Get reliable science

Liveweight gain performance for steers grazing black speargrass (Iteropogon contortus) dominant pastures has been measured over 5 years within a large grazing trial in sub-tropical Queensland under conditions of near continuous drought. The treatments include: (a) legume-augmentation, (b) three land classes, and (c) four stocking rates. Key findings are that: legume-augmentation offered a production advantage in most seasons, (b) slope position had no significant effect on production, and (c) although the heaviest stocking rate (0.9 steers/ha) consistently generated the most liveweight gain per hectare, this was associated with significantly lower liveweight gain per animal and could not be recommended.