Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Western Australia Pastoral Land Tenure - Murchison Region
No full textA map of the Murchison region of Western Australia showing the pastoral lease boundaries and names and their tenure. Includes an index of pastoral leases.https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_maps/1016/thumbnail.jp
Albany, City of - West BEN sign map - 1 of 3
No full textBeach Emergency Number (BEN) sign locations Albany shirehttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_bens/1002/thumbnail.jp
Northampton, Shire of - Kalbarri BEN sign map – 2 of 2
No full textBeach Emergency Number (BEN) Signage Installation Map – Shire of Northampton - Kalbarrihttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_bens/1050/thumbnail.jp
Rockingham, City of - North BEN sign map - 1 of 2
No full textBeach Emergency Number (BEN) Signage Installation Map – City of Rockingham (north)https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_bens/1015/thumbnail.jp
The resilience of re-engineered sandy soils in wet and dry seasons in Western Australia
No full textUnpredictable climatic events such as wet winters and dry hot springs in the Mediterranean climate, are increasingly common, threatening the sustainability of the grains industry in southern Australia. Our previous research suggests that deep soil amelioration and re-engineering might double the grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE), particularly in more favourable seasons. However, the crucial question remains: will these enhancements endure during low decile seasons? To address this research question, we investigated four experiments for three seasons at Bolgart, Meenar, Badgin, and Tarin Rock in Western Australia (WA).
Estimated water-limited yield potentials (Yp) for cereals were 3.88, 3.63 and 2.29 t/ha in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The average paddock control yields were 1.75, 3.64 and 1.74 t/ha compared to the yields of best soil re-engineering treatment of 3.67, 6.26 and 3.44 t/ha during the same period across the four experiments. Yield gains of up to 2.2 t/ha for canola, 2.7 t/ha for wheat, and 2.7 t/ha for barley were achieved. WUE also increased by up to 16.5 and 15.1, and 18.7 kg/mm of effective rainfall for wheat, barley and canola, respectively. While yield enhancements were more pronounced during wetter seasons (2021 and 2022), WUE demonstrated higher performance during the drier season (2023). Our findings reveal that the improvements in soil properties persisted for three seasons and are expected to last longer
Recommendations for the revision of animal units and their application in the Western Australian rangelands
No full textThis report provides recommendations for the practical application of a methodology for calculating and applying Animal Units in the rangelands of Western Australia.
Animal Units have evolved over time, in their definition, derivation and the size of the standard animals used. This has resulted in their being varying and inconsistent approaches within and across jurisdictions which has limited their application.
The Animal Unit methodology applied in this report is used in other rangeland and pastoral regions, it therefore progresses a nationally consistent approach.
The standard animals used in this methodology are: Animal Equivalent (AE), a 450 kg Bos taurus steer with zero weight gain, walking 7 kilometres per day Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE); a 45 kg wether with zero liveweight gain, no wool growth beyond that which is included in maintenance and walking 7 kilometres per day.
WA was divided into five Animal Equivalent Rangeland Regions for the purpose of applying Animal Units: Gascoyne-Buffel, Kimberley, Pilbara, Southern Rangeland, Nullarbor.
Available data on diet quality, liveweight and liveweight gain in the beef cattle sector in WA, and insight from the working group formed by DPIRD for this project was used to assign productivity regions to each of the Animal Equivalent Rangeland Regions.
The productivity assigned to regions is based on estimated annual liveweight gain of steers in the regions. The 3 annual productivity levels used are high (annual steer liveweight gain \u3e150 kg), moderate (110-150 kg) and low (\u3c 110 kg).
The assignment of annual productivity of each region were: Gascoyne-Buffel moderate; Kimberley moderate; Pilbara moderate; Southern Rangeland low; Nullarbor moderate.
This report provides recommendations for the Western Australian Government to update Animal Units in line with the annual productivity listed above, including generic AE ratings and intake constant per AE.
The categories of livestock currently used for reporting in the rangelands of WA are very broad. We recommend that the livestock classes used are expanded. The current livestock classes and PCCs can be used as part of the transition to the new methodology.
Existing carrying capacities can be used or adapted with the new approach.
The lack of regionally specific and accurate animal production data has been an impediment in undertaking this work.
There is significant scope for improvements in the application of Animal Units in WA. Additional data on animal growth paths and productivity will refine or confirm the assumed productivity levels.
Updated carrying capacity assessments are required for the Southern Rangelands and Nullarbor regions
Datasets on the endemic diseases of cereals, oilseeds and pulses and absence reports for the high priority pathgens in host crops in WA.
No full textThe collection contains the datasets on a surveillance and monitoring program for incidence and severity of endemic diseases of cereal, oilseed and pulse crops, and 5 high-priority pathogens in the GRDC Western Region
Distance examination of livestock with drones - an effective method for assessing health and welfare
No full textDistance examination is an important part of veterinary investigation into ruminant herd health and welfare. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) explored the use of drones to conduct assessments of the health and welfare status of sheep and cattle. Three methods of distance examination were compared comprising observations; from a vehicle, a “micro” category drone and a “very small” category drone. The disturbance and behavioural reactions caused by the methods were compared. Assessments of adverse health and welfare conditions by each method were compared to observations made at yarding. The preferred method was the use of the very small drone which had the best sensitivity for detection of conditions potentially associated with adverse health or welfare and the best optics at a distance that did not disturb the animals. The optics of the very small drone enabled distance examination without disturbance in both cattle and sheep. Cattle were more sensitive to the presence of the drones than sheep. The micro drone was unable to approach cattle close enough to allow undisturbed distance examination. All methods had similar specificity, however, sensitivity varied markedly. The very small drone had the best sensitivity 86% which was statistically greater than the micro drone (44%, P = 0.05) and better than the vehicle observations, which had sensitivity of 77% (not statistically significant). The selection of an appropriate drone model is essential for accurate distance examination. Distance examination of livestock with drones of suitable optic quality and resolution represents an effective method for assessing animal health and welfare
Agricultural groundcover update February 2024
No full textAbout 92% of the grainbelt had adequate (more than 50%) vegetative groundcover to prevent wind erosion in February 2024. Nearly 8% of the grainbelt (1,193,400 ha) had less than 50% groundcover, which is inadequate to prevent wind erosion. The northern grainbelt had the highest risk of wind erosion and 16.5% of this farmland had inadequate groundcover. Less than 0.7% of the grainbelt had a high to very high risk of wind erosion because groundcover was less than 30%
Karratha, City of - East BEN sign map – 2 of 2
No full textBeach Emergency Number (BEN) Sign Location - Karrathahttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_bens/1059/thumbnail.jp