Cattle Management for Riparian Zones
Project Partners:
Fitzroy Basin Association Incorporated; Landholders of Central
Queensland; CSIRO; Central Queensland University; Department of
Environment and Resource Management.
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Landholders are supporting research on their properties that could
lead to more cost-effective cattle management and less erosion.
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Key Achievements:
- Using GPS technology to provide insights into cattle movement and
behaviour with each other and their environment, in particular
riparian areas.
- Helping to test the theory that off-stream watering points near
riparian zones reduce cattle access to creeks and consequent
impacts on water quality, without the use of fences.
- Four beef properties within Fitzroy Basin chosen to participate in
trial work. Field staff assessed the starting condition of
riparian areas, pasture and ground cover levels.
- Around six beasts per property fitted with GPS tracking collars
that transmit data every second.
- GPS data will be compiled to create a map showing behaviours such
as how the herd accesses water and areas of preferrred grazing.
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GPS tracking collars worn by selected stock to monitor the herd's
movement, especially around waterways.
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- Results will feed into management advice and incentives offered by
FBA.
- Future potential to pair GPS tracking technology with cattle
control technology to create opportunities for active herd
management.
