Bestprac
Bestprac was an Australian Wool Innovation program that provided support for pastoral wool, sheep meat and cattle producers to improve their business and production performance.
Bestprac was an Australian Wool Innovation program that provided support for pastoral producers to improve their business and production performance.
Bestprac operated in the pastoral zones of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. The pastoral zone of Australia is vast and there are significant differences in farming systems, access to services, native and pest species, enterprise types and business structures. Although there are these differences, Bestprac demonstrated that all pastoral businesses have techniques, systems or innovations that can be shared across state borders to assist others to improve their skills and knowledge.
The Bestprac Case Study Series and Innovations showcased rangeland producers who were trying something new, unique and interesting in their business. Each case study was designed to provide tools and information producers may need to consider applying the new approach, way of thinking, technology or process to their own business.
These case studies looked at what drove the innovation, how it was implemented, the results that have been seen and enjoyed, lessons learnt and how it could be adapted and implemented by rangelands producers around the country.
The resources here are the Bestprac legacy. The content was reviewed in 2021 to ensure its technical accuracy but has not been revised since their publication in 2014.
Bestprac Innovation Manual
Bestprac Manual
The Australian Pastoral Property Innovation Manual features 120 practical, on-property innovations, covering a broad range of topics from business management and administration, business diversification, people, production, and the environment to infrastructure and equipment.
These innovations have been implemented throughout the rangelands and lower rainfall mixed farming regions of Queensland, NSW, SA & WA.
Business Planning Case Studies & Innovations
Business strategies for Rangeland producers, Hamilton case study
This case study focuses on Andrew Dufty, a successful and motivated farmer from western Victoria. Andrew has a message and focus that can be applied to any business; including rangeland businesses.
Business Diversification In The Rangelands, Rawnsley Park Case Study
Over 30 years Tony and Julie have grown Rawnsley Park from a small family grazing enterprise to a successful tourism venture. Today, they operate a merino dohne cross enterprise for lamb and wool production, and the station offers a range of accommodation, walking, mountain biking and fourwheel drive tracks, a shop, fuel, and a restaurant which attract 25,000 visitors per year.
Strategic business planning and goal setting, Camden Park case study
Often producers are kept busy doing the day-to-day farm jobs, that there is little time left to plan for the future. This Bestprac Case Study shows the value of spending time setting clear goals.
Technology and Tourism, Wootoona case study
This Bestprac Case study looks at technological and diversification strategies undertaken by Ben and Susan Carn on their property Wootoona Near Quorn in the Upper North of South Australia.
Shearing Every Eight Months
Long staple length attracts a discount for wool producers. Shearing every eight months reduces staple length, increases wool yield and improves cash flow.
Opportunistic Stock Trading
In good years, excess feed supply is often wasted on pastoral properties. Opportunistically trading stock captures the excess feed and increases income for the business.
Wool Basis Contracts: Insurance In A Shifting Market
The Bestprac case study looks at how selling wool bales using basis contracts has benefitted one woolgrower.
Genetics Case Studies & Innovations
Genetics To Tackle Flystrike
Breech and bodystrike can be major issues for pastoral wool growers. This Bestprac Case Study focuses on using objective and subjective genetic tools to remove wrinkle.
Climate Case Studies & Innovations
Dynamic climate modelling for seasonal outlooks
This Bestprac Case Study looks at the dynamical modelling for seasonal outlooks by the Bureau of Meteorology which will provide farmers, who are keen to accurately manage their climate risk, a valuable tool for informed decision making.
Weather Watch - Managing climate variability in the Flinders Ranges
We all know that managing climate variability is critical to the success of any farming enterprise. The question then becomes: How do you give yourself the best chance of success? It’s this question that prompted Susan Carn to look at how they make decisions on their property.
Download: PDF 1 PDF 2 PDF 3 Watch Video
Pasture & Nutrition Case Studies & Innovations
Chemical Shuttle Hay Feeder
Once empty, most farm chemical shuttles are surplus to requirement and commonly sit wasting away. This is a simple, cost effective way to supply hay or straw to livestock whilst minimising wastage.
