Publication Date

1993

Description

The tropical savannas of northern Australia have been an important resource for the production of beef for over a century. Excessive stocking rates regimes have led, in some areas, to degradation of the soil and vegetation resource. A state-and-transition model is used to describe the decline in land condition with overgrazing. A grazing study has been established at 2 sites to determine the consequences of a change in land condition for animal production, and pasture production and quality are being related to land condition at additional small sites. Preliminary results indicate that as pasture condition declines, pasture production decreases but animal production; at low stocking rates, can be higher than from pasture in poor condUion.

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Land Condition and Overgrazing: A Management Paradox for the Savannas of Northern Australia

The tropical savannas of northern Australia have been an important resource for the production of beef for over a century. Excessive stocking rates regimes have led, in some areas, to degradation of the soil and vegetation resource. A state-and-transition model is used to describe the decline in land condition with overgrazing. A grazing study has been established at 2 sites to determine the consequences of a change in land condition for animal production, and pasture production and quality are being related to land condition at additional small sites. Preliminary results indicate that as pasture condition declines, pasture production decreases but animal production; at low stocking rates, can be higher than from pasture in poor condUion.