1

North Burnett Regional Council Case Studies

A

frican lovegrass D

emon

stration Site

A

frican lovegrass D

emon

stration Site

A

frican lovegrass D

emon

stration Site

A

frican lovegrass D

emon

stration Site

Best

Best Practice Management of African lovegrass in the

Burnett Inland Catchment

AAffrriiccaann lloovveeggrraassss DDeemmoonnssttrraattiioonn SSiittee NNaarraayyeenn QQuueeeennssllaanndd

2

Contents

Introduction 3

Chemical and Mechanical Control Trial 4

Results 7

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) 9

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1) 14

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3) 17

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2) 19

Supplement Trial 21

Contact Details 26

3

Introduction Property Background Narayen Station Narayen is a cattle property in the Auburn River catchment The former CSIRO Research Station was divided and sold The property with the key infrastructure is now owned by North Burnett Regional Council and is leased to Australian Agricultural College The property is run as a working station for students to learn valuable agricultural skills African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) This tufted perennial grass is native to southern Africa and was first introduced into Australia accidentally as a contaminant of pasture seed Growing up to 12m in height African lovegrass reproduces by seed producing thousands at a time and quickly spreads along roadsides and railway lines favouring acidic lightly sandy soils In Queensland African lovegrass can be found throughout the Burnett Darling Downs and Granite Belt regions Eradication is difficult with an infestation quickly developing a large viable seedbank and is extremely competitive with other pasture species Why ALG and why Narayen North Burnett Regional Council together with the Australian Agricultural College has established a demonstration site to validate and display the methods used to control African lovegrass African lovegrass has become a significant management problem for the Burnett Although trial work has been done all over the world it is limited in the North Burnett Establishing a demonstration site allows the community to see how this grass can be managed on a Burnett grazing property The demonstration site is not only showcasing established management practices but also carrying out various trials Narayen created a perfect demonstration site as it has paddocks already fenced for trials (thanks to CSIRO) and has facilities to hold field days Monitoring North Burnett Regional Council and Burnett Catchment Care Association monitor the site every six months in Autumn and Spring Monitoring includes checking on the distribution and abundance of ALG in each trial plot

4

Chemical and Mechanical Control Trial Design and Methodology The chemical and mechanical trials were based on variations of current management practices and local experience This project was planned and designed with lsquoexpertsrsquo in agriculture and pastures These lsquoexpertsrsquo included land managers with local and practical knowledge Four paddocks where utilised all had not been grazed for many years The paddocks had various infestation densities of African lovegrass Management options where chosen to suit the level of infestation in each site Trials one and two The combination of an initial burn and than follow up spray regimes with flupropanate was used on heavy and medium infestations Trial four The combination of burn cultivate and plant was planned in a medium to heavy infestation A few other minor lsquotrialsrsquo where planned including slashing control with glyphosphate and control with a mixture of flupropanate and glyphosphate The aim of these smaller trials was to allow comparisons between various management options use by land managers These trials occurred in a strip in down the edge of Trials one and two against the laneway Monitoring Guidelines Aim To monitor weed population change Undertaken by North Burnett Regional Council and Burnett Catchment Care Association Pasture condition is assessed during each monitoring visit by using the following steps (extract from Stocktake instructions)

1 Look over the area around you and use the pasture condition table to rate pasture condition (table 1)

2 The first and most important determinant is the proportion of 3P grasses 3 Secondly check the denseness of the crown cover of 3P grasses 4 The other indicators are secondary and help to determine whether the

pasture condition rating should remain the same as indicated by the 3P grasses or whether it should change

5

Table1 Pasture condition assessment table

Condition rating

Condition indicators 3P grasses

Annual grass

DM yield

Undesirable grasses and

other weeds

DM yield

Species diversity - desirables

DM yield Crown cover

1 ge 80 Dense amp plants healthy

le 20 le 20 gt 5 species

2 60-80

Dense amp some plants unhealthy

20-40 20-30 3-5 species

3 10-60

Moderate density amp some plants dead

40-70 30-80 2-3 species

4 lt 10 Sparse amp many plants dead

gt 70 gt 80 1 or less species

Major consideration to be considered (Level of importance when considering pasture condition) Species diversity criteria needs to be reviewed on a region-by-region basis

