Besides the main grazing trial, Wambiana is
hosting many ancillary projects. Pictured above are cattle with GPS
collars to enable researchers to explore why cattle select some
soil types and not others and how stocking rates affect this
selection process.
Photo: Peter O'Reagain
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COLLARS on cattle fitted with a global positioning system (GPS)
are allowing CSIRO Livestock Industries and Queensland’s
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F)
scientists to track the movement of cattle in the bush.
The aim of this collaborative research project, also conducted
at Wambiana station, is to answer why cattle select some soil types
and not others and how stocking rates affect this selection
process. Cattle by nature selectively graze different parts of the
landscape, leading to over-use and degradation of particular areas
and a reduction in the land’s long-term carrying
capacity.
Direct observation methods of animal behaviour can be tedious,
time-consuming and possibly biased by the effects of human
observers on grazing behaviour. CSIRO Livestock Industries
scientist Ed Charmley points out that the devices allow the
location of an animal to be captured every 30 minutes without
affecting their normal behaviour.
“Studies with GPS collared animals will also be important
in evaluating the placement of additional water points, fences or
other management strategies to manipulate grazing distributions on
large, spatially variable paddocks,” he said.
The collars have also been used on Roger and Jenny
Landsberg’s property Trafalgar, near Charters Towers. Twelve
cows in a mob, in a paddock of about 1500 ha, were fitted with the
GPS collars.
Scientists are now determining if there is any difference in the
selective grazing habits between paddocks at Wambiana and the
larger paddock at Trafalgar. Comparing the two paddock scales will
allow scientists to find out if the spatial relationships between
grazing animals and their environment can be scaled up to
commercial-sized paddocks.
Co-funded by MLA’s Northern Beef Program, the project is
designed to help develop new grazing strategies to ensure the
long-term ecological sustainability and economic viability of
northern savannas grazing.
Contact: Dr Ed Charmley, CSIRO Livestock Industries Tel: (07)
4923 8174; Ms Andrea Corby QDPI&F, Tel: (07) 4722 2648.
