Beef Enterprises Research Articles

Implications of retaining woody regrowth for carbon sequestration for an extensive grazing beef business: a bio-economic modelling case study

A bio-economic modelling framework (GRASP-ENTERPRISE) was used to assess the implications of retaining woody regrowth for carbon sequestration on a case study beef grazing property in northern Australia. Five carbon farming scenarios, ranging from 0% to 100% of the property regrowth retained for carbon sequestration, were simulated over a 20-year period (1993–2012). Dedicating regrowth on the property for carbon sequestration reduced pasture (up to 40%) and herd productivity (up to 20%), and resulted in financial losses (up to 24% reduction in total gross margin). A net carbon income (income after grazing management expenses are removed) of $2–4 per t CO2-e was required to offset economic losses of retaining regrowth on a moderately productive (~8 ha adult equivalent–1) property where income was from the sale of weaners. A higher opportunity cost ($ t–1 CO2-e) of retaining woody regrowth is likely for feeder steer or finishing operations, with improved cattle prices, and where the substantial transaction and reporting costs are included. Although uncertainty remains around the price received for carbon farming activities, this study demonstrated that a conservatively stocked breeding operation can achieve positive production, environmental and economic outcomes, including net carbon stock. This study was based on a beef enterprise in central Queensland’s grazing lands, however, the approach and learnings are expected to be applicable across northern Australia where regrowth is present.

Comparative analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from three beef cattle herds in a corporate farming enterprise

This study provided a gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment that modelled the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of three herds bred and grown by an integrated beef cattle enterprise across northern Australia. It involved modelling the GHG emissions of current herd management by the enterprise as a ‘baseline’ compared with ‘alternative scenarios’ of herd management. There were three herds (one herd of steers and two herds of heifers) each consisting of 5000 head of cattle. The baseline consisted of the steer herd grazing on growing then backgrounding properties and being finished at a feedlot. The two heifer herds grazed one respective backgrounding property each and were finished in a feedlot for their respective baselines. The alternative scenarios involved the steer herd bypassing the growing property and spending increased time at the backgrounding property. The heifer herds bypassed their respective backgrounding properties and they were grown and finished at a feedlot. The results show a 14% reduction of GHG emission intensities between the baseline and alternative scenario for steers and reductions of 29% and 4% between the baseline and alternative scenarios for the respective heifer herds. The variance in GHG emissions between the heifer herds can be explained by relative time spent grazing on the respective backgrounding properties and associated liveweight gain, versus time spent being grown and finished in the feedlot. In our modelling, herd GHG emission reductions occurred in the scenarios when time grazing on the growing or backgrounding properties (and associated liveweight gains) in the respective baselines exceeded 225–229 days for the heifer herds and between 206 days for the steers (depending on the relative liveweight gains on the properties). This means that if the cattle herds were to spend a longer time grazing on a property in their respective baselines than the number of days noted in our analysis, bypassing these properties would then result in net reductions in GHG emissions for the herds.

Optimising beef business performance in northern Australia: what can 30 years of commercial innovation teach us?

This paper evaluates three decades of innovation by a leading beef producer in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory. The case study represents a rare published analysis of changes in production, greenhouse gas emissions and land condition metrics for a commercial livestock business. Thirty years ago the property was under-developed and had poor livestock productivity by today’s standards. Between 1981 and 2013, the business has increased carrying capacity through water point development, and achieved a >50% increase in herd size, a 46% improvement in weaning rate, an 82% reduction in breeder mortality rate and an improvement in land condition. Annual liveweight turn-off has increased from 75 kg to 128 kg per adult equivalent (AE) carried. All of this has been achieved while using recommended stocking rates. In contrast, two additional analyses reflecting other management approaches being taken by some north Australian beef businesses resulted in poor productivity, economic, emissions and land condition outcomes. Total greenhouse gas emissions have increased on the case study property since 1981 as a result of increasing herd size. However, the intensity of emissions per tonne of liveweight sold has declined by 43% due to the improvements in livestock productivity. The potential for generating carbon revenue from this emissions intensity improvement was explored. We found that for >95% of northern beef enterprises, current project transaction costs would entirely negate carbon revenue at a carbon price of < $25 tCO2e–1. At $5 tCO2e–1, the minimum herd size needed to cover the project transaction costs would be in excess of 35 000 AE. Although substantial carbon profits appear unlikely at present, the management practices evaluated can deliver substantial economic, emissions and land condition benefits to individual businesses and the wider industry. The paper concludes that cost-effective investment to concurrently increase herd size and livestock productivity per head, in conjunction with safe stocking rate management, is a proven path to economic and environmental sustainability in the north Australian beef industry.

