Grazing Land Management

Online resource supports sustainable grazing

James Nason, 19/06/2014

A new online resource is now available to help producers use grazing techniques that increase their productivity while reducing methane emissions per hectare.

Sustainable grazing – a producer guide, has five sections that outline best practice and references appropriate tools and case studies of producers who are implementing these practices on their properties.

MLA Research Extension Manager – Sustainability, Irene Sobotta, said that by following key underlying principles and critical management factors outlined in the resource, producers can increase the efficiency and environmental performance of their grazing businesses.

The five sections in the resource are:

  1. Running a sustainable grazing business
  2. Climate variability – using water wisely
  3. Healthy fertile soils
  4. Productive, persistent and profitable pastures
  5. Grazing management

“The strategies in each of the five sections contain opportunities for producers to improve the quality of their pasture and grazing management while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the sustainability of the industry,” said Irene.

“There are a number of benefits of having productive pastures, including opportunities to reduce emissions from livestock production such as finishing stock more quickly, which gives an animal less time to produce methane.

“Ensuring optimal soil health and water efficiency allows good quality pasture to be produced allowing this faster turn off of stock,” she said.

The new online resource is based on the MLA publications Towards sustainable grazing and Grazing land management: Sustainable and productive natural resource management and incorporates the latest research outcomes and knowledge.

The development of this producer resource is one of the activities of MLA’s Farm300 initiative that aims to  increase the profitability of livestock enterprises while reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity.

Farm300 is funded by the Australian Government, and managed by MLA in partnership with the Australian Farm Institute, Australian Wool Innovation and Dairy Australia.

Source: Meat & Livestock Australia. To view the producer guide to sustainable grazing on the MLA website click here

 

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