Land and Catchment Management: Grazing Pressure

The control of total grazing pressure is critical to the successful management of Australia’s rangelands. The following will discuss the issue of total grazing management and why it should be viewed as an important management tool for Australia's rangelands. Overgrazing has diminished the health of Australia’s rangelands and led to increased fragility of the ecological balance. Damaged rangelands have economic and social implications for Australia. It is essential to manage grazing in order to balance the feeding needs of livestock while maintaining the sustainability of Australia’s lands and pastures. Despite its history, total grazing management within grazing enterprises is helpful in monitoring the balance between the nutritional needs of livestock and the preservation needs of the region. While there is an ongoing debate regarding the control of total grazing pressure, particularly for non-domestic animals, this essay will discuss the issue of total grazing management and why it should be viewed as an important management tool for Australia's rangelands.

History

Historically, grazing once took place in many areas within the Alps of Australia. The area and length of grazing time were dependent on the terrain of the land, as well as weather climate and food availability. At high elevations, sheep and cattle grazed seasonally and benefited from higher rainfall and cooler temperatures which helped to grow nutritious and thick grass and herbs (McCosker 2000, p. 210). Especially in drought season, the high elevated Alp areas provided a stable supply of food for sheep and cattle.  Pastures that were elevated lower were also used to graze except in the summer when the sun caused the grass to thin and become dry and brittle (AANP n.d. p. 1). Documents reflect that as early as the 1820’s owners took their livestock across the mountains in search of nutritious and healthy food sources.

The Australian government encouraged the use of the high country Alps to feed livestock until land became scarce. Even when annual grazer licenses began to be proliferated for grazing rights, they failed to limit stock numbers or define boundaries on the grazing season, leading to widespread overgrazing. Gold discoveries in the 19th century led to increased pastoral settlements. While much of the land remained public, eventually gold miners began to gain ownership of parts of the land. The remaining areas were divided into blocks of grazing areas under an agreed-upon lease system or license permission. By the 1950s some national parks had banned grazing altogether while others had significantly minimized it in order to protect alpine vegetation and water catchment (Gillieson 2004, p. 37). The Land Conservation Council intervened by facilitating grazing withdrawals, controlling cattle numbers and applying seasonal boundaries.

Total Grazing Pressures and Biodiversity in Australia

Free-ranging cattle often graze on tall herbs, grasses, and shrubs selectively. As a result, the natural make-up and variety of plant communities are reduced (Lunt 2005, p 6). This limits the growth of wildflowers and can lead to wetland and moss bed damage which is easily trampled. Healthy plant biodiversity is also compromised by grazing erosion when cattle compact the soil with their hooves. This increases erosion probability and also prevents new plants from growing. As a result, the soil is unprotected from damage caused by frost, wind, and water. The past damage created by overgrazing is slow to recover in the midst of continued grazing, even if it is regulated (Fisher, et., al 2004 p. 11). In addition, weeds can be transported by grazing cattle, expanding the range of invasive weeds. The ecosystem is modified by grazing as it literally modifies the composition of plant species (Ingamells 2001, p. 7). As soil begins to wash and blow away stones become more concentrated and the soil level is significantly reduced. Eventually, the stones will form the erosion pavement, doing away with the soil and grassland altogether. This interference to the natural ecosystem is not limited to grazing sheep and cattle. Undomesticated animals also contribute to erosion because their grazing and land use is not easily controlled. 

This has resulted in landscape fragmentation and habitat loss, endangering several species. The direct impact of grazing is the fragmentation of the land, leading to large scale species decline across the Australian region (Williams 1991, p. 17). Threats to biodiversity are enhanced with the introduction of exotic species, weeds, and other tracked grasses that inundate and overtake native plant populations. The entire ecosystem is affected by the modification of plant life, significantly impacting the value of biodiversity.

Many factors have been implicated in the decline and loss of biodiversity in Australia. However, authors agree that a significant portion of the issue relates to the pastoral industry. The period where settlement grazing was largely unregulated led to extremely high amounts of stock grazing along with an unsustainable grazing season, causing significant and widespread land degradation (DSE 2005, p. 109). Intentional fires intended to replenish the land under pastoral settlement served to char and limit its natural rejuvenation. As a result of mishandling by pastoral settlers, and mismanagement by livestock owners, biodiversity in Australia has been permanently impacted.

