1 April 2007
A farm trial that started out looking at "extending" pasture phases has shown that "managed" pastures can carry more sheep during spring and carry them longer because the pastures themselves last longer.
The trial was organised by the national Grain & Graze program, with much local support, to expand current thinking about rotational practices.
"The year in, year out rotation is common in the region," Ms Linda Leonard, the Avon Region project manager, says "Farmers do it to improve the cropping component of their operations, as they generally accept that wheat is the most profitable of their enterprises.
"But farmers are becoming aware that good pasture management can drive productivity, and can be the key to increasing overall profit.
"Stephen and Linley Rose agreed to compare a straight, four year pasture phase and the year in, year out rotation on their 'Tooarvee' property, 13 kilometres north west of Wickepin."
Ms Leonard said the Roses grew cereals and ran a straight Merino flock, with Mr Rose's pasture management typical of farms in the region - TIMERITE® spray topping, pasture manipulation and annual fertilizer application, and controlled grazing.
Over the years Mr Rose's practice had been to sow clover on an "as needs" basis but, in May, 2005, he had put down his four-year pasture with the support of WA Department of Agriculture and Food Grain & Graze technical officer, Kristy Baker.
It was a serious mix of species - Prima gland clover, Santorini yellow serradella, Rocket and Tetilia Gold tetraploid ryegrasses and Dalsa subterranean clover.
The following table shows the inputs and results from the second year (2006) of the Grain & Graze demonstration on "Tooarvee" in the Wickepin shire. The control site was in volunteer pasture and the treatment site was in high performance pasture.
Demonstration inputs of control and treatment sites
| Control | Treatment | |
| Paddock size (ha) | 22 | 23 |
| Year in rotation | Year 2 - pasture | Year 2 - pasture |
| Farm rotation | W P W P | P P P P |
| Pasture composition | 50% sub-clover (Nungarin), 25% cape weed 25% ryegrass and barley grass | Gland clover (Prima) Yellow Serradella (Santorini) Tetraploid Ryegrass (Rocket) Subterranean Clover (Dalsa) Ryegrass (Tetila Gold) |
| Fertiliser | Super Potash 3/1 @ 150kg/ha | Super Potash 3/1 @ 150kg/ha |
| Chemicals | Glyphosate @ 450 ml/ha and 0.2% wetter | Glyphosate @ 450 ml/ha, Ester @ 350 ml/ha + 0.25% hot up |
"Stock and pasture availability were monitored regularly to prevent widespread over-grazing, and to ensure stock increased, rather than decreased, condition score," Ms Leonard said.
"On average sheep were grazed at 4 dry sheep equivalents in the first year to maintain even grazing pressure, and stock were removed when the pastures set seed to increase germination in the second year.
"In the second year the extended pasture phase plot was grazed at 11 dry sheep equivalents (DSEs) for 31 days during the spring - when feed on offer levels were 2,501kg/ha - while the control comparison had 6 DSEs for 38 days.
"Condition score was maintained at 3.5 for both flocks," Ms Leonard said.
The table shows the results after two years of pasture.
Results of Demonstration - (Winter/Spring mob)
| Control | Treatment | |
| DSE rating | 1.65 | 1.70 |
| Average DSE based on grams gained per day per ha | 4.50 | 4.21 |
| Sheep grazing days per ha | 946.00 | 1,111.00 |
| Average Wt in (kg/hd) | 40.43 | 52.08 |
| Average Wt out (kg/hd) | 59.87 | 71.55 |
| Average CS in | 2.90 | 2.84 |
| Average CS out | 3.26 | 3.40 |
| Average Wt gain per day (g/hd) | 107.00 | 127.00 |
CS: condition score, Wt: weight
In its second year, 2006, the trial resulted in a total of 1,111 grazing days per hectare. The control site was regeneration of volunteer pasture and resulted in a total of 946 grazing days per hectare.
"It is still too early to determine if longer term pastures are as profitable when you compare them to cropping but pasture management and utilisation do have positive benefits" Mr Rose said.
"We will need to look at the whole four years and determine the rotational gross margin for the system"
As well as extending their pasture phases, collaborating farmers were being encouraged to adopt other sheep management technologies like "hands-on" condition scoring, pasture monitoring, manipulation of sheep numbers when required and faecal egg counts to check worm populations.
"Mr Rose has found condition scoring and weighing a useful practice," Ms Leonard said.
"By taking part in the Grain & Graze demonstration, he has found it gives a more accurate understanding of what is going on with his sheep and now believes the visual assessment he has been using isn't accurate enough when the sheep are carrying wool.
"By keeping a check on your sheep and maintaining condition score you can get better utilisation of pastures.
"Mr Rose has also learnt that pastures should really be assessed before manipulation. It is important to look at what you've got before spending money on more seed," Ms Leonard said.
Grain & Graze is a collaborative partnership between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Land & Water Australia (LWA) aiming to help mixed farmers increase their profitability and simultaneously better manage natural resources.
To hear more about condition scoring, pasture utilisation and assessment of gross margins of sheep, please contact Sam Clune on 08 9690 2000 (Grain & Graze Avon Region).
Grain & Graze Regional Coordinators
Avon Region - Linda Leonard - 08 9690 2191
Border Rivers Region - Rachel Charles - 07 4671 7900
Central West/Lachlan Region - Jodie Dean - 02 6895 1015
Corangamite/Glenelg-Hopkins Region - Cam Nicholson - 03 5258 3860
Eyre Peninsula Region - Alison Frischke - 08 8680 6223
Mallee Region - Zubair Shahzad - 03 50 219 103
Maranoa/Balonne Region - Stephen Ginns - 07 4620 8122
Murrumbidgee Region - Katrina Sait - 02 6924 4633
Northern Agricultural Region - Philip Barrett-Lennard - 08 94750753
For more information about the Grain & Graze Program in the Avon Region, contact Development Officer, Linda Leonard, on 08 9690 2191; Richard Price, National Coordinator, on 02 6295 6300, mobile 0409 624 297; Gillian Stewart on 02 6263 6042; Lynne Sealie on 02 6263 6021 or visit www.grainandgraze.com.au.