1Sustainable Environments Research Group, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, 5095, Australia
2School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
*Current address: Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia
**Corresponding author email: hpwaudby@gmail.com
Online published on 14 August, 2013.
Three cattle (Bos taurus) were fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars to examine their spatial behaviour in the arid stony plains region of Australia. Cattle used creeks (drainage lines) extensively, although grazing frequency was not affected by habitat (creek or stony plains/tablelands). Cows spent significantly more time in creeks when temperatures (T) were ≥ 40°C, but not increasingly so as T rose from ≥ 40°C. The cattle did not disperse widely after rainfall (remaining close to creeks) probably because of high T. Unlike summer rainfall, the combination of surface water and low T during winter rain may facilitate cattle dispersal.
Beef cattle, Gilgai relief, Grazing behaviour, Riparian areas
