David Blair Coates: a career of contribution to the northern Australian cattle industry

David Coates, a highly respected agricultural scientist who spent a lifetime working for the benefit of the northern Australian cattle industries, passed away on the 24 January 2024. David had exceptional knowledge and experience of the practical aspects of the industry. In his research career, he excelled in his contributions, and especially towards understanding of phosphorus nutrition in both pastures and cattle in the rangelands of northern Australia, and in his leadership in the development of near-infrared spectroscopy of the dung of cattle for rapid and economical measurements of the diets of cattle grazing rangelands.