Economic evaluation of irrigated forage production in a beef cattle operation in the semi-arid tropics of northern Australia

Australia's northern beef industry is a significant contributor to regional economies in northern Australia, but is economically challenged by a range of factors including declining real beef prices, limited market opportunities, stalled productivity growth, increasing levels of enterprise debt, and low returns on investment. The long-term viability of the industry depends on achieving herd productivity gains and lifting enterprise profitability. Typical of the northern Australian beef industry, beef enterprises located in the Gulf of Carpentaria river drainage basins or catchments of north-west Queensland rely on extensive grazing of unimproved native pastures. Feed of reasonable quality is relatively plentiful during the annual wet season, but this is typically followed by feed shortages and sharply declining feed quality in the following dry season. Irrigation of some pasturage could potentially increase the availability and quality of dry-season feed and improve the productivity of these cattle enterprises. To explore this issue, an enterprise-scale bio-economic model was employed to consider several development scenarios involving investments in irrigation infrastructure for a case-study beef enterprise located in the Flinders River catchment in north-west Queensland. Our findings showed improvements in key productivity indicators, such as beef turnoff and enterprise profitability for some forage-based irrigation scenarios. However, the capital cost of installing and operating the infrastructure associated with the assumed scale of irrigation development had a significantly negative effect on returns. The findings suggest that investors will need to be judicious with capital expenditure and investment decisions informed by an understanding of the interplay between irrigation water storage size, expected reliability of filling, and the ability to meet seasonal crop water demand.

Boosting the productivity and profitability of northern Australian beef enterprises: Exploring innovation options using simulation modelling and systems analysis

The financial health of beef cattle enterprises in northern Australia has declined markedly over the last decade due to an escalation in production and marketing costs and a real decline in beef prices. Historically, gains in animal productivity have offset the effect of declining terms of trade on farm incomes. This raises the question of whether future productivity improvements can remain a key path for lifting enterprise profitability sufficient to ensure that the industry remains economically viable over the longer term. The key objective of this study was to assess the production and financial implications for north Australian beef enterprises of a range of technology interventions (development scenarios), including genetic gain in cattle, nutrient supplementation, and alteration of the feed base through introduced pastures and forage crops, across a variety of natural environments. To achieve this objective a beef systems model was developed that is capable of simulating livestock production at the enterprise level, including reproduction, growth and mortality, based on energy and protein supply from natural C4 pastures that are subject to high inter-annual climate variability. Comparisons between simulation outputs and enterprise performance data in three case study regions suggested that the simulation model (the Northern Australia Beef Systems Analyser) can adequately represent the performance beef cattle enterprises in northern Australia. Testing of a range of development scenarios suggested that the application of individual technologies can substantially lift productivity and profitability, especially where the entire feedbase was altered through legume augmentation. The simultaneous implementation of multiple technologies that provide benefits to different aspects of animal productivity resulted in the greatest increases in cattle productivity and enterprise profitability, with projected weaning rates increasing by 25%, liveweight gain by 40% and net profit by 150% above current baseline levels, although gains of this magnitude might not necessarily be realised in practice. While there were slight increases in total methane output from these development scenarios, the methane emissions per kg of beef produced were reduced by 20% in scenarios with higher productivity gain. Combinations of technologies or innovative practices applied in a systematic and integrated fashion thus offer scope for providing the productivity and profitability gains necessary to maintain viable beef enterprises in northern Australia into the future.

