Understanding sheep baa-haviour: Investigating the relationship between pasture and animal grazing patterns

Background

Grasslands are the primary source of feed for grazing livestock, and as such, knowledge on how to best manage livestock and grasslands, through the use of spatiotemporal modelling, will assist in the long-term management of a valuable ecosystem resource.

Methods

This study was conducted over 14 months between March and April 2017 in Orange, NSW, Australia. The study evaluated sheep behaviour in relation to the presence of pasture species, environment and paddock structures, using random forest modelling, to predict sheep location under continuous high (HSR, 13 DSE ha⁻¹) and low (LSR, 7 DSE ha⁻¹) stocking rates.

Results

In the LSR, significant drivers included water, shade and fence lines (p < 0.01). In the HSR, only fence lines and available biomass were found to be significant (p < 0.01). The presence of green legumes in both stocking rates often increased residency by sheep. Animals spent more time together in the LSR, suggesting that social behaviour played a larger role than pasture quantity and quality in driving grazing behaviours.

Conclusions

Understanding how pasture type can influence grazing behaviours and also how animal behaviour affects pasture performance and utilisation is important in developing long-term sustainable management strategies on a paddock scale.