Kachana Landscape Management Workshop 2003
“Very High Animal Density” Demonstration
September 3th
Introduction:
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91 animals were called into an area of 25 metres by 30 metres containing enough standing dry feed for about 15-20 head. About sixty came in and the tail was gently pressured in to demonstrate a herd density of about 1213 head/ha… |
There was no stress, “herd effect” did not set in (this would have been different if there had been 91 adult animals — in this case only half were fully-grown and they were small at that) and the “landscape management tool” was functioning at about 30% of possible “RPM”, but the animals were soon telling us something:
- There was not enough “fuel”
- The quality of feed was not such that it was worth arguing over
- The health of the herd was at risk if we did not act
Within minutes animals were leaving… (They were not locked into that area.)
Our options then were:
- Turn our backs and leave
- Bring them back and close the fence behind them
- Call them back and give them more
- Call them into a different paddock
We opted for choice number three. During the day we rationed out a 150-metre strip in that 25 m lane with three more moves. That night they got the remaining 50 metres. They had access to water and nitrogen supplements the whole time and they could have gone back to where they had come from. 24 hours later they had full bellies and were ready for their next assignment.
Note: These animals are the descendants of the British Shorthorn first brought to this area over a hundred years ago. They have survived the harsh selection processes dealt out by this land and we have not introduced any new blood… they are rangeland cattle working for a living; at this stage we require workers not sumo-wrestlers or Olympic athletes, so there are no prizes for “looks”…
Before: | |
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24 hours later... | |
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We use the “natural disturbance” (or “animal impact”) that these animals create in what we call a controlled “biological storm”: I.e. we influence:
- The season (When: dry / early growing / wet / late wet / early dry)
- The time (When: morning / mid-day / afternoon / night)
- The location (Where)
- The area (size)
- The intensity (How: animal density / animal behaviour / herd composition)
- The duration ( How long: time spent in an area)
- The direction (up-stream / down-stream / across / in relation to prevailing wind)
- The frequency (How often and the time interval between)
Furthermore we can associate this event with other things like nutrient transfer; seed dispersal; the stabilizing of creek-banks; the reduction of ‘problem species’; the favouring of desirable species by how we prune, mulch and fertilise; and more….)
In production situations we can additionally manage for:
- “fresh pick” to favour sale animals, lactating cows, weaners,… (short-term: weeks)
- “standing hay” during the non-growing season… (medium-term: months)
- increased sustainable yield on poor or less productive country (long-term: years)
(Can we improve the “value” of senescent material by crushing it with hoof-impact, thus favouring bacterial/fungal breakdown??? We need to research this! Our cattle seem to be telling us they do not mind eating the stuff when they return after a few months; What else are they telling us? Has the nutritional value improved?)