Land managers’ and service providers’ perspectives on the magnitude, impact and management of non-domestic grazing pressure in the southern rangelands of Australia
T. Atkinson A E , R. B. Hacker B , G. J. Melville C and J. Reseigh D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A NSW Department of Primary Industries, 34 Hampden Street, Dubbo, NSW 2823, Australia.
B Ron Hacker Rangeland Consulting Services, 29 Edward Street, Tenambit, NSW 2323, Australia; formerly New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, Trangie, NSW 2823, Australia.
C PO Box 9007, Orange East, NSW 2800, Australia; formerly NSW Department of Primary Industries, Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, Trangie, NSW 2823, Australia.
D Rural Solutions SA, Primary Industries and Regions SA, PO Box 62, Kyancutta, SA 5651, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: trudie.atkinson@dpi.nsw.gov.au
The Rangeland Journal 41(6) 461-476 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ19065
Submitted: 17 August 2019 Accepted: 21 February 2020 Published: 24 March 2020
Abstract
In the southern rangelands of Australia, the capability of land managers to manage total grazing pressure, with support from their service providers, influences resource condition, livestock production and pastoral business profitability. This study investigated the perspectives of people who face the challenge of managing total grazing pressure. Self-administered surveys were used to collect the perspectives of 220 land managers and 46 service providers to total grazing pressure management and the impacts of grazing animals.
Land managers and service providers agreed that, on average, 40 to 50% of the total demand for forage is due to non-domestic animals, that a reduction in this component is required, and that current levels are at least double the desirable level. The majority of respondents (>54%) assessed both livestock and non-domestic animals to have a negative impact on soils and pastures. However, livestock were more frequently assessed to have a positive impact on soils and pastures than non-domestic animals. The respondents commonly suggested that the impact livestock have on soils and pastures depends on management.
Non-domestic animals were assessed by the majority of respondents to have a negative impact on livestock production and business profitability, apart from unmanaged goats where opinions were divided. Both land managers and service providers used the ‘large negative’ category to describe the impact on livestock production and business profitability more frequently for kangaroos than for any other herbivore.
There were significant differences in the respondents’ perspectives among the States. Respondents in New South Wales and Queensland estimated a higher proportion of demand for forage from non-domestic animals than respondents from other States. The respondents in New South Wales also more frequently assessed unmanaged goats to have a positive impact on business profitability compared with the other States.
Total grazing pressure management was rated as a high priority issue by 66% of respondents. ‘Improved kangaroo management’ and ‘fencing’ were the two main factors identified with potential to make a substantial difference to total grazing pressure management in the next ten years.
Additional keywords: camels, donkeys, forage demand, goats, herbivores, kangaroos, livestock production, rabbits, resource condition.
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