A survey of ewe mortality on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales in 2010, a year of above‐average rainfall

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Watt ◽  
J Eppleston ◽  
NK Dhand
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Rainfall

Fire Studies in Mallee (Eucalyptus Spp.) Communities of Western New South Wales: Grass Fuel Dynamics and Associated Weather Patterns.

1993 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 270 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Noble ◽  
RG Vines
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Rainfall Regime ◽  
Balance Study ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Rainfall

The probability of wildfires, or prescribed fires, occurring in mallee rangelands, is strongly dependent on availability of adequate grass fuel loads. Grass fuels comprise two major elements, a perennial component dominated by the hummock species Triodia scariosa (porcupine grass) and an ephemeral component dominated by the annual/biemial tussock species Stipa nitida (speargrass). Population dynamics and abundance of both fuel elements are, in turn, strongly influenced by rainfall regime, particularly during the seedling recruitment phase. This paper records data on the spatial distributions of different fuels, plant architecture and post-fire seedling recruitment and survivorship of T. scariosa, obtained during field studies on contrasting mallee sites in western New South Wales. In addition, rainfall data extending over c. 100 years were used in a water balance study at one mallee site (Pooncarie); while similar rainfall data were analysed for three mallee sites (Pooncarie, Ivanhoe and Mount Hope) using a filter technique to examine quasi- periodicities of rainfall and potential correlations with known wildfire seasons in the past. Precipitation records from the Meteorological Districts of western New South Wales, and from various towns in the area, were analysed as well. All data sets exhibited strong coherence and the resulting filter curves resembled each other closely, with peaks reflecting 'above-average rainfall' and troughs 'below-average rainfall or drought'- the latter often being associated with El NiiiolSouthern Oscillation events. The management implications of these phenomena, particularly as they relate to major drought events, are discussed in the context of vegetation manipulation based on prescribed fire.

The Diet of the Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby in New-South-Wales

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Short
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Central Coast ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Rainfall ◽  
Diet Preferences

The diet of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, was studied at two sites on the central coast and tablelands of New South Wales over a 12-month period of below-average rainfall. Diet was assessed by microscopic analysis of faeces. Particles within the faeces were identified to broad categories of vegetation: grasses, sedges, forbs, parallel-veined shrubs, reticulate-veined shrubs, and ferns. Diets were similar at both sites despite considerable differences in annual average rainfall (1330 v.577mm) and vegetation. Grasses constituted 35-50% of the diet, forbs 25-40%, and browse 12-30%. Ferns and sedges were of minor importance or were absent from the diet. Preferences for particular plant categories (measured as abundance in diet divided by abundance in habitat) were greatest in summer. Parallel-veined shrubs and trees and forbs were most preferred at one site; grasses and shrubs and trees at the other. Ferns were preferred least.

Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 1. Pasture persistence and enterprise productivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 388
Author(s):  
Susan M. Robertson ◽  
John C. Broster ◽  
Michael A. Friend
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Management System ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Rainfall ◽  
Sheep Production

Sheep production can be optimised by matching the pasture supply curve to feed demand. This study evaluated the production from four management systems with Merino ewes during 2006–2010 in southern New South Wales by using different combinations of lambing time (winter, split, spring), ram breed (Merino, terminal), and percentage of summer-active pasture species (40% or 20% lucerne, Medicago sativa). All systems were stocked at a similar midwinter rate (dry-sheep equivalents per hectare of 8, 10.2, 13, 11.2 and 11.2 in the successive seasons 2006–2010), and there were three replicates of each system. Groundcover and pasture persistence were not adversely impacted by sheep system because sheep were removed at predetermined biomass triggers. Wool production per hectare was up to 178% or 12 kg/ha higher (P < 0.001) in systems where a later month of lambing allowed an increase in number of ewes per hectare at the same midwinter stocking rate. The quantity of lamb sold was not consistently higher in any one system, or in systems producing both crossbred and Merino lambs vs only Merino lambs, owing to variation in the weight and age of lambs at sale, but was increased (P < 0.001) by 175 kg/ha with use of 40% compared with 20% lucerne in a high-rainfall year. The risk of requiring high levels of supplementary feeding was higher in systems with later lambing because of below-average rainfall between 2006 and 2009. Large increases in production can be achieved from the same pasture base through choice of management system with different lambing time, stocking rate or ram breed, but flexibility is needed to optimise production in varying seasonal conditions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document