❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the potential environmental impact of Damara sheep, a breed increasingly favoured by pastoralists, due to their goat-like eating habits. The answer details a trial comparing the grazing habits of Damara sheep, Dorper sheep, Merino sheep and Boer goats, finding similar dietary preferences and potential impacts on vegetation at continuous grazing.
AnsweredQoN 1399Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
With pastoralists in WA rapidly moving away from merino and other 'standard' sheep varieties to Damara sheep, what studies have been conducted to assess the environmental impacts of these sheep in pastoral areas, noting that their eating habits are commonly referred to as being similar to those of goats which are known to cause significant environmental damage to native vegetation ecosystems?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 March 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
22 days
The trial concluded that the Damara, Dorper, Merino, and Boer Goats are equally selective grazers in the rangelands of Western Australia. Key results of the trial were: . There were a few subtle differences in the dietary habit preferences of the breeds, but overall, the dietary overlap is very high. . Mulga bluebush, all green annual grasses, speargrass, and broadleaf wanderrie were particularly preferred by all animals. Under continuous grazing, these species would be expected to decrease. . Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
Key results of the trial were: . There were a few subtle differences in the dietary habit preferences of the breeds, but overall, the dietary overlap is very high. . Mulga bluebush, all green annual grasses, speargrass, and broadleaf wanderrie were particularly preferred by all animals. Under continuous grazing, these species would be expected to decrease. . Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. There were a few subtle differences in the dietary habit preferences of the breeds, but overall, the dietary overlap is very high. . Mulga bluebush, all green annual grasses, speargrass, and broadleaf wanderrie were particularly preferred by all animals. Under continuous grazing, these species would be expected to decrease. . Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. Mulga bluebush, all green annual grasses, speargrass, and broadleaf wanderrie were particularly preferred by all animals. Under continuous grazing, these species would be expected to decrease. . Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
Key results of the trial were: . There were a few subtle differences in the dietary habit preferences of the breeds, but overall, the dietary overlap is very high. . Mulga bluebush, all green annual grasses, speargrass, and broadleaf wanderrie were particularly preferred by all animals. Under continuous grazing, these species would be expected to decrease. . Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. There were a few subtle differences in the dietary habit preferences of the breeds, but overall, the dietary overlap is very high. . Mulga bluebush, all green annual grasses, speargrass, and broadleaf wanderrie were particularly preferred by all animals. Under continuous grazing, these species would be expected to decrease. . Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. Mulga bluebush, all green annual grasses, speargrass, and broadleaf wanderrie were particularly preferred by all animals. Under continuous grazing, these species would be expected to decrease. . Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. Wilcox bush, mulga, Grevillea desolata and needlebush were avoided by all breeds. . Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. Boer goats, Damaras and Dorpers did not particularly prefer shrub to ground feed. . The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
. The mulga shrublands were quite suitable for all these breeds at conservative stocking rates.
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