Pasture Monitoring in the Rangelands
| Project start date: | 20 December 2021 |
| Project end date: | 17 February 2027 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Southern Australia, Dry, Mediterranean |
| Site location: | Central & Western NSW: Hay, Oxley, & Booligal |
Summary
The aim of this Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project is to demonstrate that using routine monitoring and managing key species in rangeland pastures can increase productivity of livestock businesses.
Objectives
By January 2027 in the Oxley/Booligal area of Western NSW:
-
Demonstration trials across 5 core sites will have increased understating of how feed quality changes at various stages in the plant lifecycle and how this influences livestock production.
-
Conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits using pasture monitoring to inform tactical and strategic decision making to show a positive return on investment (estimated) for livestock businesses.
-
100% of core producers and 80% of observer producers will have improved their knowledge, skills, confidence and understanding of key pasture species and their management on their property.
-
75% of core producers and 40% of observer producers will have adopted (or intend to adopt) the use of routine pasture monitoring to guide their management objectives and grazing strategies.
-
The results of the PDS will be widely disseminated with targeted extension and adoption activities including 5 webinars, 5 field days, 10 key pasture species profiles and a producer guide to improving tactical decision making in rangeland pastures.
-
Ground cover percentage will be maintained above 50% at demonstration sites and the number of key perennial species will increase from the baseline measured at the commencement of the project, at each site.
Progress
Established in 2022, the Pasture Monitoring in the Rangelands project aims to enhance livestock productivity across the southern NSW rangelands. Covering 198,699 hectares across 6 producer sites, the project links on‑ground assessments with remote‑sensing tools to monitor pasture growth and groundcover trends. Twice a year, group facilitator Christine Plummer evaluates pasture condition by sampling key pasture species such as bladder saltbush, demonstrating insights into crude protein, digestibility, and metabolisable energy shifts through seasons. These results help producers make informed decisions about feed supplementation, stocking rates and grazing management.
By integrating feed testing, satellite imagery and field observations, the project is working to build more resilient pasture systems and support livestock performance in a region characterised by significant climate variability. The program will continue through to 2027.
