New water know-how on show at Beltana

A preview of Australia's best knowledge for saving money and water in the pastoral industry will be unveiled at the Beltana Field Day in South Australia, 23 April 2008.

The outcomes of three years' work by the Desert Knowledge CRC WaterSmart Pastoral Production project will highlight the best and most cost-effective ways to store and deliver stock water on cattle and sheep stations across desert Australia.

People attending the field day at the Beltana racecourse will get the inside running on ways to slash 30–50% off the cost of water delivery and monitoring on a pastoral property, according to DKCRC's Andy Bubb.

This year, the Desert Knowledge CRC is again partnering with the Beltana Field Day to showcase an array of innovations for making stock management in extensive pastoral systems more precise and accurate and also easier. The technology will lead to more efficient, more sustainable and more profitable enterprises, according to Bubb.

A highlight will be a public demonstration of WOW for cattle — a solar-powered walk-on weighing (WOW) and self-drafting system developed by the DKCRC and CAWD Engineering, following the successful demonstration at Beltana last year of a similar system for sheep.

Using WOW, the weights of cattle leaving a watering point are electronically recorded and the animals can then be drafted automatically. Coupled with the available telemetry systems, the management and monitoring of these systems can occur remotely.

Beltana is a suitable location for 'Outback Alive' as it is at the heart of a region that showcases sustainable desert living — including pastoral innovations, energy production, bush foods, communications and energy-efficient accommodation.