Behrendt, R., and Kingwell, R. S. (2011). A comparative analysis of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural enterprises in south eastern Australia. Animal Feed Science and Technology 166–167, 641–652.
A comparative analysis of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural enterprises in south eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bureau of Meteorology (2013). Climate of Longreach area. Available at: www.bom.gov.au/qld/longreach/climate.shtml (accessed 22 July 2013).

Burns, B. M., Fordyce, G., and Holroyd, R. G. (2010). A review of factors that impact on the capacity of beef cattle females to conceive, maintain a pregnancy and wean a calf – implications for reproductive efficiency in northern Australia. Animal Reproduction Science 122, 1–22.
A review of factors that impact on the capacity of beef cattle females to conceive, maintain a pregnancy and wean a calf – implications for reproductive efficiency in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cfotFWnsA%3D%3D&md5=c34c66acadedcdbc9a86cb9f13dfa821CAS | 20447780PubMed |

ComLaw (2014). Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Act 2014. An Act to amend the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011, and for other purposes, ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014A00119. p 161. Available at: www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014A00119 (accessed 3 March 2015).

DCCEE (2012). ‘Australian national greenhouse accounts. National inventory report 2010, Volume 1.’ (Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency: Canberra, ACT.) Available at: www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/add6a870-0846-4b62-85ac-78527144e370/ files/national-inventory-report-2010-1.pdf (accessed 19 January 2016).

Dixon, R. M., and Coates, D. B. (2010). Diet quality estimated with faecal near infrared reflectance spectroscopy and responses to N supplementation by cattle grazing buffel grass pastures. Animal Feed Science and Technology 158, 115–125.
Diet quality estimated with faecal near infrared reflectance spectroscopy and responses to N supplementation by cattle grazing buffel grass pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXmvVSrsro%3D&md5=fad972be07e551e7b0b5b6875ead49c3CAS |

Eckard, R. J., Grainger, C., and de Klein, C. A. M. (2010). Options for the abatement of methane and nitrous oxide from ruminant production: a review. Livestock Science 130, 47–56.
Options for the abatement of methane and nitrous oxide from ruminant production: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fitzpatrick, E. A., and Nix, H. A. (1970). The climatic factor in Australian grassland ecology. In: ‘Australian Grasslands’. (Ed. R. M. Moore.) pp. 3–26. (Australian National University Press: Canberra, ACT.)

Fordyce, G., McCosker, K., Smith, D., O’Rourke, P., Perkins, N., and McGowan, M. (2013). Performance and production of North Australian beef breeding herds – findings from The Cash Cow Project. In: ‘Proceedings of the Australian Cattle Veterinarians 2013 Conference’. Darwin, NT, 25–28 June 2013. pp. 105–111. (Australian Cattle Veterinarians: Eight Mile Plains, Qld.)

Gleeson, T., Martin, P., and Misfud, C. (2012). ‘Northern Australian beef industry assessment of risks and opportunities.’ (ABARES: Canberra, ACT). Available at: www.industry.gov.au/ONA/Reports-and-publications/Documents/20120621-abares-final-report.pdf (accessed 19 January 2016)

Holechek, J. L., Vavra, M., and Pieper, R. D. (1982). Botanical composition determination of range herbivore diets: a review. Journal of Range Management 35, 309–315.
Botanical composition determination of range herbivore diets: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Holmes, W. E. (2012). ‘Breedcowplus Software Package, Version 6.0.’ (Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries: Townsville, Qld.)

Hunt, L. P., McIvor, J. G., Grice, A. C., and Bray, S. G. (2014). Principles and guidelines for managing cattle grazing in the grazing lands of northern Australia: stocking rates, pasture resting, prescribed fire, paddock size and water points – a review. The Rangeland Journal 36, 105–119.
Principles and guidelines for managing cattle grazing in the grazing lands of northern Australia: stocking rates, pasture resting, prescribed fire, paddock size and water points – a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnston, D. J., Barwick, S. A., Corbet, N. J., Fordyce, G., Holroyd, R. J., Williams, P. J., and Burrow, H. M. (2009). Genetics of heifer puberty in two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia and associations with heifer- and steer-production traits. Animal Production Science 49, 399–412.
Genetics of heifer puberty in two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia and associations with heifer- and steer-production traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lassey, K. R. (2007). Livestock methane emission: from the individual grazing animal through national inventories to the global methane cycle. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 142, 120–132.
Livestock methane emission: from the individual grazing animal through national inventories to the global methane cycle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lorimer, M. S. (1981). Forage selection studies. 2. Diet quality, liveweight change and wool production of sheep grazing Astrebla spp. pastures in northwest Queensland. Tropical Grasslands 15, 182–192.

McLean, I., Holmes, P., and Counsell, D. (2014). ‘The northern beef report – 2013 northern beef situation analysis. Final Report to Meat and Livestock Australia.’ (Meat and Livestock Australia: Sydney.) Available at: www.mla.com.au/Research-and-development/Search-RD-reports/RD- report-details/Productivity-On-Farm/The-Northern-beef-report-2013-Northern-beef-situation-analysis/234 (accessed 10 April 2015).

Orr, D. M., and Holmes, W. E. (1984). Mitchell grasslands. In: ‘Management of Australia’s Rangeland’. (Eds G. N. Harrington, A. D. Wilson and M. D. Young.) pp. 241–254. (CSIRO: Melbourne.)

Orr, D. M., and Phelps, D. G. (2013). Impacts of grazing on an Astrebla (Mitchell grass) grassland in north western Queensland between 1984 and 2001: 1. Herbage mass and population dynamics of Astrebla. The Rangeland Journal 35, 1–15.
Impacts of grazing on an Astrebla (Mitchell grass) grassland in north western Queensland between 1984 and 2001: 1. Herbage mass and population dynamics of Astrebla.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Orr, D. M., Evenson, C. J., Jordan, D. J., Bowly, P. S., Lehane, K. J., and Cowan, D. C. (1988). Sheep productivity in an Astrebla grassland of south-west Queensland. Australian Rangeland Journal 10, 39–47.
Sheep productivity in an Astrebla grassland of south-west Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pakiding, W., and Hirata, M. (2001). Leaf appearance, death and detachment in a bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) pasture under cattle grazing. Tropical Grasslands 35, 114–123.

Phelps, D. G. (2012). ‘Best-bet Practices for Managing the Mitchell Grasslands of Queensland.’ A technical guide of options for optimising animal production, profitability and land condition. (Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation: Longreach, Qld.)

Schatz, T. J., Jayawardhana, G. A., Golding, R., and Hearnden, M. N. (2010). Selection for fertility traits in Brahmans increases heifer pregnancy rates from yearling mating. Animal Production Science 50, 345–348.
Selection for fertility traits in Brahmans increases heifer pregnancy rates from yearling mating.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thompson, T., and Martin, P. (2012). ‘Australian Beef: Financial Performance of Beef Cattle Producing Farms, 2009–10 to 2011–12.’ (Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Sciences: Canberra, ACT.)

White, I. A. (2001). ‘With Reference to the Channel Country: Review of Available Information.’ (Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries: Brisbane, Qld.)