Synthesis of system outcomes for a grazing-management experiment in temperate native pastures
W. B. Badgery A C and D. L. Michalk B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
B Charles Sturt University, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: warwick.badgery@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Animal Production Science 57(9) 1869-1876 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16599
Submitted: 5 September 2016 Accepted: 4 April 2017 Published: 5 July 2017
Abstract
Increasing the intensity of grazing management from continuous grazing or set-stocking to intensive rotational grazing has been proposed as a way of improving the profitability and environmental outcomes for native pasture-based grazing systems in the high-rainfall zone (HRZ) of southern Australia. The present paper synthesised the results and outcomes of eight papers covering different aspects of a grazing-system study investigating the intensity of grazing management at Panuara (33°27ʹS, 148°56ʹE), 25 km south-west of Orange, New South Wales. The systems analysis covered soils and soil water, pastures, animal production, profitability and business risk by using a combination of field experiments and biophysical modelling. The experimental approach, engagement with stakeholders and the potential impact of the research outcomes are discussed; as are the future directions for grazing system research. Increasing the intensity of grazing management from a 1- to a 20-paddock system resulted in a 21% higher pasture growth, 22% higher stocking rate and 20% higher lamb production per hectare. However, modelling demonstrated that seasonal variability had a greater impact on profitability than did the management system, and whole-farm profitability of the 20-paddock system was lower than that of the 1- and 4-paddock systems due to higher infrastructure costs. Pasture stability was associated with a high perennial grass content (>70%), and a stocking rate of 4.2 ewes/ha for continuous grazing or 5.3 ewes/ha for intensive rotational grazing limited the potential for degradation events. Advantages were identified in fencing and managing production zones, with different production potential within a farm, to improve utilisation across the landscape and efficiency of fertiliser use. The farming-system approach successfully integrated field research with pre- and post-experimental modelling, and with strategic input from an advisory group containing farmers, researchers and advisors, to develop a full understanding of the impact, at a system level, of increasing the intensity of grazing management in the HRZ.
Additional keywords: EverGraze, grazing systems, native pasture, sheep production.
References
Amidy MR, Behrendt K, Badgery WB (2017) Assessing the profitability of native pasture grazing systems: a stochastic whole-farm modelling approach. Animal Production Science 57, 1859–1868.| Assessing the profitability of native pasture grazing systems: a stochastic whole-farm modelling approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ash AJ, Corfield JP, McIvor JG, Ksiksi TS (2011) Grazing management in tropical savannas: utilization and rest strategies to manipulate rangeland condition. Rangeland Ecology and Management 64, 223–239.
| Grazing management in tropical savannas: utilization and rest strategies to manipulate rangeland condition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Badgery W (2013) ‘Orange proof site.’ Available at http://www.evergraze.com.au/research-and-demonstration/orange-proof-site/ [Verified 1 September 2016]
Badgery W, Millar G, Broadfoot K, Martin J, Pottie D, Simmons A, Cranney P (2015a) Grazing management options to boost productivity and secure healthy landscapes. In ‘Proceedings of the 29th NSW Grassland Conference’, 14–16 July 2015, Goulburn, pp. 72–81.
Badgery W, Sargeant K, Friend M, Glyde S, Sanford P, Behrendt R, Mitchell M, Murphy S, Avery A (2015b) EverGraze: a partnership between researchers, farmers and advisors to deliver effective grassland management. In ‘Sustainable use of grassland resources for forage production, biodiversity and environmental protection. Proceedings of the 23rd international grassland congress, keynote llectures’. (Eds D Vijay, MK Srivastava, CK Gupta, DR Malaviya, MM Roy, SK Mahanta, JB Singh, A Maity, PK Ghosh) pp. 236–247. (Range Management Society of India: Jhansi, India)
Badgery WB, Millar GD, Broadfoot K, Michalk DL, Cranney P, Mitchell D, van de Ven R (2017a) Increased production and cover in a variable native pasture following intensive grazing management. Animal Production Science 57, 1812–1823.
| Increased production and cover in a variable native pasture following intensive grazing management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Badgery WB, Millar GD, Michalk DL, Cranney P, Broadfoot K (2017b) The intensity of grazing management influences lamb production from native grassland. Animal Production Science 57, 1837–1848.
