Northern Australian Savannas: Management for Pastoral Production

McKeon, Greg; Day, K. A.; Howden, S. M.; Mott, J. J.; Orr, D. M.; Scattini, WJ; Weston, E. J.

doi:10.2307/2845365

Cited by 151 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Inter-annual rainfall variability is high but varies between regions; for example, the coefficient of variation in annual rainfall for Katherine in the Northern Territory is considerably lower (25% v. 39%) than in Charters Towers, north-east Queensland (Clewett et al, 2003). Overall, rainfall is strongly summer dominant, although the strength of this seasonality decreases slightly moving north to south (McKeon et al, 1990). Thus, there is usually a long dry season characterised by very low forage quality with severe nutritional constraints to livestock production (Mott et al, 1984).…”

Section: The Situation In Northern Australiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stocking strategies recommended to manage for rainfall variability in Australian rangelands (Ebersohn, 1973;McKeon et al, 1990;Ash et al, 2000;Johnston et al, 2000) fall into two broad groups: stocking at long-term carrying capacity (LTCC) and varying stock numbers with rainfall. These are discussed below.…”

Section: Stocking Strategies To Cope With Rainfall Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Climate change in particular could compromise estimates of LTCC or short-term stocking rates based on the historical amount, distribution and timing of rainfall (McKeon et al, 2009). Here, SCF have potential as a decision aid in proactively adjusting stocking rates to minimise drought impacts and exploit better seasons (McKeon et al, 1990).…”

Section: Seasonal Climate Forecasts (Scf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Australia, rainfall variability is particularly pronounced and occurs at annual, decadal, generational and longer time scales (McKeon et al, 1990). This variability is a major challenge to sustainable management with eight major degradation episodes documented since 1900 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainable management for rangelands in a variable climate: evidence and insights from northern Australia

O’Reagain¹,

Scanlan²

2013

Animal

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Inter-annual rainfall variability is a major challenge to sustainable and productive grazing management on rangelands. In Australia, rainfall variability is particularly pronounced and failure to manage appropriately leads to major economic loss and environmental degradation. Recommended strategies to manage sustainably include stocking at long-term carrying capacity (LTCC) or varying stock numbers with forage availability. These strategies are conceptually simple but difficult to implement, given the scale and spatial heterogeneity of grazing properties and the uncertainty of the climate. This paper presents learnings and insights from northern Australia gained from research and modelling on managing for rainfall variability. A method to objectively estimate LTCC in large, heterogeneous paddocks is discussed, and guidelines and tools to tactically adjust stocking rates are presented. The possible use of seasonal climate forecasts (SCF) in management is also considered. Results from a 13-year grazing trial in Queensland show that constant stocking at LTCC was far more profitable and largely maintained land condition compared with heavy stocking (HSR). Variable stocking (VAR) with or without the use of SCF was marginally more profitable, but income variability was greater and land condition poorer than constant stocking at LTCC. Two commercial scale trials in the Northern Territory with breeder cows highlighted the practical difficulties of variable stocking and provided evidence that heavier pasture utilisation rates depress reproductive performance. Simulation modelling across a range of regions in northern Australia also showed a decline in resource condition and profitability under heavy stocking rates. Modelling further suggested that the relative value of variable v. constant stocking depends on stocking rate and land condition. Importantly, variable stocking may possibly allow slightly higher stocking rates without pasture degradation. Enterprise-level simulations run for breeder herds nevertheless show that poor economic performance can occur under constant stocking and even under variable stocking in some circumstances. Modelling and research results both suggest that a form of constrained flexible stocking should be applied to manage for climate variability. Active adaptive management and research will be required as future climate changes make managing for rainfall variability increasingly challenging.Keywords: grazing strategies, profitability, land condition, climate forecasts, simulation models ImplicationsEvidence from northern Australia suggests that managers should apply a form of constrained flexible stocking with upper limits to stocking rate of about 20% to 40% above long-term carrying capacity. Stocking rates should be tactically adjusted on the basis of forage availability, and where appropriate, informed by seasonal climate forecasts. Even in the best years, annual stocking rate increases should be limited to 10% to 20% in order to avoid overstocking in the event of poor subsequent seasons....

