Climate Change, Australian Cattle meet the challenge

#References for this article include:

Small Farms magazine May 2008 + July 2008
Squaremeater breeders Peter Brown and Peter Horne
MLA publication feedback August 2008
Murray Grey and Squaremeater Association website homepage.

#Parts of this article have been included in a submission for a “Caring for Our Country” Open Grant.

The beef production industry as a whole faces many new challenges. With global warming comes the drive for the production of non-fossil fuels, some using grain as feedstock to produce ethanol. This has introduced a new dynamic into the feed grain market leading to higher prices for grain. This increase in grain has put the entire feedlot industry at risk, thereby increasing the viability (and attractiveness) of cattle breeds that focus on early maturing patterns of growth with an emphasis on the ability to fatten on grass.

As awareness of global warming increases, there is a concomitant increase in environmental awareness, and particularly in developed countries, a desire to ingest food grown organically, or at least food produced in a biologically sustainable manner. For beef to be a part of this trend, it needs to be of good quality, of moderate portion size and produced in the most natural fashion with the least exposure to chemicals. This is the niche market Square Meaters slot straight into, and in fact is the niche Rick Pisaturo identified when he led the breeding cycle back to its original roots. The Square Meater cattle have also proven to be adept at foraging widely, and include many weeds in their diet. The use of the cattle as beneficial organisms in an integrated pest management scheme has holistic benefits for the entire farm.

Square Meater cattle are efficient, medium framed, early maturing animals able to finish at a young age on grass to produce prime grade beef for today's market. The imperatives imposed upon us by climate change and global warming impels us to look at sustainable solutions to age old problems viz. how to put food on the table?

Climate change will affect producers, not just through changes to rainfall and temperature, but through regulated government policy such as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) where emitters of greenhouse gases such as methane and CO2 will pay to offset their production. Agriculture is responsible for 16% of Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions. The risks and opportunities that derive from climate change need to be recognised by all of us, not just researchers working for government authorities. The clever farmer will be on top of issues such as the potential to reduce greenhouse emissions by altering the rumen bacteria to emit less methane, and whether soil carbon can play a role in offsetting carbon emissions.

Silver Gully recognises the need for a beef production unit to be sustainable in terms of the inputs required to successfully breed and raise cattle. These inputs include water and nutrients: both macronutrients supplied in pasture and essential micronutrients contained within the soil complex. Head to head trials of grain fed vs grass fed steers on farm have demonstrated this conclusively, without any detectable difference in taste or tenderness * The nature of our changing climate could ultimately alter the direction of cattle breeding in this country. Square Meaters are ideally placed to face the challenges that climate change brings. Sustainable farm practices ensure the longevity of this Australian icon, the original Australian cattle breed, bred by Australians for Australians.

• Exclusively grass fed steer weight 269kg, dressing % 52 age 11months
• Grain + grass fed steer weight 290kg dressing % 55 age 11 months
• Inputs for grass fed steer = immunisation, drenching and costs associated with providing pasture .plus $250 for transport, slaughter and cutting up
Outputs = 93.25kg meat sold @$10.30/kg =$960. Profit =$710
• Inputs for grain fed steer = immunisation, drenching and costs associated with providing pasture .plus $250 for transport, slaughter and cutting up
Plus $380 for grain
Outputs = 106.3kg sold @$10.30/kg =$1094. Profit = $464

Details are on our website www.silvergully.com.au.