Timing and variation of supplement intake by breeding cows in the extensive rangelands of northern Australia

Abstract

Supplementation of rangeland cattle with loose-licks or lick-blocks providing urea in the dry season and phosphorus during the rainy season (Louw 1979) has become foundational to successful cattle breeding in northern Australia. Little is known of the between-animal variation in supplement intake in a commercial environment or associated differences in animal performance. As an initial step in study of supplement responses in northern Australia, the between animal variation in supplement intake and the diurnal variation in accessing supplement were evaluated.