soil-conservation-people-religion-and-land.pdf - South West NRM

11. In Queensland, about 40% of native pastures are degraded
either by water erosion, wind erosion or have been
overtaken by unpalatable grasses and weeds.
12. Good feeding of beef cattle on native pastures depends
primarily on matching stock n ers to feed supply, ie to
adjusting stocking rate to pasture condition.
13. Sustainable animal production systems on native pastures
must meet not only the needs of the animals but also the
needs of the grass - and this means protecting the soil.
14. The carrying capacity of country is affected not only by
rainfall but also by a number of factors which can be
controlled by the manager; for instance:
1. The type or breed of animal.
2. The way in which groups of animals are run together
or separately.
3. The number of animals or stocking rate.
4. The timing of moving animals from one paddock to
another.
5. The choice of which paddock animals are moved to.
6. The number of paddocks available and how these are
fenced according to vegetation type.
The number and distribution of watering,points.
The selection of paddocks for spelling.*
The season in which spelling occurs.
The use of burning to control the quality and
quantity of feed available..
The choice of timber control methods - mechanical,
chemical or fire.
The construction of banks for waterspreading or
erosion control.
The ripping of compact soil to improve infiltration
and establishment.
The oversowing of improved pasture species.
The application of fertilizer.
The strategic placement of mineral, protein and
energy licks or supplements.
15. Economic analysis shows that reduction of stock n
often results in better profits and less drought
problems,
From the soil conservation viewpoint, the rule of thumb
of mugraze half and leave halfmu of the standing feed, will
result in a good organic matter cover, better
infiltration, less erosion and more grass.
16. Since hardy breeds supplemented with licks can cause
considerable damage if numbers are not reduced during
droughts, it is essential not to stock up straight after
drought-breaking rains, but to give the most degraded
paddocks time to seed before restocking.