Figure 1 Rainfall records at Narayen for 2008

6

Figure 2 Layout of Site plan including all monitoring points

7

Results

Figure 3ndash The change in African Lovegrass cover across all five trial sites over the past eighteen months Transect two was the control site which showed variation that could only be caused by the seasons It appears from this information that the management in Transect four was most successful the only one to continue to decline in African lovegrass numbers with no re-growth again in the summer months after the thick infestation was treated with a burn and chemical application in JuneAugust 2008 The other three trials appear to be successful to a lesser extent

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

2

Contents

Introduction 3

Chemical and Mechanical Control Trial 4

Results 7

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) 9

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1) 14

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3) 17

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2) 19

Supplement Trial 21

Contact Details 26

3

Introduction Property Background Narayen Station Narayen is a cattle property in the Auburn River catchment The former CSIRO Research Station was divided and sold The property with the key infrastructure is now owned by North Burnett Regional Council and is leased to Australian Agricultural College The property is run as a working station for students to learn valuable agricultural skills African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) This tufted perennial grass is native to southern Africa and was first introduced into Australia accidentally as a contaminant of pasture seed Growing up to 12m in height African lovegrass reproduces by seed producing thousands at a time and quickly spreads along roadsides and railway lines favouring acidic lightly sandy soils In Queensland African lovegrass can be found throughout the Burnett Darling Downs and Granite Belt regions Eradication is difficult with an infestation quickly developing a large viable seedbank and is extremely competitive with other pasture species Why ALG and why Narayen North Burnett Regional Council together with the Australian Agricultural College has established a demonstration site to validate and display the methods used to control African lovegrass African lovegrass has become a significant management problem for the Burnett Although trial work has been done all over the world it is limited in the North Burnett Establishing a demonstration site allows the community to see how this grass can be managed on a Burnett grazing property The demonstration site is not only showcasing established management practices but also carrying out various trials Narayen created a perfect demonstration site as it has paddocks already fenced for trials (thanks to CSIRO) and has facilities to hold field days Monitoring North Burnett Regional Council and Burnett Catchment Care Association monitor the site every six months in Autumn and Spring Monitoring includes checking on the distribution and abundance of ALG in each trial plot

4

Chemical and Mechanical Control Trial Design and Methodology The chemical and mechanical trials were based on variations of current management practices and local experience This project was planned and designed with lsquoexpertsrsquo in agriculture and pastures These lsquoexpertsrsquo included land managers with local and practical knowledge Four paddocks where utilised all had not been grazed for many years The paddocks had various infestation densities of African lovegrass Management options where chosen to suit the level of infestation in each site Trials one and two The combination of an initial burn and than follow up spray regimes with flupropanate was used on heavy and medium infestations Trial four The combination of burn cultivate and plant was planned in a medium to heavy infestation A few other minor lsquotrialsrsquo where planned including slashing control with glyphosphate and control with a mixture of flupropanate and glyphosphate The aim of these smaller trials was to allow comparisons between various management options use by land managers These trials occurred in a strip in down the edge of Trials one and two against the laneway Monitoring Guidelines Aim To monitor weed population change Undertaken by North Burnett Regional Council and Burnett Catchment Care Association Pasture condition is assessed during each monitoring visit by using the following steps (extract from Stocktake instructions)

1 Look over the area around you and use the pasture condition table to rate pasture condition (table 1)

2 The first and most important determinant is the proportion of 3P grasses 3 Secondly check the denseness of the crown cover of 3P grasses 4 The other indicators are secondary and help to determine whether the

pasture condition rating should remain the same as indicated by the 3P grasses or whether it should change

5

Table1 Pasture condition assessment table

Condition rating

Condition indicators 3P grasses

Annual grass

DM yield

Undesirable grasses and

other weeds

DM yield

Species diversity - desirables

DM yield Crown cover

1 ge 80 Dense amp plants healthy

le 20 le 20 gt 5 species

2 60-80

Dense amp some plants unhealthy

20-40 20-30 3-5 species

3 10-60

Moderate density amp some plants dead

40-70 30-80 2-3 species

4 lt 10 Sparse amp many plants dead

gt 70 gt 80 1 or less species

Major consideration to be considered (Level of importance when considering pasture condition) Species diversity criteria needs to be reviewed on a region-by-region basis

