Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4
Volume 7
Number 3 1966 Article 3
1-1-1966
The first year of a cattle stocking rate trial at Pardelup The first year of a cattle stocking rate trial at Pardelup
R Sprivulis
Follow this and additional works at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Beef Science Commons, and the Comparative Nutrition Commons
Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Sprivulis, R (1966) "The first year of a cattle stocking rate trial at Pardelup," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 7: No. 3, Article 3.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol7/iss3/3
This article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agriculture at Digital Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of
The first year of a cattle stocking rate trial at Pardelup The first year of a cattle stocking rate trial at Pardelup
Cover Page Footnote Cover Page Footnote
Grateful thanks are due to Mr. J. L. Bunn, O.I.C. and Mr. L. Edwards, Farm Manager of Pardelup Prison Farm, and their staff for assistance, provision of land, fencing, water and animals. Thanks are due to Mr.
M. Cullity, Chief of the Division of Dairying, for his encouragement and suggestions and to other officers for valuable assistance. The enthusiastic help of Mr. D. Wells, Technician, in pasture sampling and calculations is also acknowledged.
This article is available in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4:
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol7/iss3/3
CATTLE STOCKING RATES
The first year of a cattle stocking rate trial at Pardelup
By R. SPRIVULIS, B.Sc, (Agrio), Agricultural Adviser, Denmark
AS a first step towards the study of pasture utilisation by cattle, a simple trial was commenced at the Pardelup Prison Farm in 1964. The trial is carried out with Poll Hereford cross steers set stocked on M t . Barker subterranean-clover and Wimmera rye- grass pasture. It will be repeated for several seasons.
Pardelup Prison Farm is 30 miles inland from the Southern Ocean and 18 miles due west of the town of Mt. Barker.
SEASONAL CONDITIONS
Pardelup is located in a 30 to 35 inch rainfall area. The rainfall is mainly of winter incidence, with a t least 80 per cent, falling between April and October; July is the wettest month. Summers are usually dry and warm to hot, with occasional unreliable rains, at times ex- ceeding 100 points per month.
The seasonal opening rains may fall at various times from the end of March to the end of May. The warm and dry con- ditions can set in at any time from early October to late December. Frosts are
RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION, PARDELUP—1964 TOTAL 3388 PTS.
•00
700- / \ 600 • / \
500 • / \ A 1 400 • / \ I \
300 / \ I \
100 - -^. / % 0 • ^ ^ - ^ ^
J F M A M J J A S O N D J
common in the May-June, and again in the August-September periods.
The 1964 season was a very favourable one. Good germinating rains fell during the first week of April and sufficient follow up rains were recorded in May and June, though the first part of May was warm and dry. The rainfall of 851 points for July was excessive, but no flooding occurred. Only the first week of August was wet then good pasture growing conditions prevailed until the end of November. Even December remained cool and overcast until Christmas, but after that the weather became hot and dry.
Site
In the virgin state this area supported jarrah and redgum forest. It has been cleared for at least 30 years and has been under pasture for the most of this time.
Superphosphate has been applied annually at 180 lb. per acre and copper and zinc have been used at five-yearly intervals.
In 1961 it was sown to a crop of oats.
Normal grazing was carried out in 1962 and 1963.
SOIL PROFILE:
0 to 3 inch, grey-brown sandy loam with some ironstone gravel.
3 to 14 inch, brown gravelly sandy loam.
107
Cattle from the high stocking rate treatment, one yearling per 1.3 acres. This stocking rate produced the most liveweight per acre, fetched the highest price per lb. of livewight and gave the highest net return per
acre
14 to 48 inch and deeper, mottled clay, brown, yellow-brown, yellow grey.
Such soil is found over considerable areas of cleared land between Frankland and Napier.
DRAINAGE: The trial area has a very gentle slope towards the south-west. The natural drainage is good and effective.
THE TRIAL
The aim of the trial was to obtain some information on the growth rate of steers under three stocking rates, with a view to determining whether usual rates could be increased profitably.
Treatments
A paddock of 27.3 acres was sub-divided into three areas of 6.68, 9.18, and 11.44 acres. Five poll Hereford cross steers were placed in each paddock and maintained there continuously throughout the trial.
