Managing livestock and water usage from the office computer has become a reality with the Observant Remote Management System™. Teaming with MLA, Observant Pty Ltd brings to producers a virtual producer demonstration site (PDS) enabling industry members real-time access to monitoring information from two of Australia’s northern pastoral stations, Mt Riddock and Napperby.
Both located near Alice Springs, Rebecca and Steve Cadzow’s Mt Riddock Station and Roy Chisholm’s Napperby Station installed the Observant system over 12 months ago and have calculated significant savings in time, money and fuel.
Mt Riddock Station is located North East of Alice Springs. Comprising of 2 635 km², the grazing operation incorporates 7 000 head of cattle, spread across the pastoral zone in large mobs. Maintaining a vigilance on water availability is vital in managing the operations and this is were the Observant system really makes an impact.
With water tanks up to 140 km away from the homestead, extensive amounts of time and diesel is spent making “just-in-case” checks on water. Containing these costs and increasing reliability was central to the Cadzow’s decision to purchase the Observant system. Significantly Mt Riddock staff have reduced water monitoring travel by 27 768 km, and saved $28 000 on diesel associated with water management.
Similarly Napperby Station owner Roy Chisholm has also found the convenience and reliability of the Observant system means managing water supply from the office or indeed from overseas.
With a 500 km bore run twice a week, finding a management solution which would dramatically reduce fuel costs and add value to stock management was central to Roy’s purchasing of the Observant system. As a key tool in achieving productivity, profitability and sustainability, Napperby staff are able to check water levels, visualise and weigh stock at watering points, and record the information from their ear tags.
Further information about the MLA PDS can be found at mla.com.au or by contacting Observant on 1300 224 688.