Figure 1 Rainfall records at Narayen for 2008

6

Figure 2 Layout of Site plan including all monitoring points

7

Results

Figure 3ndash The change in African Lovegrass cover across all five trial sites over the past eighteen months Transect two was the control site which showed variation that could only be caused by the seasons It appears from this information that the management in Transect four was most successful the only one to continue to decline in African lovegrass numbers with no re-growth again in the summer months after the thick infestation was treated with a burn and chemical application in JuneAugust 2008 The other three trials appear to be successful to a lesser extent

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

3

Introduction Property Background Narayen Station Narayen is a cattle property in the Auburn River catchment The former CSIRO Research Station was divided and sold The property with the key infrastructure is now owned by North Burnett Regional Council and is leased to Australian Agricultural College The property is run as a working station for students to learn valuable agricultural skills African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) This tufted perennial grass is native to southern Africa and was first introduced into Australia accidentally as a contaminant of pasture seed Growing up to 12m in height African lovegrass reproduces by seed producing thousands at a time and quickly spreads along roadsides and railway lines favouring acidic lightly sandy soils In Queensland African lovegrass can be found throughout the Burnett Darling Downs and Granite Belt regions Eradication is difficult with an infestation quickly developing a large viable seedbank and is extremely competitive with other pasture species Why ALG and why Narayen North Burnett Regional Council together with the Australian Agricultural College has established a demonstration site to validate and display the methods used to control African lovegrass African lovegrass has become a significant management problem for the Burnett Although trial work has been done all over the world it is limited in the North Burnett Establishing a demonstration site allows the community to see how this grass can be managed on a Burnett grazing property The demonstration site is not only showcasing established management practices but also carrying out various trials Narayen created a perfect demonstration site as it has paddocks already fenced for trials (thanks to CSIRO) and has facilities to hold field days Monitoring North Burnett Regional Council and Burnett Catchment Care Association monitor the site every six months in Autumn and Spring Monitoring includes checking on the distribution and abundance of ALG in each trial plot

4

Chemical and Mechanical Control Trial Design and Methodology The chemical and mechanical trials were based on variations of current management practices and local experience This project was planned and designed with lsquoexpertsrsquo in agriculture and pastures These lsquoexpertsrsquo included land managers with local and practical knowledge Four paddocks where utilised all had not been grazed for many years The paddocks had various infestation densities of African lovegrass Management options where chosen to suit the level of infestation in each site Trials one and two The combination of an initial burn and than follow up spray regimes with flupropanate was used on heavy and medium infestations Trial four The combination of burn cultivate and plant was planned in a medium to heavy infestation A few other minor lsquotrialsrsquo where planned including slashing control with glyphosphate and control with a mixture of flupropanate and glyphosphate The aim of these smaller trials was to allow comparisons between various management options use by land managers These trials occurred in a strip in down the edge of Trials one and two against the laneway Monitoring Guidelines Aim To monitor weed population change Undertaken by North Burnett Regional Council and Burnett Catchment Care Association Pasture condition is assessed during each monitoring visit by using the following steps (extract from Stocktake instructions)

1 Look over the area around you and use the pasture condition table to rate pasture condition (table 1)

2 The first and most important determinant is the proportion of 3P grasses 3 Secondly check the denseness of the crown cover of 3P grasses 4 The other indicators are secondary and help to determine whether the

pasture condition rating should remain the same as indicated by the 3P grasses or whether it should change

5

Table1 Pasture condition assessment table

Condition rating

Condition indicators 3P grasses

Annual grass

DM yield

Undesirable grasses and

other weeds

DM yield

Species diversity - desirables

DM yield Crown cover

1 ge 80 Dense amp plants healthy

le 20 le 20 gt 5 species

2 60-80

Dense amp some plants unhealthy

20-40 20-30 3-5 species

3 10-60

Moderate density amp some plants dead

40-70 30-80 2-3 species

4 lt 10 Sparse amp many plants dead

gt 70 gt 80 1 or less species

Major consideration to be considered (Level of importance when considering pasture condition) Species diversity criteria needs to be reviewed on a region-by-region basis

