Application of updated Animal Equivalents (AE) approach

The evolution of the Animal Equivalent (AE) system in Australia is progressing to a new approach in comparing animals of different weights, classes and species with a fit-for-purpose inclusion of predicting feed consumption based on the Metabolisable Energy (ME) requirements of grazing animals.

This webinar recording outlines the application of the major findings of a research project conducted by Stu McLennan (Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation), Ian McLean (Bush AgriBusiness) and Col Paton (EcoRich Grazing), funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) which re-defined the animal unit equivalence, particularly for northern Australia.

Join Col and Ian when they help explain the derivation and application of the findings for practical use of the new AE system not only in northern Australia, but also on a national scale.

During the presentation, Col and Ian discuss many aspects of the new AE system including:

• • The evolution of the AE
  • Issues with the previous approach for forage budgets and long-term carrying capacity
  • The NEW AE approach
  • Making AE calculations as simple or complex as you want them to be
  • Production zones in Queensland
  • Key take home messages and learnings

You can watch the full recording or use the playlist below to jump to the start of a particular section within the presentation. 47:05; published 22 March 2021 by FutureBeefAu.

Download a copy of the presentation:

• Application of updated Animal Equivalent approach (PDF, 1.87 MB)

Additional resources:

• Adult Equivalent methodology (Bush AgriBusiness)
• Standard herd AE and intake tables (Bush AgriBusiness)
• Re-defining the animal unit equivalence AE for grazing ruminants (MLA)

Full recording

Playlist

1. Application of updated Animal Equivalents (AE) approach
2. AE Report to MLA
3. Presentation overview
4. The AE system
5. The evolution of the AE
6. Issues with the previous approach for forage budgets and long-term carrying capacity
7. Tropical pastures feeding experiments
8. AE Tables based on relative metabolisable energy (ME) needs
9. Production data overview
10. The NEW AE approach
11. Definition of an AE
12. Changes with age in the AE rating for steers in the high production areas of Qld
13. Comparing intakes from 8kg x AE rating with QuikIntake
14. The next step…Varying the intake constant between 7.5 & 8.5 kg/d according to regional productivity
15. Making AE calculations as simple or complex as you want them to be
16. New AE approach – 3 Levels
17. Level 1 – Simple
18. Production zones in Queensland
19. Level 2 – Intermediate
20. Level 3 – Advanced
21. A National System
22. Updating EDGE materials
23. a. Primary source – Level 1 simple AE table
24. b. Appendices – Level 2 AE tables
25. Other updated tables in EDGE
26. a. Forage budget tables
27. b. Annual intakes for long-term carrying capacity
28. Key take home messages & learnings
29. Closing comments and acknowledgements