Abstract
Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala ssp. glabrata) is a highly palatable and productive forage used mainly by beef producers on extensive properties in northern Australia. When sown into native or sown grass pastures, leucaena provides significant production, economic, environmental and social benefits. Adoption of leucaena was slow initially due to a range of technical, agronomic and landscape factors. These have now been largely overcome through extensive research, development, producer experience and other advances, resulting in around 130,000 ha of cultivated leucaena being utilized across northern Australia.A range of aspects will need to be addressed if the adoption of leucaena is to be accelerated into the future. These include environmental concerns, especially potential weediness, and a range of technological needs, including soil nutritional requirements, grazing and toxicity management, opportunities for companion fodder systems and conservation options. Advances in technology and the ongoing need for a high-quality, profitable and sustainable perennial forage will ensure the continued adoption of leucaena across northern Australia for the foreseeable future.
Highlights
Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala ssp. glabrata) is a high-quality perennial forage used primarily in extensive beef production systems across tropical and subtropical environments in northern Australia
Adoption of leucaena was slow initially due to a range of technical, agronomic and landscape factors. These have been largely overcome through extensive research, development, producer experience and other advances, resulting in around 130,000 ha of cultivated leucaena being utilized across northern Australia
Gross margins per hectare can be doubled (Bowen et al 2018) compared with grass-only pastures, and whole-farm profitability for a breeding and finishing enterprise containing around 1,500 adult equivalents (AE = 450 kg dry animal at maintenance) can be improved by more than $40,000/annum for 30 years when compared with the same grazing business without leucaena (Bowen and Chudleigh 2018a; 2018b)
Summary
Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala ssp. glabrata) is a high-quality perennial forage used primarily in extensive beef production systems across tropical and subtropical environments in northern Australia. Despite grazing cultivars being available since 1962 (Gray 1968) and subsequent research demonstrating the production, profitability and environmental benefits of leucaena when sown into perennial grass pastures, the adoption of leucaena by graziers in northern Australia has been slow (Wildin 1981; Lesleighter and Shelton 1986; Middleton et al 1995; Larsen et al 1998; Shelton and Dalzell 2007). The area of cultivated leucaena currently utilized by graziers across northern Australia is estimated at 130,000 ha, with the majority in central and southern Queensland (Beutel et al 2018). This area is small compared with the potential area suitable for growing leucaena (Peck et al 2011; Beutel et al 2018). This paper reviews the current adoption, profitability and future of leucaena feeding systems in northern Australia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
