Sustainable grazing management for temporal and spatial variability in north Australian rangelands – a synthesis of the latest evidence and recommendations

O’Reagain, Peter J.; Scanlan, Joe C.; Hunt, L. P.; Cowley, Robyn; Walsh, Dionne

doi:10.1071/rj13110

Cited by 58 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The herd was managed to ensure pasture utilization rates that are considered for the region as economically and environmentally sustainable and limit herd mortalities (~20%; Ash, Corfield, McIvor, & Ksiksi, 2011;Hunt, 2008;O'Reagain & Bushell, 2011;O'Reagain, Scanlan, Hunt, Cowley, & Walsh, 2014) rather than in a specific attempt to maximize profits. The herd was managed to ensure pasture utilization rates that are considered for the region as economically and environmentally sustainable and limit herd mortalities (~20%; Ash, Corfield, McIvor, & Ksiksi, 2011;Hunt, 2008;O'Reagain & Bushell, 2011;O'Reagain, Scanlan, Hunt, Cowley, & Walsh, 2014) rather than in a specific attempt to maximize profits.…”

Section: Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This desired stocking rate represents the fact that famers usually lower their stocking rate when long-term utilization rates are over 20% as they wish to prevent forage resource exhaustion and medium to longterm land degradation (Ash et al, 2011;Hunt, 2008;O'Reagain & Bushell, 2011;O'Reagain et al, 2014). A desired stocking rate is indicated in the model and varies depending on the annual pasture utilization rate, the latest being defined as the percentage of annual pasture growth consumed by the herd.…”

Section: Herd Salesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change and variability impacts on grazing herds: Insights from a system dynamics approach for semi‐arid Australian rangelands

Godde

Dizyee

Ash

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

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Grazing livestock are an important source of food and income for millions of people worldwide. Changes in mean climate and increasing climate variability are affecting grasslands' carrying capacity, thus threatening the livelihood of millions of people as well as the health of grassland ecosystems. Compared with cropping systems, relatively little is known about the impact of such climatic changes on grasslands and livestock productivity and the adaptation responses available to farmers. In this study, we analysed the relationship between changes in mean precipitation, precipitation variability, farming practices and grazing cattle using a system dynamics approach for a semi‐arid Australian rangeland system. We found that forage production and animal stocking rates were significantly affected by drought intensities and durations as well as by long‐term climate trends. After a drought event, herd size recovery times ranged from years to decades in the absence of proactive restocking through animal purchases. Decreases in the annual precipitation means or increases in the interannual (year‐to‐year) and intra‐annual (month‐to‐month) precipitation variability, all reduced herd sizes. The contribution of farming practices versus climate effect on herd dynamics varied depending on the herd characteristics considered. Climate contributed the most to the variance in stocking rates, followed by forage productivity levels and feeding supplementation practices (with or without urea and molasses). While intensification strategies and favourable climates increased long‐term herd sizes, they also resulted in larger reductions in animal numbers during droughts and raised total enteric methane emissions. In the face of future climate trends, the grazing sector will need to increase its adaptability. Understanding which farming strategies can be beneficial, where, and when, as well as the enabling mechanisms required to implement them, will be critical for effectively improving rangelands and the livelihoods of pastoralists worldwide.

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Section: Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Herd Salesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change and variability impacts on grazing herds: Insights from a system dynamics approach for semi‐arid Australian rangelands

Godde

Dizyee

Ash

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

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“…In this component, the variable of livestock stocking level is highlighted. It is a determinant variable of the gross value of production (McKeon et al, 2009;O'Reagain et al, 2014), of sustainability and viability of livestock establishment (Foran & Stafford Smith, 1991;Johnston et al, 2000), and of the system's vulnerability (Dieguez Cameroni et al, 2014). This is strongly related to variables, herd management, and the production of the natural grassland, and therefore it presents a central role in component 1.…”

Section: Sociocultural Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

External Drivers and Internal Control Factors that Determine the Vulnerability and Response Capacity to Drought of Cattle Producers in the Sierras Del Este Region of Uruguay

