Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
In set stocked, heavily grazed, unburnt, native grass/sown legume pastures in the tropical savannas of northern Australia, animals were found to graze very selectively. This contrasts with the more uniform light grazing usually occurring in the extensive, lightly grazed native grasslands which are normally burnt annually. Once heavy selective grazing of an area was initiated, this grazing pressure was maintained, while ungrazed areas grew rank and unacceptable. Although three different sized paddocks were used to give different stocking rates, the area heavily grazed was the same at all stocking rates. In unfertilised paddocks, plants died within two years when selectively grazed, resulting in bare soil. The area affected by heavy grazing then extended each year. In fertilised pastures, although the perennial grasses died out in the heavily grazed patches, these areas were then colonised by the sown legume (Stylosanthes spp.). Given the economic and legislative pressures for intensification of grazing in these northern savanna pastures, preferential grazing may exacerbate the instability of the grazing-intolerant native pastures of the region and future management may have to be designed to minimize selective grazing.
Citation
Mott, J J., "Mosaic Grazing - Animal Selectivity in Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 25.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses11/25)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Mosaic Grazing - Animal Selectivity in Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia
Kyoto Japan
In set stocked, heavily grazed, unburnt, native grass/sown legume pastures in the tropical savannas of northern Australia, animals were found to graze very selectively. This contrasts with the more uniform light grazing usually occurring in the extensive, lightly grazed native grasslands which are normally burnt annually. Once heavy selective grazing of an area was initiated, this grazing pressure was maintained, while ungrazed areas grew rank and unacceptable. Although three different sized paddocks were used to give different stocking rates, the area heavily grazed was the same at all stocking rates. In unfertilised paddocks, plants died within two years when selectively grazed, resulting in bare soil. The area affected by heavy grazing then extended each year. In fertilised pastures, although the perennial grasses died out in the heavily grazed patches, these areas were then colonised by the sown legume (Stylosanthes spp.). Given the economic and legislative pressures for intensification of grazing in these northern savanna pastures, preferential grazing may exacerbate the instability of the grazing-intolerant native pastures of the region and future management may have to be designed to minimize selective grazing.
