Vegetation changes and animal productivity under sheep and goat grazing on an arid Belah (Casuarina cristata) - Rosewood (Heterodendrum oleifolium) woodland in western New South Wales.

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Vegetation Changes ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Herbaceous Vegetation ◽  
Goat Grazing ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Net Reproduction

In an arid (275 mm rainfall) belah (Casuarina cristata)-rosewood (Heterodendrurn olrifolium) woodland, goat does of feral origin and Merino ewes were grazed separately or in mived groups to.determine the relative effects of the different com- binations on the shrub and herbaceous vegetation, and on total animal production. The goats browsed the accessible foliage of trees, but did not obtain a substantial amount of their forage from that source. Thus they were competitive with sheep for the herbaceous layer (principally Stipa variabilis (variable speargrass) and Sclerolaet~a spp. (copperburrs). Grazing sheep and goats together did not achieve greater animal production than grazing them separately. Under drought conditions, those sheep grazing in conjunction with goats lost weight sharply in comparison with the goats, or to other sheep grazing without goat competition. The weights of the kids born in this trial were only 60% of the weights of the lambs, at both weaning and 1.5 years of age, although the net reproduction rate of does (120%) was twice that of the ewes (57%). Goat grazing did not suppress the unpal- atable shrubs. It is concluded that the grazing of feral goats. either alone or mixed with sheep, will not result in higher animal production or shrub control in this woodland community.

Using partial records to identify productive older ewes to retain in the breeding flock to increase the flock net reproduction rate

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1631 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Lee ◽  
M. A. Sladek ◽  
S. Hatcher ◽  
J. S. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Genetic Resource ◽  
New South ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Western Region ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Selection Decisions ◽  
Net Reproduction

The reproductive performance of 7286 ewes from three Merino genetic resource flocks maintained in the central-western region of New South Wales was used to compare the use of fertility and fecundity information and net reproduction information whether recorded early (at 2 and 3 years of age) or later in life (at 4 and 5 years of age) with lifetime performance (at 2–6 years of age) as alternative selection criteria to identify productive older ewes to retain in the breeding flock. While the lifetime net reproduction rate is the best indicator of a ewe’s reproductive performance in later life, producers basing their selection decisions on pregnancy scanning data, which provides information on both fertility and fecundity, can improve the net reproduction rate of their flock by 2% regardless of the base reproduction rate. Despite little difference in likely flock reproduction rates between using early or later life scanning information as the selection criteria, early life performance is the best choice for commercial producers because it provides scope for eliminating twice-dry ewes from the breeding flock early in life, especially when combined with udder examination at marking.

Management of lucerne for sheep grazing on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (71) ◽  
pp. 726 ◽  
Author(s):  
GT McKinney
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Annual Grasses

Eight whole-farm systems of managing lucerne pasture were compared at one high (near optimum) stocking rate of breeding ewes. These systems were continuous grazing (C), a 2-paddocks (2P), two 3-paddocks (3P), three 6-paddocks and one 12-paddocks rotations. Pasture density, yield and composition were almost solely dependent on spelling time. Maximum lucerne density was maintained when spelling times averaged more than 50 days over the year. Near maximum contributions of annual grasses were achieved when spelling times were less than 45 days. Therefore, to optimize persistence of important pasture components a 'minimum spelling time' policy is suggested. This time ranges approximately from 53 weeks in summer to 8 weeks in winter. Animal production appeared to depend on botanical composition and the extent to which lucerne stem was allowed to develop. Where lucerne failed to persist, or spelling times were long, liveweight gain was low over summer. Thus production was lower on C and 12P respectively, than other systems, and 2P and 3P gave the best overall production.