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Section: The Situation In Northern Australiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stocking Strategies To Cope With Rainfall Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seasonal Climate Forecasts (Scf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Sustainable management for rangelands in a variable climate: evidence and insights from northern Australia

O’Reagain¹,

Scanlan²

2013

Animal

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“…Through long-term experience and research in the region, safe stocking rates have been determined as using 30% of pasture yield in 80% of years (McKeon et al, 1990). This calculation requires the determination of net above-ground primary productivity (NPP) of pastures, a key measure of the potential productivity of a pasture system (Redmann, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Preliminary Model to Predict Rainfall Use Efficiency of Pastures on Open-Cut Coal Mines in Central Queensland, Australia

Bisrat¹,

Mullen²,

Grigg³

2002

JASMR

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Abstract. Cattle grazing is a potential post-mining land-use option for open-cut coal mines in the dry sub-tropical region of central Queensland, Australia, but no research has been conducted to determine the grazing capacity of these lands. A study was conducted to develop a model for estimating pasture productivity of rehabilitated mined lands, from which long-term sustainable stocking rates could be predicted. Rainfall-use efficiency (RUE), a reliable indicator of pasture productivity in this moisture-limited environment, was calculated for 17 plots across three minesites over a single growing season, and related by linear regression and stepwise multiple linear regression to several site and mine-soil properties. Plots were dominated by Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass), and ranged in age from 3 to 25 years since establishment. Slope (r 2 =0.45) and surface cover (r 2 =0.44) were most strongly correlated with RUE. These factors were interpreted as affecting surface retention of rainfall. The factors most correlated with RUE from multiple linear regression were slope (r 2 = 0.45), surface soil exchangeable Mg (cumulative r 2 = 0.71) and surface exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) (cumulative r 2 = 0.77). ESP is a measure of soil dispersion and surface crusting, which when combined with slope (negative correlation), influenced the ability of incident rainfall to enter the soil profile. Mg was interpreted as a surrogate soil fertility factor, as Mg was strongly correlated with soil total N (r 2 =0.53) and cation exchange capacity (r 2 =0.74). Dry matter yield and RUE results are generally consistent with those observed on unmined pastoral lands in the region, but data from additional sites and over more seasons are required to fully develop and validate the model for minesite conditions.

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Convergence of Probability Measures

Billingsley¹

1999

Wiley Series in Probability and Statistics

5,858

447

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Airborne measurements of particle number concentrations from biomass burning were conducted in the Northern Territory, Australia, during June and September campaigns in 2003, which is the early and the late dry season in that region. The airborne measurements were performed along horizontal flight tracks, at several heights in order to gain insight into the particle concentration levels and their variation with height within the lower boundary layer (LBL), upper boundary layer (UBL), and also in the free troposphere (FT). The measurements found that the concentration of particles during the early dry season was lower than that for the late dry season. For the June campaign, the concentration of particles in LBL, UBL, and FT were (685 ± 245) particles/cm 3 , (365 ± 183) particles/cm 3 , and (495 ± 45) particle/cm 3 respectively. For the September campaign, the concentration of particles were found to be (1233 ± 274) particles/cm 3 in the LBL, (651 ± 68) particles/cm 3 in the UBL, and (568 ± 70) particles/cm 3 in the FT.The particle size distribution measurements indicate that during the late dry season there was no change in the particle size distribution below (LBL) and above the boundary layer (UBL). This indicates that there was possibly some penetration of biomass burning particles into the upper boundary layer. In the free troposphere the particle concentration and size measured during both campaigns were approximately the same.

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Northern Australian Savannas: Management for Pastoral Production

Cited by 151 publications

References 31 publications

Sustainable management for rangelands in a variable climate: evidence and insights from northern Australia

Sustainable management for rangelands in a variable climate: evidence and insights from northern Australia

A Preliminary Model to Predict Rainfall Use Efficiency of Pastures on Open-Cut Coal Mines in Central Queensland, Australia

Convergence of Probability Measures

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