Using Lick Feeders To Supplementary Feed Ewes
Maintaining ewe nutrition is a challenge for many pastoral wool producers. Lick feeders can improve production and reduce labour and operating costs associated with supplementary feeding.
Hay Baling Native Pasture
Some pastoral properties experience a peak in feed supply that is often missed by the inability to rapidly increase stocking rates. This innovation offers an alternative which increases feed security and income.
Pest Animals Case Studies & Innovations
Wild dog control in SA's sheep pastoral zone case study
Producers living south of the Dog Fence in the sheep pastoral zone of the SA Arid Lands region provide a model for managing wild dogs as a natural resource management issue.
Efficient Wild Dog Baiting
Wild dogs are a significant threat to the pastoral sheep industry but baiting can be time consuming.
This innovation shows how pastoral producers can increase baiting efficiency while saving labour.
Excluding Dogs Once And For All At Banff Downs
Morven grazier Tim Williams is running more stock than ever and hasn’t had a problem with wild dogs thanks to a decision to put in exclusion fencing in 2012.
Managing Total Grazing Pressure With Exclusion Fencing
On pastoral properties, feed available for livestock is reduced by the grazing of non-domestic
animals such as goats and kangaroos. Exclusion fencing conserves feed for livestock and improves pasture diversity.
Making The Move Into Electric Fencing
When Alan Forrest diversified and introduced goats to his sheep and wool operation in the early 2000s, he also made the move to electric fencing and has not looked back since.
Use Of Trap Yards At Watering Points
Feral goats are an issue in the pastoral zone. Trap yards allow goats to be self-mustered at watering points while reducing the labour required for effective management.
Feral goat control program and strategies
While the sale of feral goats can provide some additional income to producers, they are estimated to eat roughly the same amount of vegetation as sheep, and their hidden cost should not be underestimated.
Options For Goat Management
Feral goats are an issue across the pastoral zone. Implementing management options can reduce their impact on Total Grazing Pressure (TGP) and ensures sheep production remains viable.
Regenerative Agriculture Case Studies & Innovations
Erosion Control With Envirorolls
Pastoral soils are fragile and can be easily eroded in heavy rainfall events. This innovation helps maintain the soil structure and conserve water to allow perennial plant growth.
Erosion Control Along Tracks And Fencelines
Erosion in the pastoral zone creates gullies and can make the land hard to use for grazing, difficult to drive across and erodes fence lines. Erosion control structures along tracks and fence lines protect the infrastructure from erosion damage as well as re-instating the natural water flow.
Second Hand Vineyard Posts
Fencing is a significant cost on a pastoral property. Vineyard posts sourced within a reasonable distance to the property offer a cheaper alternative to steel posts.
Bokhara Plains environmental strategy to regenerate the landscape and diversify into tourism
This Bestprac case study looks environmental strategies implemented by Graham and Cathy Finlayson at Bokhara Plains, 35km North of Brewarrina.
Bokhara is now completely set up for a planned grazing system that is able to run a significantly higher DSE/ha compared to other properties in the area. The return of perennial grasses and the reduction or elimination of hard pan (clay pan) areas means the property is able to be grazed for a significantly longer period of time during a dry period.
Photo courtesy of Bokhara Plains
Old Man Satlbush in an environmental strategy at Glenroy Estate
This Bestprac case study looks at the use of Old Man Saltbush in assisting with a changing climate and noting the production consequences at Glenroy Estate, Via Carrieton, South Australia.
Tackling erosion at Willow Springs
This case study tells how Brendan and Carmel became involved in Ecosystem Management Understanding and outlines some of the intervention works undertaken to improve land management and production.
Ecosystem Management Understanding, Wirrealpa case study
Wirrealpa has been owned and managed by the Fargher family since the early 1950s and, today, it is a diverse business operating wool, lamb, beef and tourism enterprises.
The introduction of Ecosystem Management Understanding in 2010 enhanced this focus and increased Warren and Barbara’s enthusiasm for the business, which has provided production, environmental, financial, and people benefits.
Coping with a variable climate using regenerative farming and grazing practices
Australia’s climate has always been variable, no more so than the last decade. Eric, Wendy, Luke and Karissa Harvey are key members of a four generational family farm operation near Dubbo, in Central West NSW who are adept at managing their land across a range of climatic conditions often occurring in the one year.
