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Module 12: Efficient pastoral production

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  1. Introduction

    Introduction
    1 quiz
  2. Efficient pastoral production
    Preparing a property plan
  3. Efficient and innovative pastoral production
  4. Assessing current production and handling systems
  5. Reviewing innovation across the industry
  6. Identifying opportunities to benefit from innovation and efficiencies
  7. Establishing objectives for your grazing management approach
  8. Assessing systems and approaches to grazing management
  9. Monitoring performance
  10. Matching grazing pressure to feed supply
  11. Identifying feed supply throughout the year
  12. Dry sheep equivalent
  13. Calculating total grazing pressure
  14. Matching production cycle to feed quality and quantity
  15. Conditioning feed to respond to rainfall
  16. Developing a pest animal management plan
  17. Controlling competing grazing species
  18. Controlling predator animals
  19. Options for good seasons
  20. Options for poor seasons
  21. Monitoring natural resource management
    1 quiz
  22. Summary
    Summary
    1 quiz
  1. Module 12: Efficient pastoral production
  2. Establishing objectives for your grazing management approach
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Establishing objectives for your grazing management approach

  1. Module 12: Efficient pastoral production
  2. Establishing objectives for your grazing management approach

It is important to create a business plan before any paddock or land system can be managed and the management objective is set. While paddocks are the basic management unit, they sit on top of different land systems (land classes) that may or may not neatly fit the dimensions of the paddock. This may require consideration when establishing objectives for the paddocks. In some cases, it may be necessary to consider realignment of paddock boundaries to better fit the land systems.  

A land unit is an ecologically consistent tract of land within another boundary (e.g. a paddock). For example, there may be two different land units (sections within one paddock) fenced in two land classes.  

When appraising paddocks and determining management objectives, there are essentially three options to consider: 

CONDITION OF PADDOCK 

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE 

Good condition with acceptable levels of productivity and general systems health 

Maintain the current condition of the paddock 

Generally in good condition but there is potential to increase productivity by manipulating species composition or allowing key species to set seed, or will benefit from rest at strategic times 

Improve the current condition of the paddock 

Paddock has developed one or a number of issues of concern, for example: 

  • significant areas of bare ground 
  • emergence of invasive native scrub or weeds 
  • reduction in productivity of important grazing species 
  • very little recruitment of new grazing species 
  • erosion is occurring 

Immediate improvement in the condition of the paddock is required 

When establishing the management objective, consider larger-scale influences (i.e. property, catchment and region factors) to ensure all land units are viewed as part of the overall system. 

Setting management objectives is a key part of all formalised grazing management approaches and involves constant revision and updating of the objectives as conditions change and plans develop.Â