An Australian temperate pastures database

Abstract

A census of pasture types and their composition and attributes (e.g. purpose and carrying capacity) was carried out throughout southern Australia from June to October 1994. This paper describes the survey process and subsequent creation of an Australian temperate pastures database. Data were created for 562 local government areas (LGAs) from ‘desk estimates’ by trained agriculturists. They identified about 2500 pasture types, which were grouped into 120 standardised pasture categories.

Some findings from the data are identified, namely the high relative importance on an area basis of unimproved native pastures, the importance of weedy species (e.g. Vulpia), and the marked decline with increasing rainfall in importance of annual medics compared with subterranean clover. This paper provides examples of the data and their use for assessment of the regional economic impact of increases in productivity of pasture species.