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Benefits Of Looking After Riparian Zones On Your Farm

Farmers will have the opportunity to explore the impact that farming has on waterways and learn how to care for farm riparian zones whilst gaining economic benefits at the second Gippsland River Forum on April 6.

By Department of Primary Industries - 24th March 2004 - Back to News

The Forum is being run by the Gippsland based GipRip project and is the initiative of the Department of Primary Industries, Dairy Australia, Land and Water Australia, GippsDairy, and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority who are working closely with dairy farmers to develop practical and better management practices.

Riparian zones are defined as areas of land adjacent to creeks, rivers, lakes, wetlands and floodplains, and include gullies and dips that sometimes run with water. Those zones are usually highly productive areas on farms that have been heavily cleared and grazed or used extensively for irrigation and/or stock water.

The nature of vegetation on riparian land usually reflects the better soils and greater moisture found in the lower parts of the landscape. Riparian land also plays an important role in the lifecycle of many native animals and plants, it provides wildlife corridors as well as being a refuge for animals in times of drought and fire.

By nature this area of riparian land is fragile, but its productivity value makes it vulnerable to over-use and to practices that cause it to deteriorate, creating additional problems.

Economic and practical reasons for better management of riparian zones include less erosion problems, improved water quality, better stock management, fewer insect pests, stock shelter and increased land values. The wider, personal reasons are harder to justify but are happening just the same. Love of the land would sit highly in this category, alongside higher fish stocks, diversification, landscape refuge and ecotourism.

At the Gippsland River Forum, Dr Sharon Aarons from DPI Ellinbank will present research at the site that examines the impact dairying has on the waterways, John Mulvany from On Farm Consulting will discuss the costs and benefits of riparian work and Dr Ian Rutherford from the University of Melbourne talk about minimising erosion and the impact of stock on waterways. Practical information on the creek will follow with an opportunity to talk to farmers, scientists, extension officers and dairy consultant on the economics and impacts of dairying on riparian areas.

The Forum will be held at Peter and Helen Snape’s property on River Connection Road, Willow Grove – follow road signs from Willow Grove – starting at 10:15 am until 2:30 pm and lunch will be supplied.

For more information and to help with numbers please contact Carol Bradshaw at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2222 or Jenny O’Sullivan on 5663 2386.

COW BEHAVIOUR COMES FROM PEOPLE BEHAVIOUR!

Recent research on commercial dairy farms in Australia has shown that human-animal interactions have marked effects on the behaviour and productivity of cows.

It showed high fear levels occur if cow handlers use a high percentage of negative interactions, such as slaps or hits with a poly-pipe, when handling their cows. In contrast, fear of humans is low in situations where cow handlers use a high percentage of positive interactions such as patting, talking and slow deliberate movement.

The milk ejection reflex (let-down) is blocked if cows are nervous or frightened. If the milk ejection hormone (oxytocin) doesn’t reach the udder in time, then milk let-down doesn’t occur prior to cups-on and after a small initial milk flow lasting for perhaps 15-20 seconds, there will be little or no milk flow (and an empty claw bowl) for the next 30 seconds until milk is ejected. If there is poor let-down, cups crawl up teats, milking time increases, teats are under more stress and mastitis infections increase.

As a result there are some simple recommendations –

When handling cows, people should use positive behaviour. Only use negative behaviour when necessary, such as when a cow refuses to walk forward when it is being moved. If a cow is behaving as required, and if there is opportunity, positive behaviour should be used. It is important to recognise that the consistent use of even moderate slaps and hits will result in cows becoming fearful.

It takes only a little further thinking to realise that if dogs or motorbikes are used as "weapons", there is little about the experience that is positive for the cow!

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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