Time-controlled rotational grazing: Tara Station, Qld
Time-controlled rotational grazing: Tara Station, Qld Report
DKCRC Working Paper
- Author(s): Walsh, D
- Published: 2009
- Publisher: Desert Knowledge CRC
- Volume: 59
Abstract: The grazing strategy used at Tara is time-controlled rotational grazing. The property is divided into 42 paddocks of varying shapes, with all being 365 hectares in size. Fences are mostly single wire electric, but three barb or electric wires are used for weaners and two electric wires are used for laneways. There’s a minimum of two waters in each paddock, with up to four waters in some paddocks. The system has been in operation for ten years. Ninety-two percent of Tara is spelled at any given time. The decision to implement time-controlled rotational grazing was made after Dan attended a Grazing for Profit School in the late 1990s. He also visited others that were using alternative grazing systems. He then developed a full plan before implementing the new system across the entire property over the course of three years. He continues to gather knowledge to fine-tune the management of his grazing system. His approach to the development of his paddock system was quite innovative when he started ten years ago. No one else in the district was doing anything like it and he also decided to try something other than the traditional “wagon wheel” paddock configuration common to intensive grazing systems. By implementing paddocks of any shape with multiple waters, Dan has been able to reduce grazing intensity near the water and improve the evenness of use of each paddock.
- Urls: http://www.nintione.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Working-Paper-59_CAGSP-Tara-Qld.pdf, https://web.archive.org/web/20180405113706/http://www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Working-Paper-59_CAGSP-Tara-Qld.pdf
- Publisher Location: Alice Springs
- Keywords: Queensland, CAGSP, pastoralism