The data from the monitoring program for the DCQ camel heard is due to be released in April and so monitoring has recommenced now that it’s drying out a bit.
The camels still have their tags tracking their movement and the heat map shows how they favour some areas of a paddock over others and the data to date is showing some interesting trends.
An interesting insight from the end of last years monitoring showed that while the camels clearly favour Prickly Acacia trees and shrubs and the broad leafed forbes found in a paddock over grass, as this resource declines towards the end of the dry season, they will compete with cattle for Mitchell grass making forage budgeting even more essential and, in another sign they are pretty smart, once the prickle bushes get very thick, they move to areas with less density giving us further insights into where they would be most effective in a paddock.
When this information is combined we aim to provide to landholders a much better understanding of how camels will be able to be efficiently integrated into properties to help with the management of Prickly Acacia and compliment chemical control.
As part of this work a camel handling day is been planned for May to proving practitioners with experience in camels together with landholders seeking the detailed information they need.