A north west Queensland grazier is doubtful the spread of prickly acacia will stop if recommendations to spell cattle are not enforced.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 3 minutes 57 seconds 3 m 57 s Recommended spelling times to clear cattle of prickly acacia are changing, but one Queensland grazier says the spread won't stop until guidelines are mandatory. ( Hailey Renault ) Download 7.2 MB

Scientist involved in recent Biosecurity Queensland research found cattle feeding on prickly acacia seed pods should be spelled for up to eight days before being moved between paddocks or properties.

Senior weed scientist, Wayne Vogler, said the current industry recommendation to spell cattle for six days "got it right", even though seeds were found in cow faeces up to eight days after feeding.

"At some point there might be a minor adjustment to recommendations, but certainly if cattle are spelled for six days, almost all the seed is gone anyway," he said.

"It will give cattlemen that information they need to make informed decisions, when they know stock have been eating prickly acacia pods, what's going to happen if they shift them now.

"If we implement some of these strategies on property, we can really reduce the risk of moving prickly acacia around and making a really bad problem worse."

Senior weed scientist Wayne Vogler collecting a fresh cow pat during a cattle feeding trial in Julia Creek. He sifted through 650 kilograms of fresh cow poo during the trial. ( Biosecurity Queensland )

Hughenden grazier, Brett Epple, said merely recommending graziers spell cattle was not enough to prevent prickly acacia from spreading.

His property, Alston Vale, sits inside Queensland's core infestation area around Hughenden, 300 kilometres west of Townsville.

Mr Epple said if the standard for spelling was not enforced, it would fail.

"The problem has got this serious it just can't continue the way it has been," he said.

"Legislation has been in place for some time now where it is an offence to transport cattle that have access to prickly acacia seed.

"I don't see anyone in the future being prosecuted unless the state government develops a back bone on this issue and starts employing biosecurity officers to actually see what's going on in this area."