Alternative strategies for management of feral goats: implications for natural resource management policies in New South Wales rangelands

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Khairo ◽  
R. B. Hacker ◽  
T. L. Atkinson ◽  
G. L. Turnbull
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resource ◽  
New South ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Resource Conservation ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Net Benefit ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
Net Benefits ◽  
Feral Goat

Feral goats (Capra hircus) are increasing in abundance and distribution in the semi-arid and arid rangelands of New South Wales, and elsewhere in the southern rangelands. They present a conundrum for natural resource managers and policy-makers as they can be both an agricultural and environmental pest and an economic resource for landholders. This paper presents an economic analysis of a range of alternative approaches to feral goat management and assesses their implications for natural resource management policies. ‘Opportunistic harvesting’ and ‘value-added’ strategies (the latter involving use of a paddock to increase the liveweight of feral goats before slaughter for meat) returned positive net benefits to landholders, whereas the strategy of ‘no management’ resulted in a negative net benefit if the overall stocking rate was held constant. The erection of goat-proof boundary fencing to enhance production from domestic livestock generated negative net benefits unless increases in stocking rates of domestic livestock could be achieved within the exclusion fencing through improved grazing management. The use of goat-proof fencing to establish an individual paddock for domestic livestock production returned positive net benefit for landholders but also required increases in domestic stocking rate to be competitive with the best feral goat harvesting strategy. The ‘opportunistic harvesting’ and ‘value added’ strategies are thus likely to be adopted by producers without financial incentive and could result in positive resource conservation outcomes if goat prices encourage harvesting. The ‘no management’ strategy will most likely promote resource degradation and should be discouraged. Strategies involving goat-proof fencing are likely to provide positive net benefits for landholders and achieve positive natural resource outcomes if associated with improved grazing management, and reduced density of feral goats outside the exclusion fencing. It is concluded that resource conservation benefits of feral goat control strategies may be positive, negative, or neutral depending on the management strategy adopted, the extent of goat-proof fencing, and the price of meat from feral goats. It is, therefore, difficult to rely on the commercial harvesting of feral goats to achieve resource conservation objectives. Public funds could be better used to support education and training in grazing management and provide incentives for achievement of measurable natural resource outcomes than to support infrastructure establishment for the harvesting of feral goats on private properties.

Response of oats to seeding rate and nitrogen in the southern wheat belt of New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
OR Southwood ◽  
F Mengersen ◽  
PJ Milham
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
New South ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Oat Cultivars

The effect of three rates of nitrogen (22.4, 44.8 and 89.6 kgNha-1 as anhydrous ammonia) and three seeding rates (67.3, 100.9, and 134.5 kg ha-1) on forage and grain production of two oat cultivars and on herbage nitrate-nitrogen concentration, was assessed at three sites in the southern New South Wales wheat belt. When oats were sown after two or three consecutive wheat crops nitrogen at 22.4 kg ha-1 was optimal for both forage and grain production. Herbage growth was best at the highest seeding rate (134.5 kg ha-1) but grain production was not influenced by seeding rate. Herbage growth of the oat cultivars Cooba and Coolabah was similar, but grain yields were higher from the latter. Herbage nitrate nitrogen increased linearly with nitrogen fertilizer application, levels that could be toxic to animals occurring in June. Cautious grazing management may be required during this period.

Current Land Use in the Poplar Box (Eucalyptus Populnea) Lands.

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
EJ Weston ◽  
DF Thompson ◽  
BJ Scott
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
High Water ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Domestic Livestock

Poplar box (Eucalyptus populnee) woodlands mainly occuron duplex, clay and red earth soils between the 300 mm and 750 mm rainfall isohyets. The poplar box lands have been occupied for from 100 to 150 years and have been modified extensively through tree felling, ringbarking, clearing, cultivation, burning and grazing by domestic livestock. The current land use is described for six vegetation groups which together comprise the poplar box lands. The eastern areas of the poplar box lands are mainly used for intensive agriculture based on wheat. barley and grain sorghum, with small areas sown to c~ops of high water demand. Mixed farming involves dairying (in Queensland) and fat lambs (in New South Wales) and broad-acre cereal and fodder cropping. Sheep and cattle grazing replace intensive crop production as the rainfall decreases. In all areas used for cropping the stability and fertility of the soil are of paramount importance in maintainihg production. The use of woodlands in areas of lower rainfall can lead to deterioration of the resource and to the encroachment of woody native species into the grazing lands. Because cropping is unreliable the opportunity to use cultivation to control woody regrowth is reduced. In central areas much of the land can be sown to improved pastures, but in western areas diversification is limited by the low rainfall and land use is restricted to grazing, initially only by sheep but now by sheep and cattle. Particularly in western New South Wales the increase in unpalatable shrubs and the decrease in available forage has resulted in low stocking rates, and high grazing pressure, making reclamation and pasture improvement difficult. In consequence many enterprises are becoming uneconomic.

Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 5. A bioeconomic framework for assessing the long-term economic benefits of grazing management tactics and implications for sustainability

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Jones ◽  
P. M. Dowling ◽  
D. L. Michalk ◽  
W. McG. King
Keyword(s):  
Programming Model ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sustainable Grazing ◽  
Management Tactics

There have been significant declines in the perennial grass (PG) content in native and sown pastures across temperate Australia. Not only has this reduced agricultural productivity, it has contributed to more serious degradation, such as loss of soil and biodiversity, decreasing water quality, and dryland salinity caused by rising watertables. Results from the Sustainable Grazing Systems Key Program (SGS) research undertaken at Carcoar on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales were reported by Michalk et al. (2003). This research indicated that grazing management tactics can be used to manipulate pasture composition, thereby changing animal production and water-use patterns. The main grazing tactic investigated was termed a summer grazing rest, where resting was imposed in late spring if PG composition was <50%. Reported in this present paper is an economic framework for valuing the long-term benefits of grazing management tactics. The framework involves the development of a bioeconomic modelling system that links a dynamic programming model with biophysical models for water and environmental processes, soil fertility, pasture growth, livestock energy requirements and the change in pasture species composition. The study concludes that long-term economic returns are improved by strategies, e.g. a summer rest, that lead to an increase in PG composition over time. The study also determined that environmental factors, such as deep drainage, runoff and soil loss, are reduced as perenniality is increased.

SGS Animal Production Theme: effect of grazing system on animal productivity and sustainability across southern Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 977 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Graham ◽  
B. R. Cullen ◽  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
M. H. Andrew ◽  
B. P. Christy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Growing Season Length ◽  
North East ◽  
South Wales

The effects of various grazing management systems on sown, naturalised, and native pastures were studied at 6 different locations in the temperate high rainfall zone (HRZ, >600 mm rainfall/year) of southern Australia, as part of the Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) Program. The treatments examined had different pasture species and fertiliser management, with grazing method ranging from set stocking (continuous grazing) to rotation with rests based on pre- and post-grazing herbage mass or season and plant phenology. Sites were located at: Albany, Western Australia; Manilla, Barraba, Nundle, New South Wales; (grazed by wethers); and Carcoar, New South Wales; Maindample, Ruffy, north-east Victoria; Vasey, western Victoria; (grazed by ewes and lambs).Grazing method significantly (P<0.001) influenced stocking rate (expressed as dry sheep equivalents (DSE)/ha), but effects were not consistent across sites. At Vasey the stocking rate of the rotation treatments ranged from 5 to 23% higher than the set stocked treatments depending upon year. For all sites, significant factors (P<0.001) affecting stocking rate were soil Olsen P, soil pH, grazing management (resting), legume percent, and an index of growing season effectiveness. Although total annual rainfall had a significant effect (P<0.002) in an initial analysis, its influence became non-significant (P>0.05), when a growing season index (P<0.001) was used. Non-significant (P>0.05) factors included solar radiation, annual average temperature, fertiliser applied in the current year, and average annual perennial and broadleaf percent composition. The implications of these data for productivity and sustainability (as assessed by perenniality and water use) were encouraging. Generally, there were positive relationships between increased stocking rate and the probability of achieving a zero mm soil water surplus in winter, and between increased productivity and the proportion of perennial grass species where extremes of treatments were compared at each site. The results indicate that stocking rate can be increased without jeopardising sustainability, that grazing management can bring about more sustainable pastures, that there is scope to increase productivity particularly through increasing soil fertility, and growing season length can be used to predict potential carrying capacity. These are positive outcomes that graziers in the HRZ of southern Australia can use to enhance productivity (thus profitability) and sustainability.

The Shrubs of Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea) Lands and their Biology.

