Pidgeon Hole Project:

Grazing Strategies for Tomorrow

The Pigeon Hole project in the Victoria River District (VRD) of the Northern Territory is currently investigating the potential to increase stocking rates, the infrastructure developments necessary to allow this, and the economic and ecological implications.

There is significant potential to further develop the capacity and profitability of the northern Australian pastoral industry.

Research, the BTEC and good cattle prices have facilitated a major improvement in management and herd productivity over the last 5 years in the region, with leading producers branding in the order of 80-85 per cent calving percentage and keeping herd mortalities to less than 2 per cent.

Although the average herd productivity has significantly improved, rising costs (fuel, labor, helicopter costs, etc) and land appreciation (land values havemore than doubled in the last 0 years) is continuing to apply pressure to further improve returns.

Stocking rates are one of the key factors driving the productivity and profitability of many northern pastoral businesses.

If stocking rates can be sustainably increased the northern pastoral industry will continue to be economical.

Download the full Pidgeon Hole Project handbook (2.6 MB) here.