Disease screening profiles and colostrum management practices on 16 Irish suckler beef farms.

BackgroundCalf output is a key element in determining the profitability of a suckler beef enterprise. Infectious agents such as Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD) virus, colostrum management and parasitic challenge can all affect calf output. Prior to the national BVD eradication programme, there was little published information on either the prevalence or effect of BVD in Irish beef herds. There is little published information on colostrum management practices in Irish commercial beef herds and there have also been few studies published on the prevalence of liver fluke or rumen fluke infection in Irish beef herds. Sixteen farms participating in the Teagasc/Farmers Journal BETTER farm beef programme were used in this study. Fourteen herds were screened for the presence of BVD virus in 2010 using RT-PCR. In 13 herds, blood samples were collected from calves (2–14 days of age) in November 2011 - April 2012 to determine their passive immune status using the zinc sulphate turbidity (ZST) test, while in 12 herds, blood and faecal samples were taken in order to determine the level of exposure to gastrointestinal and hepatic helminths.ResultsThe overall prevalence of BVD virus-positive cattle was 0.98% (range 0 - 3% per herd, range 0.6 - 3.0% per positive herd). Eighteen of the 82 calves (22%) sampled had ZST values less than 20 units (herd mean range 17.0 – 38.5 units) indicating a failure of passive transfer. The overall animal-level (herd-level) prevalence of liver fluke and rumen fluke infection in these herds was 40.5% (100%) and 20.8% (75%), respectively.ConclusionsThe potential costs associated with the presence of animals persistently infected with BVD virus through the increased use of antibiotics; the rate of failure of passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins and the high prevalence of liver fluke infection in these herds highlight that some Irish suckler beef farms may not be realizing their economic potential due to a range of herd health issues. The use of farm-specific herd health plans should be further encouraged on Irish suckler beef farms.

Using UHF proximity loggers to quantify male–female interactions: A scoping study of estrous activity in cattle

Reproductive efficiency is an important determinant of profitable cattle breeding systems and the success of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in wildlife conservation programs. Methods of estrous detection used in intensive beef and dairy cattle systems lack accuracy and remain the single biggest issue for improvement of reproductive rates and such methods are not practical for either large-scale extensive beef cattle enterprises or free-living mammalian species. Recent developments in UHF (ultra high frequency) proximity logger telemetry devices have been used to provide a continuous pair-wise measure of associations between individual animals for both livestock and wildlife. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of using UHF telemetry to identify the reproductive cycle phenotype in terms of intensity and duration of estrus. The study was conducted using Belmont Red (interbred Africander Brahman Hereford–Shorthorn) cattle grazing irrigated pasture on Belmont Research Station, northeastern Australia. The cow-bull associations from three groups of cows each with one bull were recorded over a 7-week breeding season and the stage of estrus was identified using ultrasonography. Telemetry data from bull and cows, collected over 4 8-day logger deployments, were log transformed and analyzed by ANOVA. Both the number and duration of bull-cow affiliations were significantly (P<0.001) greater in estrous cows compared to anestrus cows. These results support the development of the UHF technology as a hands-off and noninvasive means of gathering socio-sexual information on both wildlife and livestock for reproductive management.

Before and after integrated catchment management in a headwater catchment: changes in water quality.

