Grazing land management for better beef and reef

Sustainable grazing, which includes practices such as wet season spelling, has been shown to improve pasture condition and economic profitability. It also shows promise as a key strategy to reduce the loss of sediments and nutrients in run-off to the Great Barrier Reef.

“We are undertaking significant research throughout Northern Queensland to help understand the link between land management and reef health,” Dr David Post of CSIRO said.

“Extensive monitoring and data collection from a variety of locations in the Burdekin catchment have shown that conservative stocking and wet season spelling improves ground cover and has the potential to help reduce water, sediment and nutrient loss to rivers and the reef. Economic modelling suggests that there will be long-term financial benefits for land owners as well.

“One Burdekin grazier has said that the ability to control grazing has improved the composition and density of the pasture and reduced soil loss along his stream frontages.”

The information pack, “Managing Recovery – Tools for Sustainable Grazing in the Burdekin Catchment”, represents over eight years of research conducted by the CSIRO and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, in conjunction with Meat & Livestock Australia.

With useful, informative diagrams and clear, concise language, the information pack consists of four parts, each highlighting a different aspect of sustainable grazing:

1. Saving for a rainy day – discusses how you can make the most use out of every drop of rain that falls on your property
2. The patchy path to recovery – shows how pasture recovers under sustainable grazing
3. Wet season spelling – provides an overview of implementing wet season spelling
4. ABCD land condition framework – presents the characteristics of land in different condition classes for easy classification

Download information pack: Managing recovery: tools for sustainable grazing in the Burdekin catchment.

Download images at: Grazing land management for better beef and reef.