Feeding animals optimally: rangeland grazing systems Prof Michael J. D’Occhio and A/Prof Luciano A. Gonzalez Centre for Carbon, Water and Food The University of Sydney Presenter: Prof Graeme B. Martin The University of Western Australia

Optimal feeding by use of controlled, distributed water systems: More uniform biomass utilisation Improve growth efficiency Reduce GHG emission Significant benefits for biodiversity Rangeland Grazing Systems 2050

Some background …

Grazing livestock Important global source of nutritious food and fibre However Occupy 25-30% (40%?) of world’s land surface Associated with land use change (eg, deforestation) Implicated in land degradation (eg, overgrazing) Relatively large demand on natural resources Can have adverse impact on native flora and fauna Contribute 8-10% of global anthropogenic GHGs

FAO: livestock GHG emissions is a global issue Need responses from developed and developing countries

Pressure: Reduce environmental impact Improve efficiency of production Increase sustainability Continue to produce nutritious and safe food Balance production with support for biodiversity and ecosystem services Grazing livestock

M tonnes CO 2 equivalent Beef and dairy cattle: 65% Pigs and chickens: < 10% Gerber et al, 2012 FAO: livestock GHG emissions is a global issue

GHG emissions in grazing livestock Emissions intensity (g CH 4 per kg LWG)

Lower productivity than other beef production systems Real and perceived negative environmental impact Disproportionate CH 4 contribution Reliant on weather Very large areas (average paddock is 50 km 2 in north Australia) Efficiency of landscape and biomass utilisation depend on availability of ‘watering points’ Global beef cattle Mostly tropical/sub-tropical rangeland grazing systems

1)Optimal utilisation of natural resources 2)Optimal efficiency of growth 3)Reach market specification in a timely manner 4)Minimise real and perceived environmental impacts 5)Support biodiversity and ecosystem services 6)Achieve sustainability and profitability Optimised feeding

Cattle walk only 2 km away from water (max 10 km) Around 80% of grazing close to water Distinctive grazing gradient Significant available biomass not grazed Q: Can rangeland grazing be made more uniform; will this improve productivity? Q: Can this be achieved with distributed water systems? Distributed water systems

Two Case Studies Approach not new, but applied on big scale Rely on establishment and management of distributed water system Required significant investment ‘Works in progress’ Opportunities for research collaboration

Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing Acknowledgement: Tony Lovell (SLM Australia Livestock Fund)

481,000 hectares, 7 locations SLM Australia Livestock Fund Anchor investor: Danish Pension Fund ($60 m) Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Landscape transformed by a grid of paddocks serviced by a distributed water system Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing ‘Cup-and-saucer’ water points: each services a unit of 8 paddocks (each unit is 4 km 2 ) Tracks for electric fencing create 8 paddocks

Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing ‘Cup-and-saucer’ water points: Pair at each location (backup system)

Artesian bores capped Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Distributing water to cup-and-saucers Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Tracks for electric fencing create the 8 paddocks around each cup-and-saucer Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Cattle at entry point to cup-and-saucer Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing ‘Cup-and-saucer’ water points at focus of tracks

Control centre: constant measurement Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Potential for Mulga Rangelands to respond to timed grazing Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing Grazing not controlled Wildlife only

Early phase GFP opportunity: participate in monitoring responses (medium-long term) SLM Australia Livestock Fund Anchor investor: Danish Pension Fund ($60 m) Case Study 1 Transforming Mulga Rangelands with Water, Fencing and Timed Grazing

Rotational grazing Time-controlled Planned Significant scale Case Study 2 Beetaloo Cattle Station (Barkly Tableland, Northern Territory) Acknowledgement: John Dunnicliff 1,054,000 hectares mm rain pa

$40 million: water distribution, fencing (Phase 1) Case Study 2 Beetaloo Cattle Station (NT)

Case Study 2 Beetaloo Cattle Station (NT) $40 million: water distribution, fencing (Phase 1)

Case Study 2 Beetaloo Cattle Station (NT) Distributed water points 2002: : 600

Case Study 2 Beetaloo Cattle Station (NT) Distributed water points 2002: : 600 Cattle 2002: 20, : 85,000

Early phase Preliminary indication: improved perennial grasses Native fauna is being monitored GFP opportunity: participate in monitoring responses (medium-long term) Case Study 2 Beetaloo Cattle Station (NT)

Case studies: Optimal feeding, rangeland grazing systems Controlled, distributed water systems: More uniform biomass utilisation Improve growth efficiency Reduce GHG emission Rangeland Grazing Systems 2050 Ethical production of nutritious food in healthy and resilient environments Biodiversity Ecosystem services Profit and prosperity