Grazing strategy spells success

The first pastoralists to fully implement cell grazing in the Northern Territory, Chris and Marie Muldoon have seen outstanding results on Midway, the property they manage for Marie's family.

Half of the 3000-hectare block was converted four years ago, and since then the need for herbicide has plummeted and fertilisers have been abandoned. The pastures have also improved, with less competition from weeds and better soil health.

Key points

• 1500 hectares is divided into 30 50-hectare paddocks

• System allows high, targeted stocking rates during wet season, but also enables pastures to rest and improves soil health

• Muldoons received the NFF/DAFF 2009 Innovation in Agriculture Sustainability Award

Chris and Marie Muldoon's cattle don't mind being around people

In fact, they're used to it. Each day they are moved at least once by Chris, his kelpies and maybe one of his casual workers. No one shouts and no sticks are used. It's slow, it's steady and it's environmentally friendly.

You see Chris and Marie use cell grazing on Midway, their property in the Douglas Daly region, 2.5 hours southwest of Darwin.

And they practice low stress management on their cattle.

A regional first

In a first for the Northern Territory, the Muldoons converted half of their 3000 hectare property to a full cell grazing operation in 2005, 12 months after they took over management of the property, Midway Station.

That station is owned by Marie's family, the Underwoods, who also hold Riveren and Inverway Stations in the Victoria River districts. The three properties together form a high grade Brahman cattle breeding operation, where cattle are taken to 'Midway Station' for finishing.

"The cattle come up from the other properties at 250kg and we aim to put about 100kg on each animal before they are delivered to the Darwin wharf for export", says Marie.

She says after attending a cell grazing course run by Resource Consulting Service from Queensland, it seemed perfect for the intensive nature of their operation, which enjoys a high rainfall of 1250 millimetres annually.

The couple set about converting 1500 hectares of their property into 30 50-hectare paddocks, fenced off with solar-powered electric fences.

Four years later the results of cell grazing have been outstanding, both in terms of productivity and environmental benefits.

And the Muldoon's efforts were recently recognised, when they won the NFF/DAFF 2009 Innovation in Agriculture Sustainability Award.

They were also finalists in the Australian Rural and Outback Awards, Rural Skills Australia Agricultural & Rural Development Award and the 2009 Northern Territory Landcare Awards, Landcare Primary Producer Award.

The process

So how is it done?

Well, the Muldoons run 2000-3000 head of cattle from November to March - the growing season - and these are moved from paddock to paddock daily. This allows pastures to rest for about 30 days, before they are grazed again.

In the dry season, the rest period for the paddock is increased as growth decreases, and cattle numbers are reduced. The idea is for cattle numbers to match the carrying capacity of the land, with the paddock rest period adjusted to suit the growth rate of the plant.

It allows, however, for high stock density when the land is in good condition - up to 60 head per hectare in the growing season.

To make sure their system is working sustainably, the Muldoons monitor grass growth and make sure they're not overstocking.

They use a grazing chart which takes into account time spent grazing a paddock, the weight and type of stock, the rainfall over the period and how much grass they estimate has been removed.

This then allows the Muldoons to estimate how much feed they have and for how long, and to make accurate stocking rate decisions.

Environmental and financial benefits

Chris and Marie are delighted with the results they have been able to achieve since they introduced cell grazing on Midway.

"There's definitely been a reduction in the weeds, and the native pastures and improved pastures have been coming back," says Marie.

She explains better ground cover has also reduced erosion and prevented small, immature weeds from growing and spreading.

This means annual herbicide application on pastures in the wet season has fallen 73 percent, ensuring long-term pasture sustainability, improving plant biodiversity and saving the Muldoons $33,000 annually..

In the future the Muldoons hope to eliminate herbicide use entirely.

Fertilisers, meanwhile, which used to cost about $100,000 each year, are no longer needed and carrying capacity has improved by 50%, with 1.5 rather than 1 head of cattle being run per hectare.

Soil health has improved, which benefits both pastures but also improves its ability to store carbon. Water run off - a potential source of environmental degradation - has been drastically reduced thanks to the increased ground cover and the ability of the soil to hold more moisture.

As a result of the length of rest time each paddock receives, sections of degraded land have been allowed to regenerate, including a two kilometre-long, 15 metre-wide eroded run-off course which is now a fully-grassed area.

The Muldoons have 1500 hectares of native pastures, which is also used to feed cattle but at a much lower stocking rate.

Low stress cattle

Alongside their environmental commitments, Marie and Chris practice low stress management with their cattle.

"It's basically getting into the head of the animal," explains Marie. It is where you work with the animal's flight zone using pressure and release techniques to handle the cattle.

She says that like all animal welfare and environmental strategies they use on farm, it's also good for business.

"Because they're not stressed, they're not losing weight and when it comes time to truck them to market they go quietly."

Cell grazing, she says, has also helped this, as cattle are now used to being handled frequently.

Learning to see the benefits

While good environmental work is a priority on Midway, so too is informing the broader community, says Marie.

"I think it's really important that mainstream Australia gets an insight into what we are doing on our farms, so they can see and appreciate that we really are environmentally conscious, that we love our animals and we care for our land."

Other farmers, she says, are also seeing the benefits of the Muldoon's cell grazing operation, with two neighbours now implementing similar systems on their own properties.

Managing the land sustainably is vital, according to Marie. "It's our livelihood, basically. We're not just here for the short term, my siblings and I want our children to grow up on these properties as well.

"It's common sense for us now to think about it, because what's good for the land is good for the animals and ultimately it's good for us."