The Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) Program operated across the high rainfall zone (HRZ, annual rainfall >600 mm/year) of southern Australia from July 1996 to June 2001. An additional year (the harvest year) was added, to provide time for focussed analysis and product development. A survey of livestock producers across the HRZ confirmed achievement of the goal that at least 2000 producers adopted (and a further 5000 were trialing) more profitable and sustainable grazing systems as a result of the program.SGS was established to address declining pasture productivity and emerging environmental problems in the grazing systems of the HRZ, and though initially focussed on the twin goals of profitability and sustainability, the program evolved to formally include social issues and the full 'triple bottom line' approach. Within SGS, success was defined as the extent to which the program was able to assist the grazing industries build financial, social and environmental capital.The suite of papers in this Special Edition provides a comprehensive account of the research and extension 'results' from the SGS Program. Rather than summarising those results, this paper reviews and reflects on the triple bottom line outcomes; the contribution of SGS to the elements of a sustainable grazing system; the impact of grazing method on production and sustainability; and the outcomes from the harvest year. The final section examines the SGS structures and processes that most contributed to the success of the program and advances some suggestions for improvements to future R,D&E programs.
The experiences of participants in the Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) Program were examined to understand why more productive and sustainable practices were adopted by producers involved in SGS. This paper explores from a range of perspectives (producers, researchers, extension agents and facilitators) the delivery mechanism that led to these practices being adopted and concludes with a model describing the adoption process observed in SGS. The model describes a continuous 3-stage process of motivation, trialing–exploration and farm practice change. Support for decision making during the transition between each stage of the process was recognised as an essential ingredient for success.
Liveweight and wool production data are presented from a grazing management experiment in which continuous stocking was compared with a Tour-paddock rotational system at three stocking rates on a sown pasture. Significant difTerences were recorded in liveweight and wool production between stocking rates. The overall efTcct of management was non-significant but its interaction with stocking rate and year were both significant..At the intermediate stocking rate (8 wethers/ac, 20 wetfiers/ha) increases in both livewcighl and wool production were recorded for the rotational management system; in this treatment there was also less need for supplementary feeding. Greater wool production was recorded from the continuously grazed treatments at both the high and the low stocking rates but there was little effect on liveweight or the need for supplementary feeding.
Young Merino ewes on five commercial properties in northern New South Wales were supplemented with selenium and their production was compared with untreated flock mates. They were studied from weaning till first lambing at about two years of age. Treatments of 5 mg selenium were given orally every six weeks for approximately 12 months. Copper treatments were also included to test for a possible concurrent deficiency or interaction with selenium. There were significant responses to selenium in liveweight in four of the five flocks and in wool production in two of the flocks at both shearings. Reproductive performance at first mating was also significantly better in two flocks. There were no beneficial effects of copper treatment nor were there any significant interactions with selenium treatment in any aspect of production measured.
The Regional Producer Network (RPN) functioned across southern Australia as the primary delivery mechanism of the Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) Program for 5 years (1996–2001) and the Harvest Year (2001–2002). It consisted of a network of Producer Committees that provided on-ground organisation to coordinate extension activities in the 11 SGS regions. The operation of the RPN was modelled on a participation mode called Interactive Participation. The main objective was to support the adoption of a large-scale practice change in the high rainfall zone towards more productive, profitable and sustainable grazing systems. Strong producer leadership developed and information exchange improved to achieve a high level of impact on management skills among those producers motivated to improve their grazing operations. The characteristics of Interactive Participation were incorporated into the processes and operation of the RPN. Defined and structured methodologies were used for collective and context-specific learning within the framework of a producer network that encouraged interaction. The strength of Interactive Participation was that producers saw participation as a right and not just a means to achieve the program goal. Each region took control over local decisions including the allocation of available resources. The process engaged all sectors of the program (producers, researchers, management and funders). The experiential extension procedures used systematic and structured learning activities to support producers who were committed to learning, on-farm change and improvement to grazing management. In developing a coordinated approach to their operation, the Producer Committees engaged grazing industry researchers, public and private extension practitioners and community groups. This collaboration strengthened local organisations and developed community confidence in the grazing industries.
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