Water consumption and water turnover of sheep grazing semiarid pasture communities in New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Mineral Content ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Supplementary Data ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Water Turnover ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Reduced Water

The water consumption and water turnover of Merino sheep grazing on three natural pastures of south-western New South Wales were recorded throughout 1 year, and supplementary data on the water consumption of sheep on some pastures were collected for a further 2–4 years. On Danthonia caespitosa grassland, water was consumed for up to 7 months each year over the summer months. Maximum intakes were 3–3.5 litres per sheep per day, but this was reduced for 1–2 weeks after falls of rain of less than 25 mm and for longer periods after heavier falls. The provision of shade reduced water turnover by a maximum of 0.3–0.5 litre per day on some occasions only, which indicates that shade is of little importance to woolled sheep. On the saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) and belah-rosewood (Casuarina cristata-Heterodendrum oleifolium) communities, water intakes were up to 6–7 litres per day in summer. In the particularly dry summer of 1972–73, water intakes of the sheep on saltbush rose to 12 litres per day for several months. The higher water intakes of these sheep were attributed mainly to the high mineral content of the Atriplex and Bassia spp. eaten by them, although the sheep on the belah-rosewood community were also in a hotter environment. In contrast to the sheep on Danthonia, those on the bush communities consumed significant amounts of water throughout the winter in years of low rainfall.

Effects of continuous and seasonal grazing strategies on the herbage mass, persistence, animal productivity and soil water content of a Sirosa phalaris - subterranean clover pasture, North-West Slopes, New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 539 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
S. R. Murphy ◽  
S. Harden
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing

An experimental site was established in 1997 on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales to further investigate the use of strategic grazing management to improve the persistence of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv.�Sirosa) and subsequent effects on animal production and soil water content. The pasture was sown in 1992 to Sirosa phalaris, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum var. subterraneum cv. Seaton Park) and lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. Aurora). Four grazing treatments were applied in a randomised 3-replicate design. Treatments consisted of continuous grazing at 12.3 sheep/ha (C12 or control); continuous grazing at 6 sheep/ha (C6), and 2� spring and autumn strategies of either resting from grazing for 6 weeks in each season (SAR0), or reducing stocking rate from 12.3 to 4.0 sheep/ha (SAR4). Despite annual applications of fertiliser and high clover content, Sirosa phalaris herbage mass in plots continuously grazed at 12.3 sheep/ha declined from a mean of 3300 kg DM/ha in spring 1997 to < 700 kg DM/ha by May 1998. At the end of the study (February 2001), Sirosa mean herbage mass in these plots was 670 kg DM/ha and lower (P < 0.05) than for the other treatments (mean value 5400 kg DM/ha). These marked changes in herbage mass, and the degradation of the Sirosa-based pasture to an annual pasture by continuous grazing at 12.3 sheep/ha, were not generally reflected in either short-term animal production or substantial differences in soil water content. Wool production (kg/head) was not significantly different among treatments each year. Compared with continuous grazing at 12.3 sheep/ha, sheep liveweights were higher (P < 0.05) in plots continuously grazed at 6.1 sheep/ha from November 1997 to February 1999. However, from February 1999 to 2001, sheep liveweights in the 2 treatments with the highest Sirosa phalaris content were lower (P < 0.05) than those continuously grazed at 12.3 sheep/ha. Only the soil water content for the C6 and SAR4 treatments at 0–30�cm was significantly different to the control treatment, but the differences were predicted to be < 2.5 mm/year. In the root zone (0–90 cm), mean soil water content ranged from 159 to 309 mm (mean 220 mm), while plant available water (soil water content – soil water content at –1500 kPa) was a mean of 79 mm, ranging from 11 to 168 mm.

Influence of panicle fragment size on ant seed-harvesting and seedling recruitment in Phalaris aquatica

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. Kelman ◽  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
R. A. Culvenor
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Naked Seed ◽  
Seed Harvesting ◽  
Second Year