Figure 1 Rainfall records at Narayen for 2008

6

Figure 2 Layout of Site plan including all monitoring points

7

Results

Figure 3ndash The change in African Lovegrass cover across all five trial sites over the past eighteen months Transect two was the control site which showed variation that could only be caused by the seasons It appears from this information that the management in Transect four was most successful the only one to continue to decline in African lovegrass numbers with no re-growth again in the summer months after the thick infestation was treated with a burn and chemical application in JuneAugust 2008 The other three trials appear to be successful to a lesser extent

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

4

Chemical and Mechanical Control Trial Design and Methodology The chemical and mechanical trials were based on variations of current management practices and local experience This project was planned and designed with lsquoexpertsrsquo in agriculture and pastures These lsquoexpertsrsquo included land managers with local and practical knowledge Four paddocks where utilised all had not been grazed for many years The paddocks had various infestation densities of African lovegrass Management options where chosen to suit the level of infestation in each site Trials one and two The combination of an initial burn and than follow up spray regimes with flupropanate was used on heavy and medium infestations Trial four The combination of burn cultivate and plant was planned in a medium to heavy infestation A few other minor lsquotrialsrsquo where planned including slashing control with glyphosphate and control with a mixture of flupropanate and glyphosphate The aim of these smaller trials was to allow comparisons between various management options use by land managers These trials occurred in a strip in down the edge of Trials one and two against the laneway Monitoring Guidelines Aim To monitor weed population change Undertaken by North Burnett Regional Council and Burnett Catchment Care Association Pasture condition is assessed during each monitoring visit by using the following steps (extract from Stocktake instructions)

1 Look over the area around you and use the pasture condition table to rate pasture condition (table 1)

2 The first and most important determinant is the proportion of 3P grasses 3 Secondly check the denseness of the crown cover of 3P grasses 4 The other indicators are secondary and help to determine whether the

pasture condition rating should remain the same as indicated by the 3P grasses or whether it should change

5

Table1 Pasture condition assessment table

Condition rating

Condition indicators 3P grasses

Annual grass

DM yield

Undesirable grasses and

other weeds

DM yield

Species diversity - desirables

DM yield Crown cover

1 ge 80 Dense amp plants healthy

le 20 le 20 gt 5 species

2 60-80

Dense amp some plants unhealthy

20-40 20-30 3-5 species

3 10-60

Moderate density amp some plants dead

40-70 30-80 2-3 species

4 lt 10 Sparse amp many plants dead

gt 70 gt 80 1 or less species

Major consideration to be considered (Level of importance when considering pasture condition) Species diversity criteria needs to be reviewed on a region-by-region basis

Figure 1 Rainfall records at Narayen for 2008

6

Figure 2 Layout of Site plan including all monitoring points

7

Results

Figure 3ndash The change in African Lovegrass cover across all five trial sites over the past eighteen months Transect two was the control site which showed variation that could only be caused by the seasons It appears from this information that the management in Transect four was most successful the only one to continue to decline in African lovegrass numbers with no re-growth again in the summer months after the thick infestation was treated with a burn and chemical application in JuneAugust 2008 The other three trials appear to be successful to a lesser extent

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

5

Table1 Pasture condition assessment table

Condition rating

Condition indicators 3P grasses

Annual grass

DM yield

Undesirable grasses and

other weeds

DM yield

Species diversity - desirables

DM yield Crown cover

1 ge 80 Dense amp plants healthy

le 20 le 20 gt 5 species

2 60-80

Dense amp some plants unhealthy

20-40 20-30 3-5 species

3 10-60

Moderate density amp some plants dead

40-70 30-80 2-3 species

4 lt 10 Sparse amp many plants dead

gt 70 gt 80 1 or less species

Major consideration to be considered (Level of importance when considering pasture condition) Species diversity criteria needs to be reviewed on a region-by-region basis

Figure 1 Rainfall records at Narayen for 2008

6

Figure 2 Layout of Site plan including all monitoring points

7

Results

Figure 3ndash The change in African Lovegrass cover across all five trial sites over the past eighteen months Transect two was the control site which showed variation that could only be caused by the seasons It appears from this information that the management in Transect four was most successful the only one to continue to decline in African lovegrass numbers with no re-growth again in the summer months after the thick infestation was treated with a burn and chemical application in JuneAugust 2008 The other three trials appear to be successful to a lesser extent

