The benefits of weaning cattle in the Kimberley

Authors

David Pratchett, Western Australian Department of Agriculture
Stuart Young, Western Australian Department of Agriculture

Publication Date

5-1989

Series Number

Miscellaneous Publication 13/89

Publisher

Western Australian Department of Agriculture

City

Perth

ISSN

0725-847X

Abstract

The Kimberley region was populated with Shorthorn cattle from Queensland and New Sonth Wales in the 1880's. The descendants of these cattle known as Kimberley Shorthorn are still the predominant breed in the region. The relatively poor performance of these cattle under the harsh Kimberley conditions and the fact that changing the genotype can improve productivity was recently published (Pratchett D. WADA Journal No. 4 1988)

While the adoption of Bos indicus breeds is the correct move, improved husbandry can also increase the productivity of the Kimberley Shorthorn cow. The majority of cattle in the Kimberley are not weaned. Sometimes young stock are removed from the cows when they are between 12 and 18 months of age. By this time most will have weaned themselves. Such a practice does little to reduce the stress on the cow and thus improve the fertility of the herd.

In order to achieve high calving percentages cows must conceive whilst they are still suckling. They can only do this if they are in good body condition. Weaning calves from their mothers will allow cows to maintain a high body weight and condition. When pasture conditions are poor, such as in the Kimberley (Holm and Elliot 1980) it is even more important that the stress of suckling should be removed from the cow as soon as possible.

Apart from increasing conception rates weaning also reduces mortality in cows which means that a greater proportion of the female herd is suitable for sale either as slaughter stock or as breeding stock.

Another fact of herd management in the Kimberley is that bulls are run with the herd on a year round basis. It is not known what effect this has on herd fertility and mortality compared with a restricted mating period.

Number of Pages

16

Keywords

Cattle, Kimberley, Kimberley shorthorn, Western Australia, Weaning, Herd mangement

Disciplines

Agribusiness | Agricultural Economics | Beef Science | Behavior and Ethology | Operations and Supply Chain Management | Population Biology | Sustainability

Comments

This Miscellaneous Publication 13/89 includes the articles:

* The Prospects for Leucaena on the Ord By (David Pratchett, Beef Production Adviser and Tim Triglone, Technical Officer, Kununurra)

* Finishing Kimberley Cattle in the South West By (Brian McIntyre, Bill Ryan , Research officers Beef Cattle and Neville Macintyre, Technical Officer, Beef Cattle)

Recommended Citation

Pratchett, D, and Young, S. (1989), The benefits of weaning cattle in the Kimberley. Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Perth. Report Miscellaneous Publication 13/89.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/ap_researchrpts/12

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