A FORMER scientist at the Rutherglen Research Institute has used his life-long experience in the cattle industry to write a book to help beef producers increase their profitability.
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David Hamilton, who worked at the Rutherglen site for 30 years, wrote Producing Beef Profitably From Pasture over a five year period.
“I always had the idea for writing the book but my work and the amount of reading required always seemed to get in the way,” Mr Hamilton.
“I’ve written the book deliberately to be uncomplicated and logical.
“I saw that there was an opportunity for farmers to improve their systems if they had the right knowledge, information from research.
“The trouble can be that farmers often make decisions about a situation that is more complex than it seems, and they don’t realise that.
“Production costs, generally can eat up 50 per cent of a beef producer’s return.
“If they can lift their efficiencies then they can increase their profitability.”
The 191-page book covers pasture management and use, various aspects related to fertility, calving season, breeding principles and animal selection and pest control.
Mr Hamilton obtained degrees in agriculture and economics at Glas-gow University before obtaining his Masters in Agriculture at Melbourne University.
He came to Australia in 1957, aged 26, to work for Wesfarmers in Perth but six months later he started managing a mixed farming business in Western Australia for six years.
He then worked as a research scientist at the Rutherglen Research Institute for 30 years before “funding was cut”.
Mr Hamilton then became a share farmer and worked as a consultant for a fertiliser company for 15 years.
Producing Beef Profitably From Pasture is available from Amazon online, bookshops, the canteen at the Barnawartha North Saleyards or by contacting Mr Hamilton on (02) 6032 9361.
