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.

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