FutureBeef podcast, episode 9: Putting a Price on a P deficiency

The Price family have been grazing cattle in Central Queensland for decades, but when they purchased a coastal block in 2021, the lurid green of the lush looking pasture masked a severe phosphorus, or P, deficiency they hadn’t encountered at their inland properties.

Since starting a supplementation program, the Prices have seen increases in their weaning rates, body condition scores and ultimately their profit margin. But for this forward thinking family, there’s always room for improvement, so the next logical step was a P fertiliser.

So how would that work, at what cost to the business, and how has it gone?

Jayne Cuddihy sat down with Rob Price and his sister Maddie Price, and Kylie Hopkins, a senior beef extension officer at the Queensland DPI, to mull over their results.

FutureBeef is a collaborative project for the northern Australia beef industry and partners include the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, the Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia and Meat & Livestock Australia. The Queensland Pasture Resilience Program is a partnership between the Department of Primary Industries, Meat & Livestock Australia, and the Australian Government through the MLA Donor Company.


Other episodes

Episode 8: Prioritising pasture performance

Episode 7: How to make your stock thrive in the dry season

Episode 6: Got weaners in the yard? What’s next?

Episode 5: Want to supplement with molasses? Here’s how

Episode 4: How to manage pasture dieback

Episode 3: Making your pasture make you money

Episode 2: Inconceivable! How conception drives production

Episode 1: A phosphorus affair!