Few studies have comprehensively measured the effect on water quality of catchment rehabilitation measures in comparison with baseline conditions. Here we have analyzed water clarity and nutrient concentrations and loads for a 13-year period in a headwater catchment within the western Waikato region, New Zealand. For the first 6 years, the entire catchment was used for hill-country cattle and sheep grazing. An integrated catchment management plan was implemented whereby cattle were excluded from riparian areas, the most degraded land was planted in Pinus radiata, channel banks were planted with poplar trees and the beef cattle enterprise was modified. The removal of cattle from riparian areas without additional riparian planting had a positive and rapid effect on stream water clarity. In contrast, the water clarity decreased in those sub-catchments where livestock was excluded but riparian areas were planted with trees and shrubs. We attribute the decrease in water clarity to a reduction in groundcover vegetation that armors stream banks against preparatory erosion processes. Increases in concentrations of forms of P and N were recorded. These increases were attributed to: (i) the reduction of instream nutrient uptake by macrophytes and periphyton due to increased riparian shading; (ii) uncontrolled growth of a nitrogen fixing weed (gorse) in some parts of the catchment, and (iii) the reduction in the nutrient attenuation capacity of seepage wetlands due to the decrease in their areal coverage in response to afforestation. Our findings highlight the complex nature of the water quality response to catchment rehabilitation measures.

StockPlan-Exploring Management Options before Dry Spells and in Drought: 2. Case Studies Using Drought Pack, FSA Pack, and ImPack

Objectives of this article were to present three case studies that were generated by producers who used decision support tools to assist them explore the financial consequences of management options before dry spells and in drought. Study 1 used Drought Pack to demonstrate the calculation of a break-even price to assist a group of sheep producers decide whether to and or and buy back ewes at the end of a dry-spell, which was anticipated to last 5 months. The break-even result based on the producers' estimates indicated that in this case, they would be better off with the and option. Study 2 used Feed Sell Agist (FSA) Pack to assist producers determine whether they should feed, sell, or agist cattle. A sensitivity analysis of the buying and selling options was performed. The results from FSA Pack assisted beef producers decide that the option had the lowest associated risk. Case study 3 used ImPack to evaluate three options: 10% of stock, and feed all stock, or progeny as weaners and keep and feed cows for a mixed cropping and beef enterprise. A 5-year breeding herd re-structure was performed for each of the three options. The results from the ImPack analysis based on a cash-flow analysis indicated that the 10% of stock (i.e., sell 10% of self replacing beef herd) was a better option because it reduced interest payments early in the planning period and therefore assisted in reducing the overall debt. Impact Statement Understanding the financial consequences of management options before dry spells and in drought are important issues for producers (i.e., ranchers). The StockPlan workshop provides training in the use of Drought Pack, FSA Pack, and ImPack. Case studies generated by producers demonstrate how decision support tools helped producers explore management decisions. Risk assessment of management decisions has the potential to reduce financial and social implications when faced with dry spells or drought.

Wild dog control impacts on calf wastage in extensive beef cattle enterprises

Wild dogs (Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) are routinely controlled to protect beef cattle from predation yet beef producers are sometimes ambivalent as to whether wild dogs are a significant problem or not. This paper reports the loss of calves between birth and weaning in pregnancy-tested herds located on two beef cattle properties in south-central and far north Queensland for up to 4 consecutive years. Comparisons of lactation failures (identified when dams that previously tested pregnant were found non-lactating at weaning) were made between adjoining test herds grazed in places with or without annual (or twice annual) wild dog poison baiting programs. No correlation between wild dog relative abundance and lactation failures was apparent. Calf loss was frequently higher (three in 7 site-years, 11–32%) in baited areas than in non-baited areas (9% in 1 of 7 site-years). Predation loss of calves (in either area) only occurred in seasons of below-average rainfall, but was not related to herd nutrition. These data suggest that controlling wild dogs to protect calves on extensive beef cattle enterprises is unnecessary in most years because wild dogs do not routinely prey on calves. In those seasons when wild dog predation might occur, baiting can be counter-productive. Baiting appears to produce perturbations that change the way surviving or re-colonising wild dog populations select and handle prey and/or how they interact with livestock.

