A comparison of storage methods for beef production in northern Australia: responses of soil surface and pasture conditions (2023)

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Abstract

Historical methods of creating continuous pastures throughout the season, without regard to growing conditions, have caused some degradation of rangeland landscapes in northern Australia. Alternative storage methods were implemented to address this degradation and increase the productivity and profitability of the main livestock, beef cattle. As information comparing stocking methods is limited, an evaluation was carried out to quantify the effects of stocking methods on pastures, soils and grazing capacity. The focus was to monitor existing storage methods on nine commercial meat farms in North and South Queensland. Environments included native and exotic grasses and soil types of eucalyptus (lighter soil) and brigalow (heavier soil). Breeding and growing cattle were grazed under each method. Owners/managers, formally trained in rangelands and range management, made all management decisions affecting the study sites. Three storage methods were compared: continuous (with rest), extensive rotation, and intensive rotation (commonly known as 'cell grazing'). Two or three planting methods were examined on each property: in total, 21 methods (seven continuous, six extensive rotations, and eight intensive rotations) were monitored in 74 paddocks between 2006 and 2009. Soil and grass surface measurements were taken in the autumns of 2006, 2007 and 2009, while the paddocks were analyzed from property records for the period 2006 to 2009. The first 2 years were dry (average rainfall of 3.4 deciles), but they were followed by 2 years of above-average precipitation. There were no consistent differences between planting methods at all sites over the 4 years for forage mass, plant species composition, total and litter cover, or landscape function analysis (LFA) indices. There have been large responses to rainfall in the last 2 years with an average fall forage mass increasing from 1970 kg DM ha^–1in 2006–07 to 3830 kg DM ha^–1in 2009. In the same period, soil and litter cover and LFA indices increased. At all sites and 4 years, mean grazing capacity was similar for the three population methods. However, there were significant differences in grazing capacity between planting methods at four sites, but these differences were not consistent between planting methods or sites. Both continuous and intensive rotation methods supported the highest mean annual grazing capacity at different locations. The results suggest that livestock producers can achieve similar ecological responses and transport similar numbers of livestock under any of the three storage methods.

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