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Savanna Explorer > North East Queensland > Grazing > Grazing, pasture and soil research

Wambiana grazing strategies and results

The following article is from Savanna Links, Issue 33, 2006. Savanna Links is written and produced by the Tropical Savannas CRC.

Wambiana grazing strategies and results

Strategies tested

(1 AE = 1 Adult Equivalent Beast weighing 450 kg)
  1. Heavy stocking: Set stocking (4 ha/AE)
  2. Light stocking: Set stocking (8 ha/AE)
  3. Rotational Wet Season spelling: Set stocking (6 hectares/AE). Paddock is divided into three with one-third rotationally spelled each wet season (December to June).
  4. Variable stocking: Stock numbers adjusted in May based on available forage and set to ensure animals have sufficient feed for the dry season and to leave a minimum residue of 800–1000 kg/ha of pasture. (3–12 hectares/AE)
  5. SOI variable stocking: Adjust numbers in November according to available forage and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) based forecasts for the coming wet season (3–12 ha/AE)

Results

Contant heavy stocking

Initially performs well in good years but ...
  • Increases costs and risk
  • Reduces individual animal performance and condition
  • Increases time to turn-off, resulting in poorer carcass grades, and therefore reduced returns
  • Land condition declines and run-off increases
  • In drier years carrying capacity declines with negative effect on animal production per hectare.

Lighter stocking

  • Superior individual animal production
  • Shorter time to turn-off, increased turnover
  • Improved marketability and market returns
  • Lower costs and risk
  • Maintains or improves land condition and reduces run-off.

Rotational wet season spelling

  • Good animal performance
  • Shorter time to turn off
  • Improved marketability
  • Land resource improves however,
  • Requires flexibility with stocking rates

Variable stocking and SOI

Performs well in most years with good animal performance but ...
  • Increases risk and increased management skills needed
  • Long-term effect on land condition needs more investigation
  • Delays in destocking can seriously harm pasture condition.

—John Bushell, QDPI&F