Principles and guidelines for managing cattle grazing in the grazing lands of northern Australia: stocking rates, pasture resting, prescribed fire, paddock size and water points – a review

Abstract

Beef cattle grazing is the dominant land use in the extensive tropical and sub-tropical rangelands of northern Australia. Despite the considerable knowledge on land and herd management gained from both research and practical experience, the adoption of improved management is limited by an inability to predict how changes in practices and combinations of practices will affect cattle production, economic returns and resource condition. To address these issues, past Australian and international research relating to four management factors that affect productivity and resource condition was reviewed in order to identify key management principles. The four management factors considered were stocking rates, pasture resting, prescribed fire, and fencing and water point development for managing grazing distribution. Four management principles for sound grazing management in northern Australia were formulated as follows: (1) manage stocking rates to meet goals for livestock production and land condition; (2) rest pastures to maintain them in good condition or to restore them from poor condition to increase pasture productivity; (3) devise and apply fire regimes that enhance the condition of grazing land and livestock productivity while minimising undesirable impacts; and (4) use fencing and water points to manipulate grazing distribution. Each principle is supported by several more specific guidelines. These principles and guidelines, and the supporting research on which they are based, are presented.

Boosting the productivity and profitability of northern Australian beef enterprises: Exploring innovation options using simulation modelling and systems analysis

“…Beef cattle grazing, predominantly of unimproved native vegetation under extensive low-input production systems, is the dominant economic land use of the northern half of the Australian continent (Hunt et al, 2014). The pasture resource base of this geographically diverse land mass is comprised of sub-tropical and tropical woodlands, open grasslands and savannas each of which have differing capacities for livestock production and proximity to major livestock markets (Gleeson et al, 2012).…”

“…The tropical rangelands of Australia are vulnerable to overgrazing and degradation and a key area of grazing management research and extension over many years has been the development of sustainable carrying capacities (Hunt et al, 2014). Introducing new technologies that allow more animals to be carried and/or to consume more pasture run the risk of creating unintended environmental consequences (Gardener et al, 1990).…”

Virtual herding for flexible livestock management – a review

“…The amount of forage a particular landscape produces impacts on many aspects of its stewardship including fuel for prescribed burns (Hunt et al 2014), soil stabilisation (Wolfe and Nickling 1993) as well as fulfilling the nutritional and behavioural requirements for wildlife (Robbins 1983) and livestock (Smith 1998;Holechek et al 2011) and ultimately economics (MacLeod et al 2004). The focus of stocking rate in this manuscript is to optimise the relationship between forage production and livestock nutrition within the context of sustainable management.…”

The Effect of Altitudinal Zone on Soil Properties, Species Composition and Forage Production in a Subalpine Grassland in Northwest Greece

“…The results of grazing capacity estimation, suggests that the grassland is overgrazed at all altitudinal zones. Roukos Continued use of stocking rates above the grazing capacity generally leads to grassland degradation and decline in production per animal (Hunt et al, 2014). The overgrazing disappears the most palatable species and can result in significant changes in forage production, floristic composition, diversity, and the recycling of nutrients in the grasslands' ecosystem ( .…”