The stocking rates were:
A.—1 yearling per 1.3 acres.
B.—1 yearling per 1.8 acres.
C.—1 yearling per 2.3 acres.
The botanical composition on separation of random samples at the end of 1963 was:
Mt. Barker subterranean clover 65 per cent.
Wimmera rye grass 30 per cent.
Other species 5 per cent.
Water was supplied by troughs from a fenced-off dam.
The trial animals were eight months old and naturally weaned by their dams at the beginning of this trial. They were sold 12 months later as 20 months old. The trial started in January 8, 1964.
The animals were the progeny of poll Hereford bull and poll Hereford cross cows.
They were pre-weighed twice and then selected for type and uniformity, matched in threes and then split up into three groups. The groups and treatments were matched at random. During the first 12 months experimental period, these steers were weighed every 28 days, after an 18 hour "shrinking" period.
Before the trial started, pastures were pre-conditioned by stocking the three treatments with the same number of 18 month old steers for a period of three months (October, November, December).
To establish the fluctations in the amount of pasture under the three differ- ent treatments, pasture samples were taken on every weighing day. Ten, 10 link by 2 link samples, were taken per treat- ment over the whole area. The pasture was removed at ground level and the dry weights were used to calculate the dry weight of pasture available per acre and per beast.
At the end of the 12 months, the steers were sold by auction. Carcass appraisal was not possible, but an attempt was^
made to express pasture utilisation in economic terms.
108
Journal of Agriculture, Vol 7 No 3 1966
6 6 2 4 4
latuailttf Ljoodd28 4841
Pawits
DEPT. STOREW E S T P E R T H ««eu«o*»
PARK.NO443 A l b a n y H i g h w a y , VICTORIA P A R K .
25 S u t h e r l a n d St., W E S T PERTH.
We h a d a visit from t h e burglars again. They took seven cases and loaded them with goods—police caught them in a week. One of them was in t h e previous 'job' done four months ago. Being under 18, he was placed in a home for a short term—
t h o u g h t it was quite good! The next one is in for a helluva surprise. We've h a d to instal some expensive equipment: although it does safeguard against fire, too.
Is t h e r e any information yon would like t h a t has not appeared before in your magazine? We thought news items like these above would interest you: or you might like to know—commercial events, what's new and so on. If so, ring or write us and let us know.
REFRIGERATION
11 e f t . AUTOMATIC £ 99 10 0 $199.00 Two Door Deep Freeze £142 10 0 $285.00
Retail price £294 0 0 FANS
Large, adjustable, 3-speed oscillating.
Retail price £ 22 0 0
£ 15 15 0 $31.50 STOVES
£80 off elevated Electric
£ 69 10 0 $139.00 Retail price £150 0 0
Deluxe upright Gas with timer, 4-burners Retail price £115 0 0
£ 72 10 0 $145.00 MTXMASTERS
Special stocks of £29/19/6 Mixmasters
£ 19 15 0 $39.50 FRYPANS 11" Electric £ 6 19 6 $13.95 HAIRDRIERS
Retail price £ 14 19 6
£ 7 19 6 $15.95 FURNITURE
Wide variety all styles, top-line makes to choose. Queene Anne, Colonial Dining:
Suites, Suites, Separate Units, extra Chairs.
CAR RADIO
Latest pushbutton including lock-down aerial. £ 28 0 0 $56.00 LAWN MOWERS
£93/9 14" Reel Type £ 69 10 0 $139.00
£62 Rotary, 2 or 4, rearcatcher
£ 43 10 0 $87.00 WASHING MACHINES
£201 new AUTOMATIC
£109 10 0 $219.00 Wringer £51 10 0 Twin Tubs £69 10 0
$103.00 $139.00 S/Dry IRON
With water-window, fully guaranteed
£5 10 0 $11.00 SHAVERS
Men's latest, retail price £14 19 6
£ 6 19 6 $13.95 CARS
HOLDEN & VALIANT
WATCH for the SALE
Please mention the "Journal of Agriculture of W.A.," when writing to advertisers
<v agriculture a shot in
New nitrogen injection process increases yields, saves time.
First there was clover.
Then there was sulphate of ammonia.