1979 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
KC Hodgkinson
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Summer Period ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Hard Seeds ◽  
Average Rainfall ◽  
The Status ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
Regenerative Ability ◽  
Eucalyptus Populnea

Of the 25 species of shrubs common in poplar box lands, 17 are considered to have reached the status of being a "woody weed" in New South Wales and/or Queensland. Thickening up of scrub in pastoral areas appears to have been episodic after periods of above-average rainfall. Germination of seed may occur at most times of the year if soil moisture is high. Fire promotes germination of species with hard seeds (some Acacia, Cassia and Dodonaea spp.). Increased shrub density usually follows soil disturbance if seed is present, and once established, the individuals of most apecies appear to be long-lived. Productivity of shrub communities is commensurate with rainfall. The species are well adapted to tolerate drought and they retain leaves under extreme water stress. Most species flower and set seed each year in the spring and summer period but in more arid parts of poplar box lands some species reproduce opportunistically after good rainfall. In favourable conditions most species produce copious quantities of seed. Dormancy is common in seed recently shed and loss of dormancy may occur within months or up to 3 years after seed shed. All species are subject to invertebrate and vertebrate predation and death of individuals or whole populations may sometimes result. A few species are moderately palatable to domestic livestock and native herbivores; the majority are rarely eaten even by starving animals. The regenerative ability of shrubs following fire or grazing differs amongst species and is affected by shrub size.

Drivers of change in the Social-Ecological Systems of the Gwydir Wetlands and Macquarie Marshes in northern New South Wales, Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. B. Whalley ◽  
J. N. Price ◽  
M. J. Macdonald ◽  
P. J. Berney
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
New South ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Early 19Th Century ◽  
The North ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Domestic Livestock

The Murray–Darling Basin is a Social-Ecological System (SES) of major importance to Australia and includes extensive wetland areas in the north-western parts of New South Wales. The Gwydir Wetlands and the Macquarie Marshes are the particular focus of this paper. These two wetland SES have undergone five successive adaptive cycles (phases) since they were first visited by Europeans in the early 19th century and the ecological, economic and social drivers initiating each transformation to a new cycle are described and analysed. The arrival of the European settlers with their domestic livestock rapidly displaced the Indigenous SES and the wetlands were extensively grazed; during wet periods the livestock were moved out of the wetlands and moved back in as the water receded. More recent land-use changes resulted from the building of major dams to enable storage of water for use in irrigated agriculture. A consequence of dam construction and water use has been a reduction in the frequency and extent of flooding, which has allowed many parts of the wetlands to be continually grazed. Furthermore, as machinery capable of cultivating the very heavy textured soils became available, dryland cropping became a major enterprise in areas of the floodplain where the likelihood of flooding was reduced. With the reduction in flooding, these wetland sites have been seriously degraded. The final phase has seen the invasion by an exotic weed, lippia [Phyla canescens (Kunth) Greene], which is a perennial that grows mat-like between other species of plants and spreads to produce a virtually mono-specific stand. The domestic livestock carrying capacity of the land becomes more or less zero and the conservation value of the wetlands is also dramatically decreased. Therefore, we suggest that lippia should be classed as an ecosystem engineer that has caused the latest transformation of these wetland SES and suggest research directions to investigate how they can be managed to revert to a state in which lippia is no longer dominant.

scholarly journals Enhancing landowner adoption of the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s recommended beef cattle grazing management practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-69
Author(s):  
Taylor Olsovsky ◽  
Robert Strong
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Nonpoint Source Pollution ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Resource Conservation ◽  
Nonpoint Source ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Natural Resource Conservation

Water has a significant role in society, whether through human consumption or agricultural use. The Lavaca Watershed is an agricultural community affected by nonpoint source pollution, and water quality protection is of high concern. Beef cattle operations are linked to nonpoint source pollution which contaminates surrounding water sources. If proper grazing management practices are not used, wastes from the operation impair water quality in the area. Landowners should use proper stocking rates and implement best management practices to benefit land and water quality in addition to overall operation profit. Females reported a higher intention to adopt, indicating these respondents are more open to practice changes on their own operation. Results indicated a need for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board to conduct further outreach to increase interaction with landowners. NRCS agencies could help increase the use of water conservation plans and inquiries by making this clear to current landowners participating in their program as well as potential clients by sending informational flyers or speaking at local organizational gatherings. The importance of adopting water management practices and barriers to adoption are ongoing global concerns.

Effects of four grazing management systems on the production and persistence of dryland lucerne in central western New South Wales

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (62) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Brownlee
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
South Wales

During an experiment conducted for eighteen months at Condobolin, New South Wales, the production and persistence of dryland lucerne grazed by Merino wethers at 10 ha-1 yr-1 were measured under set stocking and three rotational grazing treatments differing in length of spelling period between grazings (grazed one week in four, six or eight weeks). The results showed that although dry matter availability and lucerne survival increased with decreased grazing frequency, only 35 per cent of the lucerne survived in the treatment with the slowest rotation.

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