Successful seedling recruitment events in sparse stands of the grass Phalaris aquatica (phalaris) are rare. A major contributing factor to this situation is the seed-harvesting activity of ants. In recently developed cultivars of phalaris, the seed is retained within the glumes of the floret and is shed in a seed-retaining panicle fragment. We tested the hypothesis that seed contained in panicle fragments was less likely to be harvested by ants than naked seed and that this would be reflected in increased seedling recruitment. Observations of ant seed-harvesting activity and records of seedling recruitment following dispersal of seed and panicle fragments onto field plots were made at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and Tamworth, New South Wales, over 2 years. In the second year, the effects of 2 pasture renovation treatments (sheep-grazing and shallow-discing) on seedling recruitment from seed and panicle fragments were examined. Averaged over the 2 localities, 4% of large-sized (>10�florets), 13% of medium-sized (5-10 florets) and 27% of the small-sized (2 or 3 florets) panicle fragments were harvested in a 24 h period by ants (mainly Pheidole spp.), compared with 83% of the naked phalaris seed. The effects of panicle fragment size on recruitment were variable depending on site in the first year and the interaction of site and renovation treatments in the second year, but contrary to expectation, recruitment often was not higher in panicle fragment treatments than in seeded treatments. Seedling recruitment at Canberra (a hardsetting sandy loam) was lower (22 plants/m2 from naked seed and 15 plants/m2 from seed in panicle fragments) because of the competition from existing vegetation and germination of subterranean clover from the seedbank, than at Tamworth (a self-mulching red chromosol; 179 plants/m2 from naked seed and 118 plants/m2 from seed in panicle fragments), where seedling recruitment was also significantly increased by the sheep-grazing renovation treatment. At Tamworth, a larger seedbank was recovered from plots of oversown panicle fragments compared with plots oversown with naked phalaris seed. This suggested that protection of seeds in panicle fragments over the summer months on the Tablelands of New South Wales would increase the time over which phalaris seeds are available for recruitment. Further work is needed to test seedling recruitment in panicle shattering v. non-shattering phalaris populations and to define the conditions under which the seedbank contained in the panicle fragments can be exploited to improve stand persistence.

The effect of proportion of sown grasses on pasture and animal production from fertilised pastures on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.

1985 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
GG Robinson ◽  
PM Dowling
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Natural Pasture

Pasture and animal production from fertilised pastures with varying proportions of sown grass (0-60%) were recorded and compared. The presence of sown grass increased pasture production when compared to natural pasture, but no difference was detected in liveweight or wool production between the var- ious pastures. It is doubtful whether sowing of introduced grasses for wool production can be justified at the levels of grazing intensity usually adopted on the Northern Tablelands.

Management of the natural pastures of South-Western New South Wales.

1979 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 351 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Annual Plants ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Controlled Burning ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing

This paper reviews those aspects of the scientific literature that bear on the management of the native saltbush, grassland, belah and bluebush communities of south-west New South Wales. In includes information on the structure, vegetation change, erosion, animal production and management, and includes tables of the characteristics of the major plant species. Grazing can induce major vegetation changes in saltbush areas, but only relatively minor changes in the more stable communities, such as belah. Erosion hazards are severe in the bluebush communities, although they are generally stable at present. Animal production is closely related to the winter incidence of rainfall, when both sheep and cattle concentrate their grazing on annual plants. In summer saltbushes, bluebushes and copper burrs become the main constituents and diet quality is adequate for maintenance. Research suggests that controlled continuous grazing is the best option for both production and pasture management in these communities. The future use of controlled burning to reduce unpalatable shrubs in belah communities is indicated.

Soil factors affecting the sustainability and productivity of perennial and annual pastures in the high rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. White ◽  
K. R. Helyar ◽  
A. M. Ridley ◽  
D. Chen ◽  
L. K. Heng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Deep Drainage ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Aporrectodea Trapezoides

