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MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION 1271, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



holdings have opportunities of drought evasion 

 by supplementary irrigation, cutting of edible 

 scrub and runoff farming. Individual holdings 

 need to explore the possibilities of their own 

 environment. Each holding must adopt a rigid 

 policy of reduction in stock numbers in extended 

 drought. 



Type Of Animal 



Under current land use practice, sheep and 

 cattle grazing are the alternatives. Mostly, they 

 are regarded as alternatives. It appears that ad- 

 vantages in production and ability to manipu- 

 late pasture accrue from joint use. 



In special situations, goats appear to offer some 

 advantages when run in conjunction with sheep. 

 On areas which have been invaded by shrub, 

 goats are capable of utilizing species which are 

 inedible to sheep. From observations in New 

 South Wales, goats appear to favor browse above 

 grass, and they could be used to restore grasses to 

 an area. 



Grazing Systems 



Virtually no work has been carried out on the 

 effect of practices such as spelling, rotation, sea- 

 sonal grazing, and periodic intense grazing. As- 

 sessment at this stage is on theoretical grounds 

 and on scattered landholder experience. 



There is little practical evidence to suggest that 

 more production will accrue from specialized 

 grazing systems, as compared with set stocking 

 patterns. However, there is considerable evidence 

 to show that pastures can be modified by grazing 

 at particular times and by spelling. Heavy graz- 

 ing for a short period can cause the loss of peren- 

 nial saltbush and its replacement by perennial 

 grass in a very short time (16). This can in- 

 crease production in the short term at least. It 

 also demonstrates the susceptibility of the pasture 

 to mismanagement. This work was carried out on 

 a fine-textured alluvium which is not easily 

 eroded. 



Observations are being made on a method of 

 periodic intense grazing, followed by spelling, on 

 a fine-textui"ed alluvium which carries a dense 

 growth of weedy shrubs, such as Bassia spp. 

 Heavy grazing removes all plant growth, and 

 there is some evidence that more palatable species 

 reappear during the period of spelling. How- 



ever, the landholder adopting this grazing method 

 has an area of improved pasture, irrigated from 

 bore water, which enables him to assure himself 

 of reserve feed when dry periods prevent regener- 

 ation of the intensively grazed areas. 



When eroded areas have received reclamation 

 treatment, benefit has followed the practice of pe- 

 riodic grazing and spelling. On a bare scald 

 which was reclaimed by furrow treatment, a land- 

 holder obtained value by spelling during seasons 

 of adequate rainfall and grazing during periods 

 of drought. The furrow treatment enabled the 

 paddock to respond better during drought than 

 uneroded areas, because of the run-on effect after 

 small rains. The area has become a special pur- 

 pose pasture. 



The role of grazing systems appears to lie in 

 manipulations of pastures to produce special pur- 

 pose pastures, to encourage or discourage par- 

 ticular species or groups of species, and for recla- 

 mation purposes. It is important to set a specific 

 target when a grazing system is contemplated. 



Special Practices 



The practices include edible scrub cutting, irri- 

 gated pasture, water spreading, and species in- 

 troduction. None of these practices has wide ap- 

 plication, but each can be significant over a small 

 area. 



The economics of these ventures vary from time 

 to time and situation to situation. Provision of 

 regular green feed by irrigation, waterspreading. 

 or ponding can enable cattle to be carried or 

 sheep to breed where otherwise they would be 

 marginal. Small areas of green feed may have 

 value, beyond the apparent amount of produc- 

 tion, where it can be used for flushing ewes, carry- 

 ing rams, or holding lambing ewes. 



There appears to be little scope for successful 

 introduction of exotic species, except in the fa- 

 vored niches or artificial sites created by water- 

 spreading. The chances of finding suitable exotics 

 is remote because of the low fertility of the soils 

 and the low moisture availability. 



Williams (31) suggested that some species have 

 been lost to our pastures. It is doubtful whether 

 this has happened to any extent. It is more likely 

 that regeneration is more difficult because of a 

 change in local environment. Kefuge areas still 

 exist. After a major, 8-year drought in Central 



