This is part two of this webinar series – Making profitable management decisions after the dry. This webinar recording aims at providing beef producers a ‘first look’ at some of the key management strategies and actions to consider when planning for recovery.
By watching the full recordings you will hear from two very experienced presenters:
Mick Sullivan (Principal Beef Extension Officer, DPI) when he discusses:
- Breeder management – why is timing of calving and weaning so important?
- How to assess feed availability
- Rebuilding your herd – herd structure, optimum age of turnoff and herd rebuilding strategies
- Overview of available decision support tools to assess herd rebuilding strategies (BreedCow & Dynama)
- What are my options if it gets dry again? What are the exit points or contingencies under my chosen herd structure?
Erica Noonan (Biosecurity Officer, DPI) when she discusses:
- Biosecurity – diseases, parasites and weed management.
You can watch the full recordings or use the playlists below to jump to the start of a particular section within the presentations.
Key beef herd management considerations for producers during drought recovery (Mick Sullivan)
Playlist
- Making profitable management decisions after the dry (Beef industry)
- Drought management and recovery depends on having the fundamentals right
- What does the climate tell us?
- When does the wet start?
- How much grass do you have now?
- Herd structure and male turn-off age
- Options to reduce breeder numbers and drought risk
- Breeder herd fundamentals
- Cows need to be cycling to get pregnant – what are the main requirements?
- Breeder body condition scores
- Breeder body condition and pregnancy rates
- Life for a 450 kg breeder at the end of the dry season
- Time of joining?
- How much do management options reduce dry season breeder live weight loss?
- Prevent the preventable (vaccinations)
- Planning – annual management calendar
- Assessing drought recovery options
- a. Dynamaplus
- b. Bullocks and Cowtrade
- c. Key principles
- Breeder management and grazing pressure
- Take home messages.
Key biosecurity management considerations for beef producers during drought recovery (Erica Noonan)
Additional resources
Making profitable management decisions after the dry Part 1: Financial management →
Making profitable management decisions after the dry Part 3: Grains industry →
Managing cow reproduction: an overview →
Animal biosecurity and welfare (Biosecurity Queensland) →
Breedcow and Dynama herd modelling package →
