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Wambiana grazing trial
Managing sustainably and profitably in a highly variable climate is a major challenge for northern beef producers.
The Wambiana grazing trial started in 1997 to test and develop sustainable and profitable strategies to manage for rainfall variability in extensive grazing lands.
The trial is located on the property ´Wambiana´ near Charters Towers and consists of 10 paddocks - each 100 hectares in size.
Grazing strategies tested during the first phase from 1997 to 2010 included moderate set-stocking, heavy set-stocking, rotational wet-season spelling, and two variable stocking strategies.
This first phase provided the first experimental evidence clearly linking moderate stocking to sustained productivity and improved profitability over the medium term.
Loss of land condition under heavy stocking compromised productivity, profitability and the local environment. The trial clearly demonstrated the productive benefits of improved grazing management, in a manner and scale of direct relevance to the grazing industry of northern Australia.
For more information, read The Wambiana grazing trial: Key learnings for sustainable and profitable management in a variable environment