Díaz¹,

Achkar²,

Mazzeo³

2017

JAS

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Increased response and adaptation capacity are key elements for coping with climate threats. Cattle producers in the Sierras del Este region are one of several groups that are the most vulnerable to climate variability in Uruguay. Despite this commonality, it is a heterogeneous system, which suggests that strategies to respond to these events are divergent. The objective of this work is to identify and evaluate the vulnerability of cattle producers to drought and determine drought response strategies. A new approach is proposed and focuses on the identification of differential capacities to address the vulnerabilities. In addition, this approach seeks to define groups of similar producers of vulnerability since the design of public policies cannot be developed in isolation. For evaluation, we provided consultations with livestock producers and specialists from which we collected our data. Data was analysed using multivariate statistical analyses. Our results indicated that 69% of the system's vulnerability variance can be explained by 4 components: the capacity for cattle management, the socio-economic capacity to handle drought, the capacity to generate alternatives to cattle feeding, and the commercial and financial flexibility of the producers. These findings also yielded response groups that, in turn, identified 7 producer groups with significant differences in the available and necessary capacities to respond to drought. This methodological strategy allowed the operationalization of the vulnerability and responsiveness concepts, and the identification of strategies for these events. Additionally, this strategy creates an understanding of the complexity of the system and the variables that contribute to it.

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“…2b; cf., the 'marginalised agricultural mode' of land use in Holmes (2006)]. For example, improved livestock management in degraded rangeland can reduce erosion, increase production, and enhance biodiversity (O'Reagain et al 2014). Alternatively, conservation value may also be increased at little or no cost to agricultural profitability, for example by exchanging non-native for functionally similar native pasture species ('conservation gain'; Fig.…”

Section: A Multifunctional Rural Landscape Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1e-f), and so modern projects usually focus on converting single-use agricultural or degraded production areas into connected, multi-value or conservation-oriented landscape elements. This is achieved through improved fencing and grazing management (O'Reagain et al 2014), protection of remnant woodland and watercourses, and in severely degraded areas (Fig. 1e-g), through construction of water management features, livestock exclusion, and revegetation (Ludwig and Tongway 1996).…”

Section: A Multifunctional Rural Landscape Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why non-native grasses pose a critical emerging threat to biodiversity conservation, habitat connectivity and agricultural production in multifunctional rural landscapes

et al. 2017

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Context Landscape-scale conservation planning is key to the protection of biodiversity globally. Central to this approach is the development of multifunctional rural landscapes (MRLs) that maintain the viability of natural ecosystems and promote animal and plant dispersal alongside agricultural land uses. Objectives We investigate evidence that non-native grasses (NNGs) in rangelands and other low-intensity agricultural systems pose a critical threat to landscape conservation initiatives in MRLs both in Australia and globally.Methods We first establish a simple socio-ecological model that classifies different rural landscape elements within typical MRLs based on their joint conservation and agro-economic value. We then quantify the impacts of eight Australian NNGs (Andropogon gayanus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis curvula, Hyparrhenia hirta, Nassella neesiana, Nassella trichotoma, Phalaris aquatica and Urochloa mutica) on different landscape elements and then classify and describe the socio-ecological transformations that result at the MRL scale. Results Our data indicate that two broad classes of NNGs exist. The first reduces both conservation and agro-economic value ('co-degrading' species) of invaded landscapes, while the second improves agroeconomic value at the expense of conservation value ('trade-off' species). Crucially, however, both classes cause hardening of the landscape matrix, agricultural intensification, reduced habitat connectivity, and the loss of multi-value land use types that are vital for landscape conservation. Conclusions NNGs drive socio-ecological transformations that pose a growing threat to landscape-scale connectivity and conservation initiatives in Australia and globally. There is an urgent need for further research into the impacts of NNGs on habitat connectivity and biodiversity within multifunctional landscapes, and the socio-ecological goals that can be achieved when landscape transformation and degradation by these species is unavoidable.Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article

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Sustainable grazing management for temporal and spatial variability in north Australian rangelands – a synthesis of the latest evidence and recommendations

Cited by 58 publications

References 33 publications

Climate change and variability impacts on grazing herds: Insights from a system dynamics approach for semi‐arid Australian rangelands

Climate change and variability impacts on grazing herds: Insights from a system dynamics approach for semi‐arid Australian rangelands

External Drivers and Internal Control Factors that Determine the Vulnerability and Response Capacity to Drought of Cattle Producers in the Sierras Del Este Region of Uruguay

Why non-native grasses pose a critical emerging threat to biodiversity conservation, habitat connectivity and agricultural production in multifunctional rural landscapes

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