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Although not widely adopted, many producers have claimed beneficial responses in environmental sustainability and livestock productivity following introduction of cell grazing. However, there has been much discussion regarding the impact of cell grazing in the Australian landscape and the lack of research data for producers. This investigation was conducted to provide data from a comparison of cell grazing and conventional grazing.
The study was conducted on two different rangeland types in the Emerald region of Central Queensland. The measurements taken related to: Landscape Function Analysis, bulk density, microbial activity, total nitrogen, plant frequency and soil biological crusts. Much of the data indicated that the parameters were generally similar or at a more favourable level for cell grazing than conventional grazing. However, data for some of the parameters were at a significantly lower level at the end of a graze period on the cell grazing sites, but these became equal to or higher than for the conventional grazing by the end of the rest period.
It was concluded that, overall, cell grazing improved ecosystem processes and productivity on the bloodwood woodlands- native pasture country and cleared ironbark-improved pasture country.