Journal article

Use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to record grazing beef cattle water point use

LR Williams, DR Fox, GJ Bishop-Hurley, DL Swain

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2019

Abstract

Current recommendations for the provision of water points for grazing beef cattle in northern Australia are based on effective grazing distribution rather than cattle water point use. Scientific examination of cattle watering behaviour under varying conditions of climate, pasture and water availability (i.e. distances between water points) is required to inform water infrastructure development recommendations and maximise cattle productivity. This study assessed the potential of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) reader data from remote weighing technology to examine cattle visit times and time intervals between cattle visits to water points. Data from three cattle stations in northern Au..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This research was supported under the Commonwealth Government's Research Training Program, Australia/Research Training Scheme and a Supporting Women in Agriculture scholarship. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Australian Government. The experiment from which the data were obtained for "Brunchilly" was funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Australia and the Australian Government. We thank them and the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources for providing the data for this study.