IN just two years, more than 1200 Queensland livestock producers have downloaded the Stocktake Plus app developed by Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) to help determine stocking rates and carrying capacity in any paddock.

The app, along with a range of other services, will be showcased at the upcoming Beef Australia 2015 event in Rockhampton next month.

“Stocktake Plus will be just one of the many extension services on show at this premiere industry event,” DAF Regional Director Paul Walmsley said.

“The Stocktake Plus app came about because so many producers now rely on the daily use of smartphones.

“There was an opportunity for an app that would be an instantly accessible tool in a landholder’s pocket. The resulting Stocktake Plus gives instant access to a property’s pasture records allowing a producer to make informed on-the-spot decisions about stocking rates and paddock management,” he said.

“For a grazier standing in a paddock, the app uses GPS technology to assess the land type.”

Through a guided process, the app allows them to monitor their soil, pasture (quality and quantity) and woodlands to come up with a recommended long-term carrying capacity and either a seasonal or short-term forage budget.

“When we launched this service it was projected that we’d reach 500 users in the first three years. We’ve already hit 1200 users across Australia, with about 850 in Queensland, which demonstrates the appeal of practical, easy to use, targeted technology.”

MLA has been involved in the development and funding of this project, working in collaboration with DAF since 2012.

MLA Grassfed Productivity Program Manager Dr Wayne Hall said he was delighted with the uptake of the app and that this was an important project to invest in as producers were increasingly looking at online tools to help with robust and prompt decision making in the paddock.

“The major benefit for producers is the ability to do a forage budget quickly, effectively and while in the paddock to assist with managing livestock nutritional requirements, optimising stocking rates and improved grazing land management,” Mr Hall said.

Mr Walmsley said while Stocktake Plus was only registered for use in Australia, there had been international interest.

“Overseas visitors to Beef Australia 2015 will have an opportunity to see Stocktake Plus for themselves,” he said.

“More than 80,000 people are expected to attend and DAF has a full program of beef extension services that will be profiled.”

To download Stocktake Plus, visit App store (iOS), Google Play store (Android) or the Stocktake Plus website (www.stocktakeplus.com.au). Stocktake Plus is a joint project of the Queensland Government, Northern Territory Government, Western Australian Government and Meat and Livestock Australia.  For more information on the full DAF program at Beef 2015 here at www.daf.qld.gov.au

Source: Queensland Departmentment of Agriculture