To ensure progress is made towards the business objectives, it is important to undertake monitoring on a regular basis.
The factors monitored should include animal performance targets: lambing, weaning, kilograms of lamb weaned, wool cut, wool strength, adult sheep mortality rates, land system and catchment health (e.g., erosion, bare ground, scalded areas, wetlands health); and grazing system (e.g., productive plants, weeds, recruitment, feed on offer). These are excellent indicators of how well plans are being implemented and how the overall business goals are being met or what can be focused on to improve.
Monitor consistently to determine if the condition of key resources are moving towards or away from the management objective. Collect information over several years to identify trends over time.
To assist in assessing change in condition of paddocks and resources on the property, it is useful to adopt a formal monitoring system. Consider maintaining photo records. A sequence of photos taken over a period of time can provide a rich source of information to monitor short-term and longer-term change. Use the Establishing a photopoint tool to establish and maintain photopoints. Set up monitoring site(s) in a logical fashion and record their coordinates or include their locations in the property plan so others are aware of their location.
Define the best month(s) to assess the condition of the natural resources, pests and weeds, then take measurements (photos, assessments, counts, etc.) at that time. The timing will vary according to the rainfall pattern:
- Winter and uniform rainfall zones: late autumn (before the break) is often the ‘worst’ for vegetation, groundcover, birds and insects, while mid-spring is the ‘best’.
- Summer rainfall zones: spring and autumn can also be the most appropriate periods, but autumn will sometimes be ‘better’ than spring.
Experience has shown that the ‘twice-per-year, best-and-worst approach’ is sufficiently robust over time. Remember to clearly identify monitoring sites and come back to the same areas each time to allow progressive assessment and identification of changes.