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

6

Figure 2 Layout of Site plan including all monitoring points

7

Results

Figure 3ndash The change in African Lovegrass cover across all five trial sites over the past eighteen months Transect two was the control site which showed variation that could only be caused by the seasons It appears from this information that the management in Transect four was most successful the only one to continue to decline in African lovegrass numbers with no re-growth again in the summer months after the thick infestation was treated with a burn and chemical application in JuneAugust 2008 The other three trials appear to be successful to a lesser extent

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

7

Results

Figure 3ndash The change in African Lovegrass cover across all five trial sites over the past eighteen months Transect two was the control site which showed variation that could only be caused by the seasons It appears from this information that the management in Transect four was most successful the only one to continue to decline in African lovegrass numbers with no re-growth again in the summer months after the thick infestation was treated with a burn and chemical application in JuneAugust 2008 The other three trials appear to be successful to a lesser extent

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

8

Table 2 Percentage change of African lovegrass change in each transect

ALG Cover Feb-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Oct-09

Change Feb-Feb

Change over 18months

T1-ALG 08 45 108 01

+1300 12 T2-ALG (control) 283 167 292 142

+103 50

T3-ALG 400 275 275 168

69 42 T4-ALG 950 200 83 58

9 6

T5-ALG 975 283 483 315

50 32

AVG 523 194 248 137

47 26

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

9

Trial 1 Burn of heavy infestation (Transect 4 and 5) Site Background Current Landuse Spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow-leaved ironbark and bloodwoods

Landform hilltop and undulating

Soil description - colour light browngrey

Soil description - texture sandy Timeline Transect 4 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring Transect 5 February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring March 2009 Monitoring

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

10

Transect 5

Figure 4 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn ONLY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

11

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

12

Transect 4

Figure 5 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and SPRAY used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

13

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after burning and chemical

application

Photo above taken in October 2009 after burning and chemical application

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

14

Trial 2 Burn and Spray of medium infestation (Transect 1)

Site Background

Current Landuse spelled

PaddockTrial Area (ha)

Current Stock in Paddock 0

Time since grazed unknown

Land type Name narrow leaved ironbark on granite

Landform undulating hills

Soil description ndash colour sandy

Soil description ndash texture sandy Timeline February 2008 Monitoring June 2008 Burnt September 2008 Monitoring November 2008 Sprayed with Taskforce 2Lha using Boom spray March 2009 Monitoring

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

15

Figure 6 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and spray used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

16

Photo above taken in March 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

Photo above taken in October 2009 Site burned and boom sprayed

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

17

Trial 4 Cultivation of light to medium infestation (Transect 3)

Figure 7 Change in African lovegrass density with a burn and light soil preperation used as control technique

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

18

Photo above taken in March 2009 six months after cultivation

Photo above taken in October 2009 twelve months after

cultivation

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

19

Control No Treatment in a light infestation (Transect 2)

Figure 8 Change in African lovegrass density with no control techniques used

Photo above taken in February 2008 before any treatment

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

20

Photo above taken in March 2009 Control site so no treatment

Photo above taken in October 2009 Control site so no treatment

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

21

Supplement Trial Design and Methodology Control

bull 25 breeders bull No supplement bull Various pasture species no or minimal African lovegrass

Supplement

bull 25 breeders bull Supplement given bull Majority mature African lovegrass

Monitoring and Results Weight changes and average weights had no significant differences between the two herds This could be as a result of two factors one the beast still gains the appropriate weight utilising ALG or two the supplement boosts the weight gain to equal that of the herd feeding on other pastures Discussion to further investigate utilisation of mature ALG is to now compare average weight gains between beasts on different pastures without supplement

350

400

450

500

550

1 2 3

Beast

Beas

t Wei

ghts

Control Supplement

Figure 9 Average weight changes of beasts in the ALG and Supplement feeding trial

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

22

Figure 9 Weights for each beast in trial on 160609

Figure 10 Weights for each beast in trial on 280809

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

23

Figure 11 Weights for each beast in trial on 101209

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

24

Attachment 1 Ground cover

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

25

Attachment 2 Data sheet for Monitoring

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau

26

Contact Details North Burnett Regional Council 1300 696 272 Fax 07 4161 1425 wwwnorthburnettqldgovau PO Box 390 Gayndah Qld 4625 Burnett Catchment Care Association 07 4165 3551 wwwburnettcatchmentorg Australian Agricultural College Corporation (Narayen) wwwagriculturalcollegeqldeduau