Breeding cows or replacement heifers are generally used for this purpose. However, the animals must be cleaned up prior to sale for slaughter, or sold under permit to others to clean up. Check the options Producers with stock grazing residue land will initially be required to undertake fat biopsy testing of their animals. Where an owner has established a reliable record of satisfactory animals this testing will be minimal, usually at slaughter in the abattoir. Currently fat testing in abattoirs is paid for by the industry, but on-farm sale testing costs are borne by the owner.
Industry currently meets a large proportion of costs associated with managing OC residues.
Industry has indicated it expects properties grazing OC treated areas with cattle to have in place auditable management plans, and after the year 2000 to meet the audit costs of those management plans. These costs need to be taken into account in future budget calculations. More reliable knowledge of OC dilution, excretion and metabolism rates in cattle has improved our capacity to manage residues in the grazing system. This can substantially reduce the requirement for on-farm testing. Summary Beef producers who wish to run breeders on land containing pesticide residues should adjust their management to minimise the financial effects of producing weaners with pesticide levels too high to be acceptable for slaughter.