Total Grazing

Total grazing pressure is the combined grazing pressure that is applied by domestic, wild, native and even feral stock. The impact on vegetation, soil, landscapes, and water resources is significant as a result of total grazing. While domestic stock can be managed, wild stock accounts for a more variable pressure because is it not easily managed or contained (Fisher, et., al 2004, pp. 3). Grazing enterprise management is defined as the process of organizing livestock in order to effectively use pastures to manage the frequency of grazing. As the response to grazing can be variable among pastures, management of it can be used to monitor the ecology of the soil while maintaining grazing efficiency. By monitoring grazing through attention and management, the soil, water, and nutrients can be preserved and protected from resource degradation (MLA 2012, pp. 1). If the grazing enterprise is not managed and monitored effectively, overgrazing will result in permanent damage. Grazing enterprises incorporate stocking rate and fodder conservation standards in order to apply grazing strategies that preserve soil ecology and biodiversity.

The effects of total grazing include impacts from domestic and non-domestic animals. It impacts soil productivity, water contamination, and also has impacts on Fauna and Flora. On a larger scale, economic and social processes are also affected by total grazing. It can significantly increase the costs to maintain the land, as well as decrease land value. Weed infestation can be difficult to control once weeds have been tracked and spread, leading to even lower land values (DNRW 2007, p. 17). Total grazing reduces land amenity, restricts movement, and increases the stress related to grazing enterprise management.

Management Tools

Management tools can be used to control total grazing pressures in Australia's rangelands. Legislative requirements and policies have been set in place to establish control methods in order to manage the negative effects of total grazing. As it relates to wild stock specifically, management involves removal or destruction of the animals. Moving the animals and containing them with fencing is not a feasible alternative because it has been proven to be ineffective in maintaining grazing control (Hacker, et. Al 2005, p. 5). The populations of both domestic and wild stock are monitored and controlled in order to maintain balance. This management is specifically targeted in order to streamline control processes, increasing their effectiveness.

Technology is relied upon to manage grazing by documenting and analyzing data in order to help managers make informed decisions regarding seasonality and control procedures. Risk management software incorporates variables such as weather and fluctuating stock prices in order to evaluate seasonal overgrazing risk and take responsible precautions. Technology has also been applied to develop alternative feeding options to lessen stock dependence on grazing (TFS 2008, p. 1). Management decisions in grazing enterprises consist of a series of tradeoffs. For example, decisions limiting stocking rate directly affect animal production, feed price, and stock value (Hacker, et. Al 2005, p. 3). As a result of these tradeoffs, grazing management must incorporate a delicate balance of economic and social stability within the region. There will always be some economic impact related grazing management decisions. However, history has proven that management and control of Australia’s rangelands are necessary to preserve the regions natural resources.

References 

Australian Alps National Park. Grazing in the Australian Alps n.d. Retrieved from http://www.australianalps.environment.gov.au/learn/pubs/grazing.pdf 

Department of Natural Resources & Water (DNRW) 2007, Economic impact of lantana on the Australasian grazing industry. Retrieved from  http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/lantana/docs/60_Lantana_Grazing_EIA_Final_Report_%28b%29.pdf 

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) 2005, report of the investigation into the future of cattle grazing in the alpine national park, for the Alpine Grazing Taskforce, Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne

Fisher, A., Hunt,L., James,C., Landsberg,J., Phelps, D., Smyth, A., Watson, I 2004, Australian Government. Management of total grazing pressure: Managing for biodiversity in the rangelands. Retrieved From http://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/pubs/grazing-management-summary.pdf 

Gillieson, D. 2004, ‘Submission to the alpine grazing taskforce, victoria’, National Committee for Geography, Australian Academy of Science, Ian Potter House, Canberra.

Hacker, R., Beange, L.Casburn, G., Curran,G. Gray, P., Warner, J. 2005, Best management practices for extensive grazing enterprises. NSW Department of Primary Industries. Retrieved from http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/175570/best-mgt-ext-graz.pdf 

Ingamells, P. 2001, ‘The impact of cattle grazing on alpine and subalpine plant communities of the bogong high plains’, Park Watch, December edition.

Lunt D 2005, Effects of stock grazing on biodiversity values in temperate native grasslands and grassy woodlands in se Australia: a literature review. Wildlife Research and Monitoring. ACT government. Retrieved from www.environment.act.gov.au

McCosker T 2000, Cell Grazing-The First 10 years in Australia. Tropical Grasslands. Vol. 34, 207-218

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) 2012, Grazing management. Retrieved from http://www.mla.com.au/Livestock-production/Grazing-and-pasture-management/Improved-pasture/Grazing-management 

Top Fodder Silage (TFS) 2008, role for silage in australian grazing systems. Retrieved from http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/229595/Silage-Note-1---Role-for-silage-in-Australian-grazing-systems.pdf 

Williams, RJ. 1991, ‘Ecological principles for determining stock allocations on the bogong high plains’, evidence to the independent panel, North East Region, Department of Conservation and Environment, Victoria.