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Pastoralism is a major land use, but is only
marginally productive in Cape York
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Despite the fact that it occupies over 7.5 million hectares, the
Cape York cattle industry remains only marginally productive. This
is largely a result of low soil fertility, poor nutrient value of
pasture species, isolation and very limited infrastructure. A 1992
Queensland Department of Primary Industries report on the region
estimated the total herd size of the region at only 130,000 head
with annual sales (turn off) of about 18,000 which in turn
generated around $6.5 million. In 1995 it was estimated that the
average income generated in the region was around 90 cents per
hectare (Cotter 1995). This compares, for example, to $1.90 per
hectare generated in the Kimberley region.
Stocking rates are as low as one head per 60 hectares and as a
consequence property sizes are very large. While turn off is low,
operating costs for such vast properties are relatively high making
profit margins slim. Infrastructure such as fencing and watering
points also tends to be limited.
Land ownership
The conversion of land to National Parks and to Aboriginal and
Islander use has reduced pastoral lease land to about 57 per cent
of the total area of Cape York. (McKeague 1992:iv) Aboriginal
people now oversee almost 20 per cent of the total area of Cape
York , and National Parks manage around 10 per cent. Only 124
properties make up the total pastoral area, making the average
property size 83,000 hectares. This figure though is distorted
somewhat by several very large properties. In reality most leases
are around half this size. Also, the 124 properties include a
significant number of very small leases that exist around Cooktown.
About 72 properties are actually large-scale pastoral enterprises
of the kind discussed here (Shaw, K. 1999, pers. comm.).
CYPLUS (Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy) recorded the
number of people living on pastoral leases at 690, or about one
person per 11,300 hectares. Around half the pastoral leases are run
by individuals or families, one-third by companies and the rest by
Aboriginal people, foreign owners and public companies (Cotter,
G.F. 1995).
Land systems
Mountains flank the east coast, which ease to foothills and
lowlands towards the west. Most of Cape York is characterised by
country of low to very low relief. The rangelands in the south east
corner of the region, around Cooktown and Cape Flattery, consist of
much smaller holdings. This section also has the highest rainfall
in the region and supports areas of tropical rainforest. A strip
along the west coast of Cape York consists entirely of Aboriginal
lands, Reserves and mining areas. This section runs almost from the
southerly border of the region to the tip and is around 70
kilometres across. The majority of the pastoral leases are located
in the centre of Cape York and across to areas on the east
coast.
Rainfall
The region's rainfall is high, but decreases in reliability
along a gradient from north to south. What is important to note for
the pastoral industry is that the Cape receives substantial
rainfall each and every year, although a poor or early end to the
wet season can lead to difficult conditions late in the dry
season.
The soils are very poor and there are large areas of massive red
and yellow earths and siliceous sands. Rivers that run east tend to
be shorter and fall more steeply to the coast whereas those flowing
west are much longer and fall more slowly. Homesteads and cattle
improvements tend to be located near to rivers because of the
assured water supply and the better grazing country. The land
becomes less undulating further from the Great Dividing Range until
the almost flat depositional plains of the west coast.
Infrastructure
Pastoral properties of Cape York tend to have minimal
infrastructure, particularly fencing. Given that most properties
run their cattle in a traditional fashion, this is understandable
for a number of reasons. For a start, cattle need to be able to
move over large areas of land in order to selectively graze those
areas which will provide them with sufficient bulk matter and
nutrients. Paddocks then must be enormous if they are to contain a
reasonable number of cattle. Another factor is the cost of fencing,
estimated at $2000 per kilometre in 1995 (Cyplus 1995). Most
properties therefore have a boundary fence, a weaner paddock and a
holding paddock. Nevertheless, some properties have been carrying
out extensive fencing programs so as to make their herds more
manageable. Watering points are similarly low in the Cape although
if stocking rates and/or the number of fences continues to grow
then more water facilities will be required.