Now it's anhydrous ammonia—the new nitrogenous fertilizer discovered by Science. And with the intro- duction of anhydrous ammonia comes a new method of nitrogen application—the injection process. It puts nitrogen into the soil faster and more efficiently than all previous methods.
Official tests already have proven the potential of anhydrous ammonia in enriching the soil with nitrogen . . . in boosting crop yields, developing pastures and increasing stock carrying capacities.
Briefly, here's how the nitrogen injection method works: The anhydrous ammonia is carried in a special pressurised tank behind a tractor. Behind the tank is a frame comprising a number of tines. At the
foot of each tine is a knife (or blade) which opens the soil. Leading from the tank to the base of each tine is a tube, through which the ammonia, under pressure, is injected directly into the ground.
Providing this vital link between science and soil is Ralph McKay, with their anhydrous ammonia injection applicators. These have been specifically designed, produced and field tested to suit Australian soil con- ditions. Applicators, knives and coil tines, made by Ralph McKay, are the first and only components approved tor this new nitrogen injection process.
If you'd like to know more about anhydrous ammonia implements and their many benefits . . . contact your local agricultural contractor, or Ralph McKay Limited.
RALPH McKAY LIMITED
Agricultural Components proven best by field test
Hampstead Road, Maidstone, Victoria
Picas* mention the "Journal of Agriculture of W-A.," whan writing to advertiien
Journal of Agriculture, Vol 7 No 3 1966
Results
Pasture
This trial commenced with the animals being placed on a dried-off pasture. The quantity and quality of this feed was declining a t a steady rate until the germ- inating rains, when an abrupt drop occurred.
Four weeks after the germination, the total dry matter per acre and per animal fell almost to its lowest level. Eight weeks after the rains there were very few signs of the previous season's dry feed, except for treatment "C." The total feed avail- able, consisting almost entirely of the new pasture growth, was at its lowest for the season.
PASTURE AVAILABLE—DRY MATTER PER ACRE
I!! it U 1
9,000 • 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 J ,
• -^ij"**"
'
High stocking rate
c - - — Medium 2 •••• Low
•
o JC
i
M m
m
#P
+y *7
<v S T N J A
A»
3 \,v ,7 \-.\
FEED AVAILABLE—DRY MATTER PER ANIMAL
I ? \
• = i :
II
S 5 a** H*
~ High stocking rate - - Medium ,. „
low
J F M A M J J A S O N D J
There was no substantial increase in production until the second half of July.
The peak of growth was recorded in November and all pasture died off during December. The fluctuations in dry weight of pasture are shown in Table 1.
Due to the very favourable season the pasture residues at the end of 1964 were
Date of Sampling
8/1/64 .... ....
5/2/64 V 3 / 6 4 1/4/64 29/4/64 27/S/64 24/6/64 22/7/64 19/8/64 16/9/64 15/10/64 U / l l / 6 4 9/12/64 31/12/64
Table 1 . — D r y weight of pasture available
G R O U P A
lb. per acre
2,161 1,754 1,332 905 146 137 146 1.042 1,434 2,632 3,213 5,911 5.095 3,568
lb. per head
2.887 2,345 1,777 1,209 184 180 194 1,389 1,917 3.514 4,295 7.896 6,807 4.769
GROUP B
lb. per acre
2,452 2,138 1,846 1.514 267 172 470 1,098 1,949 2,800 3,500 6,962 5,711 4,153
lb. per head
4,498 3,929 3,387 2,781 486 312 863 2,020 3,580 5.141 6.426 12,778 10,484 7.629
GROUP C
lb. per acre
2,559 2,322 2,053 1,827 534 417 538 1,187 1,770 2,927 3,033 6,629 5,368 3,828
lb. per head
5,857 5.308 4.702 4.176 1,224 949 1,235 2,711 4,050 6.818 6.944 15.169 12.287 8,763
111
Table 2.—Changes in pasture composition
Pasture Species Initial r ^ ' i ^
(Dec. 1963) A ( ^ . 9 6 4 ) ^ Mean (1964)
Mt. Barker sub. clover Wimmera rye grass Silver
Other grass
spec and es
barley
.... '
grass
65 %
30 5
100
80 %
7 10 3 100
/ o
70 10 14 6 too
60 %
10 24 6 100
70 %
9 16 5 100
The highest degree of deterioration has occurred in the lighest stocked treatment
"C," where the weed invasion, particularly that of silver grass, a t the expense of sub. clover and Wimmera ryegrass, was most noticeable.