| The intensity of grazing management influences lamb production from native grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Badgery WB, Mitchell D, Millar GD, Broadfoot K, Michalk DL, Cranney P, Brown W (2017c) Designing a grazing-system experiment for variable native pastures and flexible lamb-production systems. Animal Production Science 57, 1785–1798.
| Designing a grazing-system experiment for variable native pastures and flexible lamb-production systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Broadfoot KM, Badgery WB, Millar GD (2017) Post-experimental modelling of grazing systems to improve profit and environmental outcomes using AusFarm. Animal Production Science 57, 1849–1858.
| Post-experimental modelling of grazing systems to improve profit and environmental outcomes using AusFarm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chapman DF, Rawnsley RP, Cullen BR, Clark DA (2013) Inter-annual variability in pasture herbage accumulation in temperate dairy regions: causes, consequences, and management tools. In ‘Proceedings of the 22nd international grassland congress. Vol. 1’. (Eds D Michalk, G Millar, W Badgery, K Broadfoot) pp. 798–805. (NSW DPI: Orange, NSW)
Cox F (2012) Understanding sheep grazing in native pastures to better manage production and natural resource outcomes. PhD Thesis, Charles Sturt University, Orange NSW.
Cox F, Badgery WB, Kemp DR, Krebs G (2017) Seasonal diet selection by ewes grazing within contrasting grazing systems. Animal Production Science 57, 1824–1836.
| Seasonal diet selection by ewes grazing within contrasting grazing systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dowling PM, Kemp DR, Ball PD, Langford CM, Michalk DL, Millar GD, Simpson PC, Thompson RP (2005) Effect of continuous and time-control grazing on grassland components in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 369–382.
| Effect of continuous and time-control grazing on grassland components in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
French P, O’Brien B, Shalloo L (2015) Development and adoption of new technologies to increase the efficiency and sustainability of pasture-based systems. Animal Production Science 55, 931–935.
| Development and adoption of new technologies to increase the efficiency and sustainability of pasture-based systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Friend MA, Robertson S, Masters D, Avery AA (2007) EverGraze: a project to achieve profit and environmental outcomes in the Australian grazing industries. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences 16, 70–75.
Garden DL, Dowling PM, Eddy DA, Nicol HI (2000a) A survey of farms on the Central, Southern and Monaro Tablelands of New South Wales: management practices, farmer knowledge of native grasses, and extent of native grass areas. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 1081–1088.
| A survey of farms on the Central, Southern and Monaro Tablelands of New South Wales: management practices, farmer knowledge of native grasses, and extent of native grass areas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garden DL, Lodge GM, Friend DA, Dowling PM, Orchard BA (2000b) Effects of grazing management on botanical composition of native grass-based pastures in temperate south-east Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 225–245.
| Effects of grazing management on botanical composition of native grass-based pastures in temperate south-east Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hackney B, Orchard P, Kemp D, Virgona J, Orchard B (2010) Factors affecting pasture growth in a topographically diverse native perennial grass pasture on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. In ‘15th Australian agronomy conference’, 15–18 November 2010, Lincoln, New Zealand. (Eds H Dove, RA Culvenor) (Australian Society of Agronomy/The Regional Institute: Gosford, NSW)
Heitschmidt RK, Taylor CA (1991) Livestock production. In ‘Grazing management: an ecological perspective’. (Eds RK Heitschmidt, JW Stuth) pp. 161–177. (Timber Press: Portland, OR)
Kemp DR, Michalk DL, Virgona JM (2000) Towards more sustainable pastures: lessons learnt. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 343–356.
| Towards more sustainable pastures: lessons learnt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lang D, McDonald W (2005) ‘Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production.’ (NSW Department of Primary Industries) Available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/162306/groundcover-for-pastures.pdf [Verified 4 May 2017]
Mason WK, Kay G (2000) Temperate Pasture Sustainability Key Program: an overview. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 121–123.
| Temperate Pasture Sustainability Key Program: an overview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mason WK, Lamb K, Russell B (2003) The Sustainable Grazing Systems Program: new solutions for livestock producers. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 663–672.
| The Sustainable Grazing Systems Program: new solutions for livestock producers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Masters D, Edwards N, Sillence M, Avery A, Revell D, Friend M, Sanford P, Saul G, Beverly C, Young J (2006) The role of livestock in the management of dryland salinity. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 733–741.
