Win-win for the land and the Bowen River
“ Rotating cattle and resting country allows grasses to recover, regenerate, and reseed to ensure good quality ground cover season after season, especially during the dry times. The hope is that managing the time, frequency, and intensity of grazing will also help with weed control,” Tom Little.
Grazier Tom Little, right, is subdividing large paddocks to shorten grazing periods and better match land types with seasonal needs. He is pictured with NQ Dry Tropics NRM project manager( Sustainable Agriculture) Angus Hogg.
Win-win for the land and the Bowen River
Tom Little is improving grazing efficiency and protecting the Bowen River by subdividing large paddocks to match seasonal needs and grazing pressure.
Leasing Birralee and 12 Mile stations from QCoal near Collinsville, he’ s using smarter stock management to ensure cattle graze for shorter periods and match available forage, helping to cut drought feeding costs.
To prevent erosion and reduce sediment runoff into the Bowen River, Tom installed 33km of fencing across six paddocks to keep cattle out of riparian zones and alluvial gullies during the wet season. With support and expert advice from Paul Young from Tiller Rural Asset Management, he’ s been able to fine-tune rotational grazing practices.
Rotating cattle through the paddocks allows grasses to recover, maintain good ground cover throughout the year, including the dry, and also helps control broadleaf weeds.
Looking ahead, Tom plans to expand riparian fencing and upgrade water infrastructure, adding tanks and
To help prevent erosion and reduce sediment runoff into the Bowen River, 33km of fencing across six paddocks has been installed, keeping cattle out of riparian zones and alluvial gullies during the wet season.
troughs, to further protect the river and improve land condition. By implementing these targeted strategies, he’ s making a real difference for land productivity and water quality in the Bowen, Broken, and Bogie catchment, contributing to long-term sustainable land management.
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