The relative profitability of dairy, sheep, beef and grain farm enterprises in southeast Australia under selected rainfall and price scenarios

Dryland farming and its profitability is directly affected by the amount and timing of rainfall that influence and consequently impacts on pasture and crop yields. Yet rainfall is not the sole determinant of farm enterprise profitability; prices of farm inputs and commodities produced also affect farm profits. This study draws on farm commodity prices and input prices from the past 9years to form correlated price and cost datasets that are then used in examining the profitability of a range of farm enterprises in south eastern Australia under low, average and high rainfall scenarios. Fourteen representative farm enterprises were examined that included the production of Merino fine wool, prime lamb, beef cattle, milk, wheat and canola. The spread of profitability of these farm enterprises against the backdrop of price variability and rainfall scenarios was compared. The results show that profitability of the enterprises studied is currently affected more by changes in rainfall than by commodity prices and that dairy enterprises are the most profitable on a $/ha basis but that the profitability of wheat, steer and prime lamb enterprises are least affected by low rainfall scenarios. The self-replacing cow–calf beef systems, canola and dairy enterprises are the most vulnerable to reduced rainfall and may benefit by reducing profit risk through changes such as expanding the enterprise or diversifying across other types of enterprises. Farm diversification involving combinations of enterprises with negatively correlated profits will enable the variance in farm profits to be reduced. Such actions could form part of farms’ adaptation strategies to climate and price variability.

Identifying and addressing sustainable pasture and grazing management options for a major economic sector – the north Australian beef industry

Sustainable use of Australia’s northern grazing lands is a long-standing issue for management and policy, heightened by projections of increased climatic variability, uncertainty of forage supplies, vegetation complexes and weeds and diseases. Meat &amp; Livestock Australia has supported a large study to explore sustainable grazing management strategies and increase the capacity of the sector to address climate change. Potential options were explored by bio-economic modeling of ‘representative’ beef enterprises defined by pastoralists and supported by regional research and extension specialists. Typical options include diversification, infrastructure, flexible stocking rates, wet season resting and prescribed fire. Concurrent activities by another team included regional impact assessments and surveys of pastoralists’ understanding of and attitudes towards climate change and adaptive capacity. The results have been widely canvassed and a program of on-ground demonstrations of various options implemented. The paper describes the structure of this program and highlights key results indicating considerable scope to address sustainability challenges.

Comparing economic performance of organic and conventional U.S. beef farms using matching samples*

Economic performance measures of organic and transitioning‐to‐organic cow–calf farms are compared with those of non‐organic cow–calf farms. A method of matching samples is used for the comparison, estimating sample average treatment effects for the subpopulation of the treated. Each organic farm is matched with one non‐organic farm that is involved in the same beef industry segments and farm size classes, and in the same region. Furthermore, farmer demographic, farming system, and technology variables are used to identify matches. Bias is reduced by estimating separate weighted regression functions for the treated and untreated groups. Results suggest that higher cost of organic production is due primarily to higher capital recovery, taxes and insurance, and overhead costs. Evidence is found for differences in beef enterprise profitability by organic status.

Pharmacological Control of Estrus in Tropical Cattle, an Economical Assessment of Different Synchronization Protocols

To compare the fertility results and to assess the cost-effectiveness of several synchronization protocols applied under the conditions of beef cattle enterprises in Colombia, 1658 multiparous zebu crossbred cows mostly Brahman and Nelore ranging between 2 - 6 parities were used. Five protocols of pharmacological treatments varying in hormones used, dosage and the time of application were tested. All cows were inseminated at 52 h by appointment. Pregnancy diagnosis was undertaken over 45 d after insemination by rectal palpation. The total cost per cow and the total cost per gestation, for each protocol, were calculated. Taking a herd of one-hundred cows as baseline for calculations, it was estimated the cost of the total amount of pregnancies possibly obtained in each protocol; then, the excess between the costs of a pregnant cow and the cost of a treated cow was estimated. Additionally, the costs due to cows empty after four services were calculated. A total of 874 pregnancies were registered (52.7%), with pregnancies per protocol varying between 46.9% and 66.2% (p < 005). The cost per treated cow, varied between $64.08 and $97.47 and the cost per gestation from $126.01 to $177.26, without association between the cost of the treatment and the pregnancy rate. Protocol A was the best cost-effective with the lowest additional costs, the lowest amount of open days (2107.7 to 2231.7 d) and IA straws (average = 134), with an additional costs of $6940.00. Synchronization of estrus using pharmacological products seems to have a place in the management of cattle; however, caution should be called upon a careful assessment both from the part of the farm and the professional in charge of the enterprise to avoid using the technique indiscriminatively thus propitiating the use of a method that might not be cost efficient.