| The role of livestock in the management of dryland salinity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McCown RL (2001) Farming systems research and farming practice. In ‘Proceedings of the 10th Australian agronomy conference’. Available at http://regional.org.au/au/asa/2001/plenary/4/mccown.htm [Verified 4 May 2017]
Michalk DL, Badgery WB, Kemp DR (2017) Balancing animal, pasture and environmental outcomes in grazing management experiments. Animal Production Science 57, 1775–1784.
| Balancing animal, pasture and environmental outcomes in grazing management experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mitchell DC, Badgery WB, Cranney P, Broadfoot K, Priest S, Pickering D (2017) In a native pasture, landscape properties influence soil moisture more than grazing management. Animal Production Science 57, 1799–1811.
| In a native pasture, landscape properties influence soil moisture more than grazing management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Reagain P, Bushell J, Holmes B (2011) Managing for rainfall variability: long-term profitability of different grazing strategies in a northern Australian tropical savanna. Animal Production Science 51, 210–224.
| Managing for rainfall variability: long-term profitability of different grazing strategies in a northern Australian tropical savanna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parsons AJ, Leafe EL, Collett B, Penning PD, Lewis J (1983) The physiology of grass production under grazing. 2. Photosynthesis, crop growth and animal intake of continuously-grazed swards. Journal of Applied Ecology 20, 127–139.
| The physiology of grass production under grazing. 2. Photosynthesis, crop growth and animal intake of continuously-grazed swards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
QualDATA (2012) Caring for our country EverGraze supporting sites final impact report. Future Farm Industries CRC and Department of Primary Industries Victoria.
Robertson M, Carberry P, Brennan L (2009) Economic benefits of variable rate technology: case studies from Australian grain farms. Crop & Pasture Science 60, 799–807.
| Economic benefits of variable rate technology: case studies from Australian grain farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sargeant K (2014) EverGraze VI: final report. Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney.
Sargeant K, Glyde S (2013) From research to practice change: achieving adoption through regionally packaged technology and farm systems. In ‘Proceedings of the 22nd international grassland congress. Vol. 3’. (Eds D Michalk, G Millar, W Badgery, K Broadfoot) pp. 1848–1851. (NSW DPI: Orange, NSW)
Sargeant K, Virgona J (2013) ‘Integration of native and improved pasture systems increases profit.’ Available at http://www.evergraze.com.au/library-content/integration-of-native-and-improved-pasture-systems-increases-profit/ [Verified 13 March 2017]
Scott JM, Gaden CA, Edwards C, Paull DR, Marchant R, Hoad J, Sutherland H, Coventry T, Dutton P (2013) Selection of experimental treatments, methods used and evolution of management guidelines for comparing and measuring three grazed farmlet systems. Animal Production Science 53, 628–642.
| Selection of experimental treatments, methods used and evolution of management guidelines for comparing and measuring three grazed farmlet systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shakhane LM, Scott JM, Murison R, Mulcahy C, Hinch GN, Morrow A, Mackay DF (2013) Changes in botanical composition on three farmlets subjected to different pasture and grazing management strategies. Animal Production Science 53, 670–684.
| Changes in botanical composition on three farmlets subjected to different pasture and grazing management strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sharrow SH, Kruger WC (1979) Performance of sheep under rotational and continuous grazing on hill pastures. Journal of Animal Science 49, 893–899.
| Performance of sheep under rotational and continuous grazing on hill pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Teague WR, Provenza FD, Norton BE, Steffens T, Barnes MK, Kothmann MM, Roath RL (2009) Benefits of multi-paddock grazing management on rangelands: limitations of experimental grazing research and knowledge gaps. In ‘Grasslands: ecology, management and restoration’. (Ed. HG Schroder) pp. 41–80. (Nova Science Publishers: New York)
Torell LA, Murugan S, Ramirez OA (2010) Economics of flexible versus conservative stocking strategies to manage climate variability risk. Rangeland Ecology and Management 63, 415–425.
| Economics of flexible versus conservative stocking strategies to manage climate variability risk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warn LK, Frame HR, McLarty GR (2002) Effects of grazing method and soil fertility on stocking rate and wool production. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding 50, 510–517.