A field study was carried out in the high rainfall zone (HRZ, >600 mm p.a.) of southern Australia from March 1994 to August 1997 to test the hypothesis that sown perennial grasses and liming could make the existing pastures more sustainable through better use of water and nitrogen. The site, on an acid duplex soil at Book Book near Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales, was typical of much of the HRZ grazing country in southern New South Wales and north-east Victoria. The experiment consisted of 4 replicate paddocks (each 0.135 ha) of 4 treatments: annual pasture (mainly ryegrass Lolium rigidum, silver grass Vulpia spp., subterranean clover Trifolium subterraneum and broadleaf weeds) without lime, annual pasture with lime, perennial pasture (phalaris Phalaris aquatica, cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata and subterranean clover T. subterraneum) without lime, and perennial pasture with lime. Soil pH (0–10 cm) in the limed treatments was maintained at 5.5 (0.01 mol/L CaCl2), compared to 4.1 in the unlimed treatments. The pastures were rotationally grazed with Merino ewe or wether hoggets at a stocking rate which varied with the season, but was 10–25% higher on the limed pastures [14.8–17.3 dry sheep equivalent (dse)/ha] than the unlimed pastures. One replicate set of pasture treatments was intensively monitored for surface runoff, subsurface flow (at the top of the B horizon), water potential gradients and ammonium volatilisation. Other measurements of nitrogen inputs, transformations and losses were made on all paddocks. In a normal to wet year, surface runoff, subsurface flow and deep drainage (>180 cm depth) were about 40 mm less from the perennial than the annual pastures. The reduction in deep drainage under the perennials was about one-third to one-half (20–29 mm/year). The smaller loss of solution NO3– from the perennial pastures (up to 12 kg N/ha.year) suggested soil acidification under perennials was reduced by about 1 kmol H+/ha.year. Denitrification and volatilisation losses of N were small (1–12 kg N/ha.year). Nitrogen fixed by subterranean clover (above ground parts) ranged from 2–8 kg N/ha in the drought of 1994–95 to 128 kg N/ha in a normal year (1996). The soil-pasture nitrogen balance was positive for all treatments and averaged 76 kg N/ha.year over 2 years. The abundance of introduced and native earthworms increased from 85 to 250/m2 in the limed pastures between 1994 and 1997. Introduced species, such as Aporrectodea trapezoides, were especially responsive to lime. Animal production per hectare was 10–25% higher on pastures with lime. Critical gross margins per dse were lowest ($16/ha) for a long-lived perennial pasture (>15 years), and highest ($20/ha) for a short-lived perennial (5 years). Overall, there were substantial benefits in animal production, improved soil quality and water use from establishing perennial grass pastures with lime on these strongly acid soils.

Comparison of Wheel Point and Point Frame Methods for Plant Cover Measurement of Semiarid and Arid Rangeland Vegetation of New South Wales.

1994 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
H Arzani ◽  
GW King
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall

Ground cover is frequently estimated in rangeland monitoring and it is an important intermediate measurement between biomass estimation and satellite imagery. As a preliminary phase in a longer term program, wheel point and point frame methods were used to measure vegetation cover on four permanent Soil Conservation Service transects at each of four land systems in western New South Wales, at Nyngan (410 mm average annual rainfall), at Cobar (364 mm average annual rainfall) and two at Fowlers Gap (200 mm average annual rainfall) north of Broken Hill. The majority of this work used 400 wheel point hits per transect and 100 point quadrats sub sampled 9 - 13 times along each of four transects. There was no statistically significant difference between these techniques for total foliage cover over a combined analysis of all sites under pre-drought conditions, and for pre-drought and post-drought at Cobar. However, there was a 10% difference estimated between the techniques for total foliage cover at Nyngan when it was analysed in isolation. There were no consistent differences in technique for cover estimation for more than 40 plant species including annual grasses and herbs, perennial grasses and saltbushes. Significant differences between techniques were found for Medicago sp. and Thyridolepis mitchelliana on one occasion. We believe that these differences were due to the problems of finding small plants in tall grass and identifying heavily grazed grasses during drought conditions at Cobar and, in the latter case, this was also associated with a significantly greater estimate of mean cover for all grasses and thus total foliage cover. Although there was generally no statistical difference between techniques our observations suggest that the point frame tends to give lower estimates of cover than the wheel point in the situations measured. This may be associated with the circumference of the marker pins on the wheel point or perhaps observer error but as this effect appeared to be more noticeable with grasses we suspect that the former is most likely. The wheel point is less time consuming, more convenient and simpler to use than the point frame, and will readily accommodate most temporal and spatial variation in sampling requirements in similar land forms in western New South Wales.

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