Prediction of mortality and conception rates of beef breeding cattle in northern Australia

In current simulation packages for the management of extensive beef-cattle enterprises, the relationships for the key biological rates (namely conception and mortality) are quite rudimentary. To better estimate these relationships, cohort-level data covering 17 100 cow-years from six sites across northern Australia were collated and analysed. Further validation data, from 7200 cow-years, were then used to test these relationships. Analytical problems included incomplete and non-standardised data, considerable levels of correlation among the ‘independent’ variables, and the close similarity of alternate possible models. In addition to formal statistical analyses of these data, the theoretical equations for predicting mortality and conception rates in the current simulation models were reviewed, and then reparameterised and recalibrated where appropriate. The final models explained up to 80% of the variation in the data. These are now proposed as more accurate and useful models to be used in the prediction of biological rates in simulation studies for northern Australia.

Male Reproductive Traits and Their Relationship to Reproductive Traits in Their Female Progeny: A Systematic Review

The overall objective of one of the major research programs in the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Beef Genetic Technologies is to 'Improve female reproductive performance' in tropical, northern Australian beef cattle herds. To address this overall objective, a quantitative genetics project focused on investigation of male reproductive traits was designed and linked to three female reproduction-focussed projects, (i) discovery of genes associated with post-partum re-conception and age at puberty; (ii) expression of genes associated with post-partum re-conception; and (iii) early predictors of lifetime female reproductive performance. During the initial planning of this male reproductive traits project, the CRC Scientific Review Committee recommended that the research team investigate and evaluate potentially new, early-life (i.e able to be measured before 2 years of age) predictors of both male and female reproductive performance. To address this recommendation, the following was carried out: (i) criteria for selection of traditional and candidate traits were established; (ii) methodology for tabulation of potential traits/phenotypes that define male and female reproductive function was developed; and (iii) a systematic scientific review of early-life predictors of male and female fertility was prepared. This review concluded that although factors that might be useful in predicting male reproductive performance have been studied for many years, there was relatively little useful information available to meet the objectives of this review. It was also concluded that the direction of future research should be guided not only by previous research which was scarce, but also by speculative hypotheses arising from an understanding of the physiological, endocrinological and genetic processes active in reproduction. A small number of new traits were recommended in addition to traditional sperm morphology, sexual behaviour, anatomical structure and growth traits. Potential additional traits include measurement of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-stimulated luteinizing hormone (GnRH-stimulated LH); inhibin; several seminal plasma proteins (osteopontin, spermadhesin and seminal plasma proteins BSP30 and phospholipase A(2) could be used in an index); 11β-hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase; and leptin. In addition, the potential also exists to screen animals for a number of genetic markers associated with age of puberty, follicular recruitment and ovulation rate and genes associated with bovine seminal plasma protein and testosterone production. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) measurements are included because of their association with growth parameters, and an additional analysis demonstrated associations with male and female reproductive traits. Some of these factors have been previously evaluated in small numbers of animals of various species under intensive management conditions. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate these factors in much larger numbers of beef cattle grazing semi-extensive tropical production systems in northern Australia to determine their value in improving beef cattle enterprise profitability through improved herd fertility.

