Prospects of Cattle Integration in Plantation Systems: Lessons Learnt from Indonesian and Australian Case Studies

Abstract

<p>Cattle grazing in plantations is a possible solution for increasing beef production while reducing the conversion of additional land to agriculture. Integrated cattle-plantation farming systems aim to achieve both environmental services and economic benefits, which is especially relevant to the increasing global demand for both beef and tree products to be produced in a sustainable manner.</p> <p>Integrating tree, livestock, and forage management requires considerable planning and technical expertise, to maximise facilitation and minimise competition between farming system components. This research focuses on reaching a better understanding of understorey productivity, grazing management, and the implications for sustainable silvopasture practices, by carrying out research activities in three case studies. The first case study examines smallholder cattle management in Indonesian oil palm producing regions through smallholder farmer interviews. The second case study assesses tree and cattle productivity in a large-scale, integrated cattle-oil palm plantation by analysing secondary production data. The third case study measures understorey productivity and cattle distribution in an Australian mixed-stand eucalyptus plantation, through biomass harvests and cattle GPS tracking.</p> <p>In the smallholder system, cattle management was determined by labour availability and the lack of alternative feed sources, with the majority of smallholders adopting freegrazing for cattle management. In the large-scale Indonesian oil palm plantation, cattle management was the most intensive of the case studies, with a rotational grazing system adopted. This system resulted in beef production, while concurrently improving oil palm yields and reducing weeding costs. The Australian case study showed tree species choice affected understorey productivity and distance from tree-trunks was positively associated with understorey productivity. Cattle preferred areas in proximity to vehicle tracks, with high understorey forage availability (in the open areas if available, otherwise under treed stands).</p> <p>The Australian case study showed the importance of tree species selection and spacing on understorey productivity. A balance should be found between tree and understorey production, in line with the stakeholder's priorities. Broad-leafed paspalum was persistent and productive understorey species well-suited to the conditions of the Australian case study, but in new situations a risk assessment should be applied because of its invasive nature.</p> <p>All case studies had positive outcomes in terms of beef production, although the magnitude was not assessed. Equally as important is the income diversification offered by beef production, leading to more resilient farming systems in the face of fluctuating palm oil and timber prices. </p> <p>The socio-economic context and stakeholder priorities were instrumental in determining the intensity of cattle management. When beef production was the sole priority it was associated with lower investment in cattle management, whereas more intensive cattle management was associated with the dual aims of beef production and reduced weeding costs. Increasing grazing hours resulted in increased oil palm yields in the large-scale Indonesian plantation. Experiments under a wider range of tree and cattle management regimes (e.g. older or younger palms and grazing intensity or frequency) are required to extrapolate these findings. Vehicle tracks, fencing and understorey sowing are tools that can be used by stakeholders to attract cattle to target grazing areas. An avenue for future research is fine-tuning the 'optimal cattle distribution' for the most advantageous productivity and economic outcomes and the greatest co-benefits of weeding cost reduction and reduction of fire fuel loads.</p>