Animals
The growth pattern of steers is sum- marised in Table 3.
The net live weight gains per acre for the twelve months period were:—
Group. Mean Live Weight Gains
Per Acre.
lb.
A 243 B 205 C 158 Except for one drench of Thibenzole, in
the spring of 1964, the animals had no special treatment.
Income Per Acre
Figures giving net costs and returns per acre under the three treatments of the trial are summarised below:
Table 3 . — L i v e weight gains per animal
Group Mean initial live weight
A B C
lb. per animal 516 516 516
Mean final live weight Net live weight gain 1 Net live weight gain
lb. per animal 842 892 878
lb.
326 376 362
65 1 %
72-9 70-2
considerably higher than at the end of 1963.
During the 1964 season considerable changes took place in the botanical composition.
There has been a very marked change in the high stocking rate treatment "A,"
where sub- clover dominance has further increased. Wimmera ryegrass has declined but silver grass has considerably increased.
On treatment "B" the main change has been the decline of Wimmera and the increase of silver and barley grasses.
GROWTH PATTERN OF YEARLING STEERS
too -
7 0 0 - 600 • 500 • 400 - 300 - 200 - 100 - 0 -
.^^x sy^
"^^^Z2l.
— — High stocking rate
— — — Medium „ „
J F M A M J J A S O N D J
112
Journal of Agriculture, Vol 7 No 3 1966
STOCK
ENCLOSURES
made easy with
DOWNEE
PRESSED STEEL RAIL FITTINGS
_ . gilLSi. «-
Cut costs by specifying DOWNEE pressed steel fittings for the erection of: cowshed and milking stalls, cattle pens, abattoirs, warehouse and storage sheds, workshop fittings, etc. Downee does away with the old fashioned and unsatisfactory method of
•crew joints and welding, which are more subject to corrosion.
Downee fittings are manufactured from high quality steel to standard gas and water pipe sizes. Being galvanised they are suitable for permanent outdoor use. Structures made with Downee can be dismantled and the pipes and fittings re-used for other purposes. For full details contact McPherson's.
From your local storekeeper or
• *
MpPhersoiis
r
00^ LTD. »i*. ^>
SUPPLIERS TO INDUSTRY SINCE lac
53 GREAT EASTERN HIGHWAY, VICTORIA PARK — PHONE 6 3211 PLEASE ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO BOX L 919, G.P.O. PERTH.
Pleas* mention the "Journal of Agriculture of W.A.," when writing to advertisers
Table 4.—Costs and returns GROUP A
(1 beast per 1.3 ac)
GROUP B
(1 beast per 1.8 ac.)
GROUP C
{1 beast per 2.3 ac.)
Mean live weight per beast Sale price per head Sale price per lb.
Gross Income Per Acre:
Sale of yearling steers
842 lb.
£ s. d.
44 12 0 12 7 33 7 0
892 lb.
£ s. d.
45 16 0 12 3 24 18 0
878 lb.
£ s. d.
42 5 6 II 6 18 II 0 Expenditure Per Acre:
Stock purchase
Running expenses (fertiliser, labour, sale costs, etc.) Total expenditure per acre Net profit per acre
drenching,
17 6 7 13
24 19 8 8
0 0
0 0
12 12 6 14
19 6 5 12 0 0
0 0
10 3 6 5
16 8 2 3 0 0
0 0
Discussion
The first year of this trial was carried out under seasonal conditions considerably more favourable than usual for this area.
The summer rains were light and caused little damage to the paddock dry feed.
Autumn germinating rains were early and were followed by effective follow-up falls.
The growing season was long and extended into the early summer.
Pasture
Dry pasture residues at the end of the 1964 growing season were more plentiful on all treatments than they were at the beginning of this trial.
The most severe feed shortage occurred during the period from four to eight weeks after the pasture germinated. All treat- ments were affected similarly but the shortage was most marked at the higher stocking rates.
