Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) industry development officer Jim Fletcher is currently setting up six monitoring sites across differing land types and rainfall demographics to collect the hard data.

Mr Fletcher said the project was being funded through Reef Catchments to provide timely seasonal advice to graziers to ensure their livestock operations were both profitable and naturally sustainable.

Based at Mackay, Mr Fletcher is part of a team working with Queensland cattle producers under DEEDI’s statewide FutureBeef initiative. FutureBeef services focus on best management practice and technology adoption by producers in areas such as improved nutrition, grazing and land management, breeding and reproduction and business management.

“At each monitoring site, we will record pasture yield, soil nutrient levels and use Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) faecal sampling technology to determine dry matter digestibility and crude protein levels in the animal’s diet,” Mr Fletcher said.

“The objective is record the fluctuations in pasture quality and quantity data four times a year starting with the late wet season this March, the mid dry season in June-July, the late dry season around October followed by the early wet season before Christmas.

“By using the NIRS technology from the cattle located at each co-operator’s site, we will gain better base-line data that will show seasonal changes in pasture digestibility.

“This NIRS hard data providing an indication of digestibility and crude protein will be an effective tool to help stock owners to manage their herd supplement requirements throughout the year,” Mr Fletcher said.

Mr Fletcher said previous NIRS data had been assessed from properties across western Queensland, North Queensland and Central Queensland regions.

“The data clearly reflects the regional differences in dry matter digestibility and crude protein levels from the early wet season of 2008-09, the late wet through to the early dry season of 2009.

“From the Mackay-Whitsunday pasture monitoring project, we will have a better insight into the variability of pasture quantity and quality specific to this area.

“The project outcome will give graziers a timely calendar guide to seasonally adjust stocking rates and fine-tune protein and mineral supplementation programs to maintain breeder condition and maximise animal productivity,” Mr Fletcher said.