Prospects of cattle integration in plantation systems: lessons learned from Indonesian and Australian case studies - Dataset

Abstract

<p>This data was collected for the thesis entitled: Prospects of cattle integration in plantation systems: lessons learnt from Indonesian and Australian case studies. </p><p><strong> Interview Data:</strong> Current Indonesian beef production only meets 45% of local demand. Increasing local beef production through integration of cattle production in pre-existing oil palm plantations is a possible solution to meeting this shortfall. The oil palm understorey provides feed, alleviating the need to convert additional land to agriculture. Smallholders are important contributors to both Indonesian cattle and palm oil production. This case study research seeks to understand key aspects of smallholder cattle management in palm oil production areas, to highlight both opportunities and barriers to cattle integration. Thirty-nine smallholder cattle farmers from four villages in South Kalimantan were individually interviewed.</p><p><strong> Files:</strong> The questionnaire is attached (word document titled 'Questionnaire_SHInterviews', and the interview outcomes are available in the excel file 'SH_Interviews_Data'. The numbers in the questionnaire correspond to the answers available in the excel file (in the field many of the questions included in the questionnaire ended up not being addressed). </p><p> All activities in this research were approved by the University of New England Human Research Ethics Committee (approval HE19-156). A research permit (342/E5/E5.4/SIP/2019) and visa (VITAS No: 2A1311EB0365-T) were obtained for research in Indonesia.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Chapter 6:</strong></p><p>Context: Most knowledge on grazing management originates from homogeneous pastures. Information on cattle behaviour in silvopasture systems would allow land managers to get a better understanding on forage utilization and vegetation changes, in order to avoid negative impacts on trees and soils and to formulate improved animal management practices promoting weed control and reducing fire fuel loads. </p><p>Aim: This study explores the role of manageable landscape elements (presence of open areas, proximity to tracks and the availability of seeded understorey) in determining cattle distribution, in a mixed-species eucalyptus silvopasture system seeded with a broad-leafed paspalum understorey.</p><p> </p><p>Methods: Cattle were tracked with GPS collars set to record locations at 15-minute intervals. A Brownian Bridge Movement model was run using the GPS locations, used to calculate Ivelv's Electivity Index to determine cattle preference and avoidance of specific areas.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Files:</strong> A word file is included which describes how the data was collected. The GPS locations for every collar, for each of the three grazing deployments is attached in separate CSV files.</p><p> All animal research activities in this study were approved by the University of New England Animal Ethics Committee (approval AEC20-59).</p><p> <strong>Chapter 5:</strong> Silvopasture is the integration of trees, understorey and cattle co-located on the same land management unit, thereby sharing land and producing two commodities. The growing area under eucalyptus plantations in Australia is an opportunity for cattle grazing but there is a dearth of knowledge on suitable understorey forage species that can provide high quality feed and can be sustained underneath eucalyptus trees.</p><p> This study examines persistence, palatability and productivity under different tree species of broad-leafed paspalum in a cattle-eucalyptus farming system, and explores associated effects on cattle productivity. Broad-leafed paspalum presence was mapped eight years after seeding in a 184 ha eucalyptus plantation in Northern New South Wales (Australia). Samples were harvested four times over a nine-month period, pre- and post- cattle grazing. Broadleafed paspalum productivity was recorded next to tree trunks and in-between tree rows, for three eucalyptus tree species (red mahogany, tallowwood, ironbark and a mixed species tree stand). The nutritional content of broad-leafed paspalum was analysed, cattle weight change was studied from summer to autumn and the calving rate was recorded over the study period.</p><p> <strong>Files:</strong> the 'Key_Excel_Files' has all the information to be able to understand the individual excel files and contains information on the methodologies. The following excel files are included: 'BiomassData', on the dry weight of broad-leafed paspalum harvested, 'N_Content', the crude protein content of harvested samples, 'NDF_ADF', with results on NDF and ADF content of harvested samples, and finally the excel file 'Visual Soil Assessment', with the results of the site visual soil assessment.</p>