“Willydah”, Narromine

Enterprise at a glance: Mean annual rainfall 500mm, largely trading livestock, currently mostly cattle; total of 1500 ha; 350 ha old man saltbush; although this area alters between years; approximately 1/3 property under No-kill Cropping; 15% of the property under tree regeneration and an additional 4% planted for Carbon Credits; cell grazing used across whole property.

Key elements: Bruce commenced cell grazing in 1994 and No Kill Cropping was developed in 1996. The first Saltbush and Tagasaste (another forage shrub) plantings were undertaken in 1988. The primary objective is to increase biodiversity; Bruce believes that livestock are an integral tool to achieving this objective.

• Aims to maintain 100% ground cover, decisions to move stock based upon an appraisal of available forage. The amount judged as available is what can be harvested without putting perennial plants at a disadvantage. This then dictates the stocking rate which is adjusted constantly.
• No-kill cropping of oats used to enhance biodiversity of native pastures and provide additional feed resource. Achieving a cereal crop is a secondary objective. The area ‘cropped’ varies according to year with a greater area sown during dry periods. When an early season break occurs, less No-kill cropping occurs but a greater likelihood of harvestable crop.
• Bruce believes the tree regeneration areas will serve dual purpose of provision of ‘deep, cool shade’ (requirement for which is likely to increase with climate change) as well as payment for carbon sequestration.
• Recently, enterprise is to include breeding flock of ewes. Some past difficulties with the introduction of adjustment or trading stock onto unfamiliar forage shrub diet may be overcome by running a small number of ‘experienced’ livestock alongside introduced flocks.
• Bruce has actively pursued information on animal behavioural science, travelling to the US to attend the latest course presented by Fred Provenza. The Provenza research has shown that animals can utilise a greater diversity of plants (including weeds) and these observations are consistent with the grazing effects that are occurring on Willydah. These grazing improvements are built upon good grazing management and stress free stockmanship.
• Bruce believes the introduction of multiple grazing species (cattle, sheep, goats and alpacas) may provide not only economic benefits, but also benefits in terms of differential grazing patterns to enhance biodiversity.
• Aims to include direct seeding of trees and additional shrub species within saltbush plantings and en.
• Different spatial arrangements of Saltbush planting has been tested, alleys, concentric circles and spirals.
• Recently adopted the use of polywire to provide more flexibility in subdivision of grazing cells
• Welcomes visitors and is actively involved in teaching No Kill Cropping and Stress Free Stockmanship methods