Identifying sources and trends for productivity growth in a sample of Queensland broad-acre beef enterprises

The research reported in this paper considers the question of the possible sources of productivity change in the broad-acre beef sector in northern Australia over the last decade. Analysis is conducted over the components of total factor productivity growth for a subset of broad-acre beef production enterprises in Queensland. Specifically we consider the contributions of technological progress, scale changes (changes in the ‘size’ of an enterprise), and technical efficiency (how efficiently an enterprise combines their inputs to produce output) changes to total factor productivity growth using an index based on a decomposition of productivity change. The analysis employed a form for the production technology, which allowed for linear technological progress over time, accounted for rainfall and differences in land types and allowed for the testing of a range of sources of efficiency change. Results suggested that productivity growth within the sample was strong between 1999 and 2008 averaging 3.8% per year. The majority of this growth appeared to originate from technological progress (average growth of 2.7% per year) but there is the possibility that sample-leakage effects caused relatively low estimated contributions from technical efficiency growth (averaged 1.2% per year). Participation in a privately operated farm-business auditing program appeared to have a positive influence on enterprise technical efficiency.

A comparative study of the seroprevalence of brucellosis in commercial and small-scale mixed dairy–beef cattle enterprises of Lusaka province and Chibombo district, Zambia

A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2007 and February 2008 to estimate seroprevalence of brucellosis and identify risk factors associated with Brucella infections in commercial cattle in three districts of Lusaka province (Chongwe, Luangwa, and Kafue; n = 849) and in one rural district from the Central province (n = 48). A total of 897 serum samples were randomly collected from 55 farms along with animal-level data such as sex, age, and parity. Sera were screened for presence of anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal test, and positive samples were confirmed using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. At the animal level, seroprevalence was estimated at 7.9% (95% CI = 4.4-11.4%) in the Lusaka province and 18.7% (95% CI = 7.5-29.9%) for Chibombo district. Brucellosis seroprevalence varied according to district, with Chongwe district recording the highest compared to other districts. Seroprevalence also varied according to sex with bulls (n = 96) having higher seroprevalence (12.5%; 95% CI = 3.8-21.1%) compared to females (8.1%; 95% CI = 4.6-11.6). Similarly, seroprevalence varied according to age groups, with the age category 1-4 years recording the highest (10.7%). The study recorded relatively low Brucella seroprevalence in commercial farms in Lusaka, compared to the traditional small-scale farms. We suggest that testing and stamping out of infected animals is likely to improve the situation and significantly reduce the public health risk associated with Brucella infections in animals.

Achieving adoption and innovation in Australia's beef industry

Beef CRC uses industry value-add and impact as the guiding principle to identify the most appropriate ‘Path to Adoption’ for each one of the practices, tools and technologies it develops. This approach recognises that, regardless of the product type or the method of commercialisation, all Beef CRC’s decisions aimed at achieving commercialisation, utilisation, and/or adoption are designed to achieve and demonstrate maximum value for Australian beef businesses. This is achieved by customising commercialisation approaches to ensure that (1) all Beef CRC technologies are specifically designed to maximise industry adoption and utilisation and (2) all Beef CRC processes aiming to achieve industry adoption and innovation are specifically designed and implemented for that purpose. This paper presents case studies outlining the different approaches used by Beef CRC to maximise adoption, innovation and impact of different product types and different processes (or ‘delivery vehicles’) to achieve demonstrable adoption and impact of complex knowledge-based technologies among the tens of thousands of small-to-medium beef enterprises located throughout Australia.

Evidence of farm-level synergies in mixed-farming systems in the Australian Wheat-Sheep Zone

Synergies are reported for mixed-enterprise farming systems in a benchmarking group in the Wheat-Sheep Zone in New South Wales, Australia. A stochastic input distance function is estimated and a measure of synergies is calculated, based on the second cross partial derivative of output variables in the distance function. Evidence is presented of strong synergies from complementarity between sheep and beef enterprises, sheep and crop enterprises, and beef and crop enterprises.