Prosperity through Simplicity – The Coughlans of Tarabah
Michael and Anna Coughlin, who manage the 18,000-hectare Tarabah on the plains of southwestern New South Wales, are “among the world’s greatest harvesters of sunlight” according to Howell. The Coughlins also manage the 2,400-hectare Moonbrill property a few hours to the east in a more productive environment… all with just 2.5 full-time employees and close to 6,000 cattle. Despite large tracts of Australia’s perennials reverting to cool season annuals, the Coughlins have created the conditions for pernnials to re-establish, and in doing so the wildlife (including duck-billed platypus and echidnas) has become more abundant.
Resiliency Down Under Drought-Proofing in New South Wales
In 2006-2007, southern Australia faced historic drought conditions, with the Coughlin family’s Tarabeh property receiving 8 of the 17-inch average, and Moombril receiving 10.5 of the normal 30. They survived the drought with more cattle than they started and without buying a pound of hay. This case study details the conditions they faced and the tough decisions that were made to make it through.
Surviving or Thriving in Drought
Analyzing ecological monitoring data from 1999 to 2007, Tony Malmberg of Twin Creek Ranch and Jim Howell assess how Twin Creek’s drought-induced management adjustments enabled them to maintain the integrity of their ecosystem processes. Malmberg also discusses his “ah-ha” moment after hearing Howell’s hypothesis that low production, brittle environments likely evolved under grazing patterns with longer (sometimes multi-year) recovery periods compared to brittle environments with higher production.
Wool Production and Biodiversity Working Together for Tim and Karen Wright: A Case Study
Lana is a 4,000-hectare sheep property in New England Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. Owners introduced a Holistic Management approach in mid-1990s because of degradation of pastures and poor profitability. Results achieved include: Changed from high inputs (fertilizers, sown pastures) to low input system, which reduced fertilizer use by 70%. 100% return on investment in extra fencing within 2 years. Wool yield increased from 73-74% to 78-80%. Labor costs cut in half. Maintained healthy gross margins of $200 per ha. during 2002 drought, when area had lowest rainfall on record and neighboring farmers suffered financial stress.
Going Beyond Best Practice in the Kalahari Bushveld Savannah: A Case study of Brahman Botswana on farm Oasis
This 2010 case study follows the 18,832-hectare farm named Oasis in western Botswana near the border of Namibia. Dwindling carrying capacity of the land led them to attend a Holistic Management course in 1986, with small changes implemented in 1988 and a more substantial buy-in occurring in 1999. By boosting the carrying capacity of the […]
The Efficiency of Low Input: A Case Study
This 2010 case study follows the 9,500-hectare Farm Springbockvley in Namibia that receives an average of 250mm of annual rainfall. Between 1989 and 2010, their flerd (a combined flock of sheep and herd of cattle) grew from 250 Simmentaler cattle and 3000 Karakul sheep to about 700 Nguni cattle and 5000 Damara sheep, with an average of 15 animals per hectare. They have maintained a continually increased carrying capacity even in years where less than a third of the average rainfall was recorded.
