24/10/2011. Hillcrest Pastoral Company. (Avenue Range)

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1 Hillcrest Pastoral Company (Avenue Range) We aim to improve soil, pasture and stock health through a 1. Balanced nutrition program 2. Incorporating biological properties into the system 1

2 Analysis of the current system has identified a plateau in production with the use of conventional fertilisers. The paddocks ability to hold water (water infiltration) and soil compaction (friability) have been identified as issues facing Hillcrest. Quantifying Results: Measured, Monitored and Managed Soil and tissue testing Soil physical analysis Stock analysis (Blood testing and weight gain trials) Pasture quality (Feed tests) 2

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4 Padd. 3 (Problematic paddock) Padd. 11 (New pasture) 4

5 Treatment (Autumn) (Biological) Lime 1 tonne/ha Gypsum 0.5 tonne/ha Application Rate (Kg) LawrieCo Biologic Blend 300 Soft Rock Phosphate 100 Copper Sulfate 2 Zinc Sulfate Heptahydrate 3 Manganese Sulfate 3 Iron Sulfate 5 Sodium Molybdate 0.1 Cobalt Sulfate 0.1 (Conventional) 100 Kg/ha Single Treatment (Spring) (Biological) Application Rate (L) Biologic Growth (N,P,K, Kelp) 5 Biologic Trace 3 Soluble Boron 1 kg Manganese Sulfate 2 kg Fulvic Acid 1 Digest Fungi (Cellulose digestion) 30 5

6 Tissue testing Feed tests 6

7 Feed tests Blood tests 7

8 Brix Brix readings were measured as an indication of pasture quality. Brix measures dissolved solids (sugars) in the plant sap, directly indicating how well the plant is photosynthesising. High brix in plants = Increased feed conversion and weight gain Brix 8

9 Weight Gains Cattle were weighed and entered within a 5 kg weight range Paddocks were run at 17 DSE Daily weight gain measured over 53 days (Kg/day) Year: 1= 255 g/day 2= 51 g/day 3= 80 g/day Soil physical analysis 9

10 Water Infiltration The soils ability to hold and infiltrate water can be tested through these methods. 25 mm is applied and the time taken for infiltration measured. Repeated up to 75mm. Water Infiltration Note: Experiments 2009 stopped at 150 minutes 10

11 Soil test analysis (Padd 11, Bio new pasture) Soil test analysis (Padd 15, Bio old pasture) 11

12 Soil test analysis (Padd 17, Conv old pasture) Grazing days Padd 17 (Conv) 45 Ha Padd 15 (Bio) 35 Ha Increased Grazing Days on Bio paddocks Average DSE (3 years) Bio= Conv= Higher average DSE on 10 less Ha 12

13 Input costs Application $/ha 2009 LawrieCo Biologic Blend 132 Lime 28 Gypsum 15 Foliar Foliar BioGraze Application $/ha 11/10/2009 Single Super 38 Extra Spend on Bio = $55.12 a year Extra weight gain (53 days) accounted for: $29.88 a year Difference in spend =$25.24 Difficult to put numbers on: Increased DSE Increased grazing days Improvements in pasture quality 38 Conclusions Improved Pasture Persistence Biological pastures have persisted for longer resulting in increased feed (Grazing days and increased DSE). Pastures have persisted in previous problem paddock (number 3). Pasture Quality Improvements in pasture quality have been shown with weight gains in cattle compared to the single super treatment. Increased brix levels in biological pasture have been observed. Greater clover base in bio paddocks. Water Infiltration Improvements have been shown in water infiltration rates. Indicative of improvements in soil structure and biology Plant Nutrients/Blood tests Comparisons of nutrient values and blood testing requires more replications 13

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