Sub. clover dominance increased under the heaviest stocking, and poor-type annual volunteer grasses (Silver grass and barley grass) invaded the least heavily stocked paddocks.
The paddock "A," which was grazed harder t h a n the other two, dried off slightly later and the plants were in a less mature state.
The feed available a t any given time remained highest under the lowest stock- ing rate. It was observed that, when dry feed supply dropped to a few hundred pounds per acre steers on the two heavier- stocked treatments ("A" and "B") licked up sub. clover burr from the soil surface.
Live Weight
After germination the feed available (as measured by cutting to ground level) and the access to it did not vary very much until eight weeks later.
Immediately after the germinating rains there was a sudden drop in live weight by all groups. The early live weight gains on green feed could not be related to the amount of D.M. in the paddock. As pasture feed became more abundant, animals grazed more selectively.
At the end of the growing season treat- ment "C" had the most uneven pasture;
this varied in height and botanical com- position, with silver and barley grasses invading the least grazed areas. Treat- ment "A" was the most uniformly grazed and maintained sub-clover dominance.
The three groups did not make their live weight gains at the same rates nor
LIVE WEIGHT GAINS PER ANIMAL AND PER ACRE
a
_ j CO
^ CM
CD
_ J
o m
CM 00
m
High Low Medium Stocking rates Live weight gain
per animal
High Low Medium Stocking rates Live weight gain
per acre
114
Journal of Agriculture, Vol 7 No 3 1966
during the same length of time. The mean daily gains per animal and per acre were:
Group. Per Per Animal. Acre,
lb. lb.
A 0.9 0.7 B 1.1 0.6 C 1.0 0.4 Group "A" declined at one stage to 91 per cent, of its initial weight and gained all of its net live weight during the last five months.
Group "B" lost less weight at the break of the season and made live weight gains for seven months. Group "C" was gaining weight for t h e last eight months.
Worm infestation was suspected in t h e spring and all animals were treated with Thibenzole. The best response was observed in animals in Group "C." Finan- cial returns were distinctly in favour of the heaviest stocking rate.
Conclusion
The highest stocking rate, 1 yearling to 1.34 acres, produced t h e most live weight per acre, fetched t h e highest price per lb.
of live weight at the sale and gave t h e highest n e t return per acre on the in- vested capital. This was achieved under a simple management and marketing system.
The information, though useful, is still very incomplete as there are no figures for actual dressed weights nor for carcass quality.
Results are also needed for other seasons and this work is being continued so that further information could be obtained.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Grateful thanks are due to Mr. J. L.
Bunn, O.I.C. and Mr. L. Edwards, Farm Manager of Pardelup Prison Farm, and their staff for assistance, provision of land, fencing, water and animals. Thanks are due to Mr. M. Cullity, Chief of the Division of Dairying, for his encouragement and suggestions and to other officers for valuable assistance. The enthusiastic help of Mr. D. Wells, Technician, in pasture sampling and calculations is also acknow- ledged.
PASTURE SEEDS '66
T w o exclusive services and a full range of top quality seeds m a k e Wesfarmers your best place for seeds this season
This year more than ever Wesfarmers is the place to get your seed supplies. Here's why—
T W O EXCLUSIVE SERVICES
1. Inoculating and line pelleting Wesfarmers seed from 5c (6d) lb.
The quality of Wesfarmers pelleted seed has won praise from farmers all over W.A. Wesfarmers custom pellet is first quality—and the price is right
2. Convenient pick-up/delivery centre ESas- sendean.
(Between the two super works, Railway Pde.) If you're backloading pick up your inoculated and lime pelleted seed order on the way home or, if you prefer, Wesfarmers will rail.
T O P QUALITY SEEDS and Lime Pelleting Materials Wesfarmers offer:
* A full range of pasture seeds.
"Competitive prices.
*Best quality lime, Inoculo and Methofas sticking agent.
Ask your local Wesfarmers representative for full details of Wesfarmers 1966 Seed Service or contact:
•JAO-iH.l..TWga
WESTRALIAN FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED 569 WELLINGTON STREET, PERTH, W.A. PHONE 210191 BRANCHES, AGENTS, COOPS.
