Comparison of the diets of goats and sheep on a Casuarina cristata - Heterodendrum oleifolium woodland community in western New South Wales

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (72) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
JH Leigh ◽  
NL Hindley ◽  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Nitrogen Contents ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Semi Arid

The diets of sheep and feral goats grazing a semi-arid woodland in western New South Wales were assessed using oesophageal fistulated animals. The diet of the goats consisted largely of browse, with the leaves of Heterodendrum oleifolium (rosewood) a consistent component, although a large proportion of herbaceous material (mainly Bassia spp.) was eaten on occasions. The sheep showed a preference for the pasture species Stipa variabilis (spear grass) and Bassia spp. (copper burrs). When these plants were not available they were replaced in the diet by a higher proportion of browse, mainly of the tree Casuarina cristata (belah). Nitrogen contents of the diets ranged from 1.6 per cent to 3.0 per cent, with that of the goats generally being greater than that of the sheep. In vitro digestibility data indicated comparable values for both animal species, with lower values occurring under higher stocking pressures. The woody weed Eremophila sturtii (turpentine) was ignored by both sheep and goats at all stocking rates. Another weed shrub Cassia eremophila var. platypoda (punty) was browsed very sparingly. This indicates that the use of goats in an attempt to eliminate established stands of these species is unlikely to be successful at low to moderate stocking rates.

Cereals for winter grazing on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (71) ◽  
pp. 790 ◽  
Author(s):  
JV Lovett ◽  
EM Matheson
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Species Response ◽  
South Wales

In field experiments conducted over three years at Armidale, New South Wales, the total winter forage production by barley, oats, wheat and rye was similar. However, barley and rye tended to outyield wheat and oats at early harvests, the reverse applying at late harvests. It is suggested that these characteristics of the cereals could be exploited to meet specific seasonal requirements for dry matter production more effectively than is possible with a single species. Response to high seeding rates in forage production was similar in all cereals and was confined to a late sowing. Significant differences in in vitro digestibility over the winter period were recorded and differences were also apparent in subsequent grain yield.

The butterfly fauna of the Griffith district, a fragmented semi-arid landscape in inland southern New South Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Braby ◽  
Ted D. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Butterfly Fauna ◽  
Semi Arid

Thirty-three species of butterflies are recorded from the Griffith district in the semi-arid zone of inland southern New South Wales. The butterfly community comprises the following structure: 19 species (58%) are resident; 7 (21 %) are regular immigrants; 2 (6%) are irregular immigrants; 5 (15%) are vagrants. Except for a few migratory species, most occur in relatively low abundance. Lack of similar studies elsewhere in western New South Wales precludes generalizations regarding the species richness, composition and structure of semi-arid butterfly communities. Comparison of the butterfly fauna with that from five other inland regions on the slopes and foothills of the Great Diving Range, revealed that the Griffith district is most similar in species richness and composition to that of Deniliquin and to a lesser extent Wagga Wagga and Cowra in the south, than with two regions in the higher summer rainfall area of the north of the State (Coonabarabran-Mendooran, Narrabri-Bellata). Overall, the butterfly fauna of inland New South Wales (total of 73 species, of which 49 occur in the southern regions) is depauperate compared with that recorded from the coastal/subcoastal areas east of the Great Dividing Range. Attention is drawn to the conservation significance of several vegetation types and habitat remnants in the Griffith district. Much of the native vegetation in the district has been extensively modified since European settlement due to excessive clearing for agriculture, resulting in a highly fragmented landscape for the conservation of native flora and fauna. With the exception of the lycaenid Candalides hyacinthinus Simplex, which is considered threatened locally, there is a general absence of narrow range endemic butterflies associated with mallee-heathland or mallee-woodland, possibly as a result of widespread land clearing practices of mallee vegetation in the past.

The effects of grazing and season on the stability of Chloris Spp. (Windmill grasses) in natural pasture at Trangie, New South Wales.

1978 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Michalk ◽  
PK Herbert
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Natural Pasture ◽  
Mean Diameter ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Stocking Rates

A study of the density and basal diameter of Chloris acicularis Lindl. (syn. Enteropogon acicularis (LindlJLazar. - curly windmill grass) and C. truncata R. Br. (windmill grass) was made at two stocking rates over a period of eight years. The propor- tion of ground covered by these Chloris species varied widely with season, and to a lesser extent with grazing pressure. The density of both species increased in good seasons, while the mean diameter decreased because of the number of new seedlings. Although C. truncata seedlings were more numerous in good seasons, they did not survive as well as did C. acicularis seedlings during prolonged dry periods.

Seasonal Changes in Diet Preferences of Free-Ranging Red Kangaroos, Euros and Sheep in Western New South Wales.

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Ellis ◽  
EM Russell ◽  
TJ Dawson ◽  
CJF Harrop
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Selective Eating ◽  
Free Ranging

Stomach contents of free-ranging animals were analysed botanically for low Atriplex shrubland in western New South Wales, Australia, during 1972-74 in good seasons producing abundant growth and diversity of vegetation. Red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa), euro (Macropus robustus) and sheep (Ovis aries) selected grass and forbs when those were readily available. In poorer pasture sheep selected mainly flat-leaved chenopods (saltbush) and kangaroos selected mainly grass with different amounts of flat- or round-leaved chenopods. Euros were the most selective, eating grass even when there was little grass present. Potential overlaps in diet between kangaroos and sheep were greatest in good pasture and least in the poorest conditions. The other groups of plants considered were non-chenopod shrubs and browse. Extent of overlap was not clear, because animals may have eaten different species within the groups of plants. The study period did not include any severe drought, in which overlap in diet and competition between animal species would have been most significant.

Palatability to sheep of the Eragrostis curvula complex. 3. A comparison of naturalised and selected taxa

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
WH Johnston
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Eragrostis Curvula ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Relative Palatability

The palatability of 20 accessions of E. curvula collected from naturalised populations in New South Wales was compared on 7 occasions with 2 selected accessions previously found to be highly palatable. The experiment was conducted at Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., between January 198 1 and July 1983. The relative palatability of most accessions was substantially similar from rating to rating, despite differences in the extent to which the trial was grazed. Palatability was related to the agronomic group to which the accessions belonged. For the naturalised taxa, Curvula was ranked equal to Tall Chloromelas. but both were more palatable than Short Chloromelas. The naturalised accessions were all less palatable than the selected accessions. It was concluded that the selected accessions were sufficiently palatable to be well utilised in pastures by stock grazing at commercial stocking rates.

Native small mammals and reptiles in cropped and uncropped parts of lakebeds in semi-arid Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 629 ◽  
Author(s):  
SV Biggs
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Habitat Requirements ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Semi Arid

Small mammals and reptiles were surveyed by trapping in uncropped and cropped parts of two dry lakebeds in semi-arid New South Wales, Australia, in spring 1992 and 1993. Four species of native small mammals (18 individuals) were captured in uncropped parts of the lakebeds, compared with two individuals of one species in cropped parts of the lakebeds. A total of 38 reptiles (seven species) was caught at the uncropped sites compared with 10 individuals (four species) at the cropped sites. Small mammals were absent where the soil was scarified and bare between crop cycles. The habitat requirements of small mammals (particularly Planigale gilesi) and reptiles need to be provided for when cropping lakebeds. The most effective way to do this is to leave wide strips of uncropped soil at the edges of lakebeds, and patches of uncropped country that are connected to the strips, on lakebeds.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document