Abstract. Inter-annual rainfall variability is a major challenge for sustainable and profitable grazing
management in northern Australia. Results are presented from a large, 13 year grazing trial on the
relative performance of five stocking strategies in managing for rainfall variability. Strategies are
compared in terms of their impacts upon animal production, profitability and pasture condition. The
results show that recommended strategies such as moderate stocking, varying stock numbers in
response to forage availability and moderate stocking with wet season spelling are not only more
sustainable, they are also far more profitable than heavy stocking. It is suggested that managers apply
some form of flexible stocking around long term carrying capacity with stock numbers changed in a
risk-averse manner as rainfall varies between years. Some form of wet season spelling also appears
important to maintain pasture condition.
Full-text publications from the Australian Rangelands Society (ARS) Biennial Conference Proceedings (1997-), Rangeland Journal (ARS/CSIRO; 1976-), plus videos and other resources about the rangelands of Australia.