‘Country-condition dependent’ grazing in the goldfields: Bulga Downs, WA
‘Country-condition dependent’ grazing in the goldfields: Bulga Downs, WA Report
DKCRC Working Paper
- Author(s): Walsh, D
- Published: 2009
- Publisher: Desert Knowledge CRC
- Volume: 55
Abstract: David McQuie has been refining his grazing system for the past 22 years. His family are recognised throughout the district for their conservative approach to land management and David’s observations and experience over a lifetime have led to the current management system. There are five main paddocks on Bulga Downs and these are fenced to country type. Fences are five wire (four plain and one barb). There are 51 waterpoints and the McQuies continue to upgrade two of these per year from sheep to cattle standard. David describes his grazing strategy as ‘country-condition dependent’ grazing. A minimum of one third of the property is spelled at any given time with the length of the spelling period dependent on the season and the condition of the paddock. The spelling period ranges from 1 year to 10 years, with David describing this spelled country as his ‘environmental bank balance’. The McQuies began trialling the system by starting with the areas that needed to be shut up immediately. After seeing the positive results, they rolled out the spelling system across the remainder of the property as quickly as possible.
- Urls: http://www.nintione.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Working-Paper-55_CAGSP-Bulga-Downs-WA.pdf, https://web.archive.org/web/20200314205626/http://www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Working-Paper-55_CAGSP-Bulga-Downs-WA.pdf
- Publisher Location: Alice Springs
- Keywords: Western Australia, CAGSP, pastoralism