Week 10 Rangelands Flashcards

1
Q

Define a rangelands farming system

A

Semi-natural ecosystem in which a productive output is obtained by adding domestic stock
Consists of Herbs, grasses, shrubs and trees
Largely semi-arid to arid country
Very large properties 700000Ha
Low stocking rate
Low level management

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2
Q

Generally describe the attributes of rangelands

A

Bounded by 275mm isohyet in Southern Aust where crops arent grown
Over 1/3 aust rainfall below 250mm
70% considered semi arid or arid, 26% too dry to farm, 9% for aborigianl reserves

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3
Q

Describe the type of land tenure system that much of the rangelands are under and how that might impact on development

A

Mot under lease tenture
Involvement of various governments in determining the conditions of the lease
THis means little development has occured- eg frences, fert, inproved pasture etc
More than 80% of Australias land but supports only 3% of population
Large proportion of Indigenous communities

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4
Q

Outline some of the values of the rangelands

A

Inherent (Aesthetics, tourism)
Production values
Biodiversity and Ecosystem services

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5
Q

Outline the limitations of the rangelands

A
Vaiable rainfall
Low ability to fatten
 poor reproductive performance
Poor grazing management
Transport
Production and environmental concerns
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6
Q

Describe some of the key characteristics of the northern rangelands

A
Dry and Wet seasons
Live Export
SUmmer dominate rainfall
Bos Indicus cattle (brahman background)
Breading operations and growing young stock out to 18-24 months
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7
Q

Why export live

A

Originally due to lack of refrigeration
Lower cost labour in importing countries
Importing country self sufficiency

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8
Q

Types of Nth rangelands

A

Tropical/Sub-tropical woodlands, high rainfall (cape york)

Hummock Grasslands Spinifex (sand dune country central and west)

Mitchell grassland
Naturally iccuring grassland with no tress (nth west nse, cw qld)

Arid Woodlands
Central aust

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9
Q

Describe some of the key characteristics of the southern rangelands

A

Equiseasonal - winter dominat rainfall
Predominatley strong wool merino (15% of total sheep in aust)
Other stock - gcattle and goats
Increasingly more specialist meat sheep = dorpers

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10
Q

Explain the drivers for feed supply in rangelands and describe the diversity of feed

A

Feed is highly variable within seasons and between seasons due to variable rainfall
Includes emphiral, annual and perennial species
Drought is common

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11
Q

Describe the grazing management tools available to use in the rangelands and explain how they can be utilised

A

Commonly set stocked
Tools include
Fencing, distribution of water points, SR

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12
Q

Fencing

A

Size of paddock affect utilisaiton with increased SR of 40-90%
Fence similar land classes
Cost benefit analysis

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13
Q

Distribution of watering points

A

Radius of 5km
Watering points 6-10km apart
Can use for trapping of pests or mustering stock

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14
Q

Describe what is meant by total grazing pressure in the rangelands and why it is important

A

Camels, goats, roos
Grazing animals include more than just domestic stock
3-30#% grazing pressure if goats
16-36% is roos

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15
Q

outline the causes and effects of invasive native scrub

A

Increased woody weeds due to lack of fire events
Now controlled by fire, grazing, mechanical, chemical
Bulldozer, ploughing
Legislation makes it hard these days

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16
Q

Goat industry

A

1.63million head
90% comes from rangelands
Now introducing better bloodlines- Boer