Legume could serve as 'drought fodder' for cattle

Drought-affected cattle farmers in Australia’s north may have a new feed option for their precious livestock, thanks to a fast-growing legume.

According to Associate Professor Max Shelton, from The University of Queensland’s (UQ) School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, the legume leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) offers a profitable and environmentally sustainable option for cattle producers in dry, tropical regions.

“Leucaena addresses the main problem with achieving high-quality, range-fed beef in the tropics,” said Assoc Prof Shelton. “It supplies high-quality protein when cattle need it most — in the dry season, or during a drought such as we’re having now.

“There are substantial establishment costs, but it’s a profitable long-term investment with few risks, so in trying times like this, it’s an amazing fodder crop.”

Leucaena has been widely adopted in northern Australia and other tropical countries in the past 20 years, and it has been the subject of considerable research. In fact, the crop will be discussed in detail at the International Leucaena Conference, hosted by UQ from 29 October to 3 November.

“Many environmentalists view the legume as a potential weed threat, as there’s already a lot of weed leucaena along coastal Queensland,” Assoc Prof Shelton noted.

“The evidence shows that it didn’t come from graziers’ paddocks; nonetheless, this conference will reinforce farmers’ strategies to mitigate weed spread, including the promotion of a code of practice by landholders who’ve had extensive experience with leucaena.

“In fact, there are environmental benefits, as leucaena is very effective at reducing methane emissions and sequestering carbon.

“That’s just another reason why planting leucaena is the most productive, profitable and sustainable long-term strategy for pasture improvement for the northern Australian beef industry.”

The conference will feature research and development events, graziers’ forums and a Q&A with Joe Rolfe from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF). There will also be a dinner hosted by UQ’s Professor Neal Menzies featuring experienced leucaena grazier Don Heatley OAM.

For more information on the conference, visit https://leucaenaconference2018.org.

Image caption: A young steer grazing ‘Redlands’, a new leucaena crop resistant to both drought and psyllid pests.