Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands, New South Wales

Abstract

Pasture degradation is a major issue in the high rainfall zone (>600 mm) of temperate Australia. Characterised by a decline in the perennial grass component, this degradation is responsible for reduced livestock production and implicated in environmental problems, such as dryland salinity, through changed water-use patterns. This paper reports on a multi-disciplinary research program conducted at Carcoar in central New South Wales, one of 6 sites that comprised the Sustainable Grazing Systems National Experiment. The aim of the experiment was to develop more profitable and sustainable pasture systems by evaluating the impact of changes in the perennial grass component on animal production and water-use patterns. Tactical management strategies were evaluated on naturalised and sown perennial grass pastures and on chicory (Cichorium intybus), using a Merino ewe-based first cross lamb enterprise. Data presented showed that grazing deferment over summer, combined with reduced stocking rate, increased perenniality and reduced annual grass weeds compared with continuous grazing. Livestock performance, however, did not always follow trends in available perennial herbage mass. Naturalised and sown pastures were suitable for raising prime lambs, but only chicory had the capacity to finish lambs to market specification without supplementation. With respect to water-use patterns, sown perennial pastures were more successful than naturalised pastures in reducing leakage of water from the root zone, although this seemed to be related mostly to the abundance of the perennial grass in the pasture. From a sustainability perspective, continuously grazed pastures generated higher net cash flows, but had negative environmental impacts, whereas tactically grazed pastures had positive on- and off-farm impacts but lower net cash flows. The implications of these findings for incorporation into future management strategies for sustainable production in high rainfall environments are discussed.

Identifying management strategies to improve sustainability and household income for herders on the desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China

“…Some research shows that increasing stocking rate can improve pasture utilization and pasture quality in farm system (Baker and Leaver, 1986;Fales et al, 1995;Holmes and Parker, 1992;Macdonald et al, 2008;Stockdale and King, 1980), but most research shows that continuous higher stocking rate leads to reduction of the net income of herders and this impacts the development of all animal husbandry practices (Eigenraam et al, 2000;Jia and Wang, 1994;Michalk et al, 2003;Rittenhouse and Roath, 2002;Tilman and Downing, 1994;Tilman et al, 1996). It is difficult to find the effect of stocking rate on animal production and economic benefits (McCollum et al, 1999), but values for the vegetation and soil are easier to find based on the condition of the grassland.…”

Changes in botanical composition on three farmlets subjected to different pasture and grazing management strategies

“…This early phase of pasture improvement in the temperate higher rainfall zone of NSW resulted in a marked improvement in productivity (Jones et al 2006) of premium livestock products (Michalk et al 2003). However, since the mid 1970s, cost and price pressures on grazing enterprises on the Northern Tablelands have led to significant overgrazing and deterioration of both native and sown pastures (Wheeler et al 1987;Michalk et al 2003).…”

“…However, since the mid 1970s, cost and price pressures on grazing enterprises on the Northern Tablelands have led to significant overgrazing and deterioration of both native and sown pastures (Wheeler et al 1987;Michalk et al 2003). As a consequence, between 1970 and 1990, stocking rates have declined and are now well below potential (Kemp and Dowling 2000).…”

Optimising pasture and grazing management decisions on the Cicerone Project farmlets over variable time horizons

“…The use of tactical grazing rests has been broadly researched and promoted as a means of maintaining a higher proportion of desirable species (Kemp et al 2000;Michalk et al 2003). In this study, guidelines were derived for triggering seasonal grazing rests based on the state of the pasture (Fig.…”