Reproduction Case Studies & Innovations
Select Twin-Bearing Ewes For More Lambs
Goondiwindi vet Dr Mike Rival sees many Merino wool producers fail to maximise the number of lambs on the ground through a lack of attention to ewe selection and nutrition.
Early Weaning Using A High Starch Diet For Rumen Development
Improving weaner survival and performance is critical to increasing profitability. This innovation can provide a method for pastoralists to improve the management of weaners and overall profitability.
Increasing Lambing Percentages In The Pastoral Zone
Poor lambing percentages are a challenge for many pastoral wool producers. Existing ‘inside country’ strategies can be successfully adapted in the pastoral zone, such as pregnancy scanning and supplementary feeding.
Shearing Sheds & Sheep Yards Case Studies & Innovations
Shearing shed upgrades at Cashel Vale
For all wool producers, shearing sheds are an important tool of the trade. This Bestprac case study looks at the Paraway Pastoral’s Steam Plains Station, Conargo NSW shearing shed.
New shearing shed design at Steam Plains
For all wool producers, shearing sheds are an important tool of the trade. This Bestprac case study looks at the Stuart Mitchell, Cashel Vale, Bollon QLD shearing shed.
Walk-Over Weighing
Mustering, weighing stock and recording data are labour intensive tasks for pastoral producers. Walkover weighing can allow producers to efficiently weigh sheep, while recording weights electronically.
Expanded Metal Walkway On A Loading Ramp
Working at height on a loading ramp or at the race can result in accidents, especially if the surface is wet. This innovation demonstrates an easy way to improve worker safety with a perforated metal walkway.
Stockmanship Case Studies & Innovations
Low Stress Stock Handling
Handling pastoral sheep for husbandry activities is labour intensive and sometimes stressful
or dangerous. Better handling techniques can save labour and stress while improving safety and production.
Flash Jackets Worn While Mustering
Mustering with a large team over great distances in the scrub can be a safety issue for pastoral businesses. Flash jackets improve visibility and job safety.
Water Case Studies & Innovations
Cell Centre Watering Point
Checking spread-out water points is labour intensive in the pastoral zone. Implementing water points in cell centres reduces the infrastructure required and also saves labour.
Conserving Water With A Superdam
Water storage is essential for pastoral properties in hot, low rainfall environments. The Superdam increases the amount of rainfall caught and stored, reduces evaporation and the cost of dam cleaning.
Monitoring Water Levels Using Telemetry System
Frequently checking water is essential in the pastoral zone but water runs can be time consuming. Water telemetry reduces labour and operating costs of checking multiple water points over large distances.
Mitigating Erosion Around Watering Points
Reducing erosion around water troughs with concrete aprons is expensive and time consuming to implement. Using cheaper, recycled rubber saves time and money whist reducing erosion.
Water Point Relocation Using Map Grade Altimeter
Accurately measuring elevation across the property can ensure that moving water across large tracts of land can be done in the most efficient and cost effective manner through utilising natural water movements and siphoning.
Agritechnology Case Studies & Innovations
Wireless Broadband To The Bush
Internet connections in pastoral zones are often slow and expensive, with little choice of service providers or plans. This innovation improves download speeds and plan options in remote areas which are cost-effective.
Telemetry Controlled Gate System
Monitoring and controlling remote infrastructure is a time consuming activity on pastoral properties. Remotely opening and closing gates saves time and money.
Motion Sensor Camera
Farm security in the pastoral zone can be an issue given the size and remoteness of properties and time between visits. Motion sensor cameras provide a level of security, enabling the producer to remotely check a property, as well as monitor the health and safety of the sheep.
Using GPS Smart Phone Apps Out Mustering
On pastoral properties the location of workers is a common issue when mustering. This smart phone app increases the safety and efficiency of the job. It indicates to the mustering team where each other are located at the click of a button.
Hydraulic Wire Winder
Fencing is an essential part of stock control on any property. Keeping the wire manageable not only makes fencing easier but the hydraulic controls make it a lot safer.
