Scaling grazing trial results upwards to a whole property level – a case study using the Wambiana grazing trial

Abstract:

Grazing trials are used to quantify and demonstrate the biophysical impact of grazing strategies, with the Wambiana grazing trial being one of the longest running trials in northern Australia. Previous economic analyses of this trial suggest that there is a major advantage in stocking at a fixed, moderate stocking rate or in using decision rules allowing flexible stocking to match available feed supply. The present study developed and applied a modelling procedure to use data collected at the small plot, land type and paddock scale at the trial to simulate the property-level implications of a range of fixed stocking rates for a breeding-finishing enterprise. The best economic performance was achieved at a moderate stocking rate of 10.5 adult equivalents/100 hectares. Model outcomes are consistent with previous economic analyses using actual trial data. Further modelling of the Wambiana trial data is warranted and similar analyses should be applied to other major grazing trials to allow scaling up of results to the whole-property level.