Profitable improvement in rangeland conditions: Cunyu Station’s achievement of synonymous objectives in the highly variable southern rangelands of Western Australia

This case examines the objectives and management practices of Cunyu Station in Western Australia from 1990?2017. The owners? objectives were to apply best practice knowledge augmented with localized management skills to rigorously adjust total grazing pressure (TGP) from all species (cattle, kangaroos, camels, horses, and donkeys) to levels commensurate with improved landscape conditions, minimized operating costs, and stable cash flows. A combination of infrastructure investment, feral herbivore control, use of the native apex predator (dingo) for kangaroo control, creation, and maintenance of around 18 months of ?buffer? pasture, and finishing 30-month-old steers on the Station were key management practices for successfully achieving these goals. This case is accompanied by modeling that validates the Station?s pasture ?buffering? approach by comparing profitability from stocking at different TGP rates by using 30 years of historical seasons and prices. This case demonstrates that improving livestock productivity, stable profitability, and improving range conditions/biodiversity can be synonymous. A key issue of financing the transition to this system is discussed.