final report 2005/S02 Extended Quality Grazing

Transcription

1 final reprt Prject cde: B.PRS.0508 Prepared by: Mike Suth Milang Prductive Grazing Date published: ISBN: PUBLISHED BY Meat & Livestck Australia Limited Lcked Bag 991 NORTH SYDNEY NSW /S02 Extended Quality Grazing Meat & Livestck Australia acknwledges the matching funds prvided by the Australian Gvernment t supprt the research and develpment detailed in this publicatin. This publicatin is published by Meat & Livestck Australia Limited ABN (MLA). Care is taken t ensure the accuracy f the infrmatin cntained in this publicatin. Hwever MLA cannt accept respnsibility fr the accuracy r cmpleteness f the infrmatin r pinins cntained in the publicatin. Yu shuld make yur wn enquiries befre making decisins cncerning yur interests. Reprductin in whle r in part f this publicatin is prhibited withut prir written cnsent f MLA.

2 2005/S02 - Milang Prductive Grazing Extended Quality Grazing Mike Suth PO Bx 188 MILANG 5256 SA BEEF - SOUTHERN BUDGET $15, Aim: T develp fdder prductin systems that can ffer bth early and extended quality pasture grwth and thereby increasing livestck carrying capacity and meat prductin per hectare. It is ur intentin t find and use plants which have the ability t utilise summer rainfall t extend the pasture grwing seasn and therefre increasing verall carrying capacity f farm. T identify and better utilize DSE s per hectare thrugh benchmarking acrss the membership. Objectives: T have twelve members prficient in using Grazfeed. T achieve fur weeks mre pasture prductin annually. Identify best practice increase carrying capacity by 10% thrugh better pasture utilizatin. T develp linkages with ther past Prgraze participants. C-rdinatr s Cmments 31/07/2009 Final Reprt sent t Sydney but missing members' cmments which have been requested t be added. 28/07/2009 The grup started this prject as a prduct f an MLA Prgraze Curse that they attended, a gd start. Tw lusy years have caused their results t be limited. They can clearly see thugh that lucerne has been the mst prductive in these tugh years, a lessn it itself. Leader Mike Suth was adamant that members have learnt a lt and are putting int practice their new knwledge. 23/12/2008 Third Interim Reprt was pr as Mike Suth busy n lake water issues therefre Lyntn Arney nw best cntact. Sent him Interim Reprt frmat and requested mre detail f their trials. 11/12/2008 Reprt prvides n details therefre requested mre inf. Grup still struggling with pr year with very dry spring-summer. 16 attended inspectin f lucerne plantings. Summer fdder crps have either nt been planted r failed. Members still keen despite dry and still using Grazplan and feeding strategies. Ecnmic analysis delayed until /05/2008 Grup has dne very well in a tugh year using a shared cmputer with Grazfeed n t calculate grazing system. Need t extend t get anther years data due t the 2 dry years hlding up gd recrds f feed and crp perfrmance.

3 14/06/2006 Grup appears well led and right int their planned actins. 10/03/2006 Lking OK with gd leadership. Chasing first reprt. 6/07/2005 Sent t MLA fr preparatin f Funding Agreement 2005/S02 - Milang Prductive Grazing Extended Quality Grazing FINAL REPORT JULY 2009 What has been dne The prject had three parts: 1. Summer Frage Crps This part f the prject was run fr us by Nigel Wilhelm f SARDI. He swed and mnitred frage srghum, millet, ccksft, Hunter pasja, Arrwleaf clver, lucerne, chicry and frage brassica. 2. The Use f Grazfeed by Graziers t Better Set Supplementary Feed Ratins A cpy f Grazfeed was purchased and installed nt a laptp cmputer. The laptp was shared by mst members f the grup t estimate required supplementary feed ratins. 3. Fdder Crps t Fill Feed Gaps A number f grup members swed fdder crps t fill expected feed gaps. Lucerne, a variety f cereal crp mixes and Italian ryegrass were all swn and rtatinally grazed Methdlgy 1. Summer Frage Crps SARDI swed and mnitred the grwth f frage srghum, millet, ccksft, Hunter pasja, arrwleaf clver, lucerne, chicry and frage brassica n the prperty f Brian Landseer s in spring The Use f Grazfeed by Graziers t Better Set Supplementary Feed Ratins A cpy f Grazfeed was purchased and installed nt a cmmunal laptp cmputer. A training sessin n hw t use Grazfeed was held by Tim Prance f PIRSA Rural Slutins. The laptp was then brrwed by mst members f the grup t estimate required supplementary feed ratins and t assess their grazing systems and stck perfrmance.

4 3. Fdder Crps t Fill Feed Gaps Five grup members swed fdder crps t fill expected feed gaps. Lucerne, a variety f cereal crp mixes and Italian ryegrass were all swn and rtatinally grazed. Members kept details f the csts f swing the crps as well as the numbers and classes f livestck and the dates stck went int and ut f the paddcks fr 2006 and An attempt has been made t estimate the benefit:cst f swing the fdder crps. Results & Analysis 1. Summer Frage Crps Unfrtunately, this trial had n measured utcme as there was a thick mat f ptat weed acrss the site and then cattle brke int the plts and grazed all sites t the grund. SARDI researcher Nigel Wilhelm did, hwever, make the fllwing bservatins: Stck shwed strng preferences fr the legumes, fllwed by the millet and ccksft and last f all the frage srghum. There were majr differences in the ability f the fdder crps t utcmpete the ptat weed. Hunter pasja frage brassica, frage srghum and arrwleaf clver bth did very well, while the ther brassica and the serradella were swamped ut by the ptat weed. The lucerne did nt cmpete well, but was still alive and may kick n later. The plantain and chicry started with gd early grwth, but then died ff early with the ht weather. The frage srghum and millet visually prduced the mst feed. Megasweet millet in particular did well. There was a majr difference between the tw frage brassicas in susceptibility t caterpillars. Atrazine did an excellent jb f weed cntrl n the frage srghum plts. 2. The Use f Grazfeed by Graziers t Better Set Supplementary Feed Ratins Members started ff using Grazfeed n a number f ccasins. By the time f preparing this reprt, the use had drpped t almst zer. We believe that Grazfeed allwed members t initially set their ratins under a number f scenaris. Once dne and grund-truthed, these ratins were adjusted and used as the starting pint in future withut the need t re-use Grazfeed. We expect that members will cntinue t use the prgram peridically as new, untested feeding situatins arise. The sharing f Grazfeed between grup members has wrked effectively. N member f the grup has purchased their wn cpy f Grazfeed.

5 3. Fdder Crps t Fill Feed Gaps Grup activities have been severely affected by pr spring and summer rainfall in 2006 and 2007 (particularly), which dramatically limited the grwth f the fdder crps. In additin, the lw water level in Lake Alexandrina shifted fcus away frm feed prductin t water quality and availability in Even s, the value f fdder crps t fill specific feed gaps in either quality and/r amunt has been demnstrated. The attached table 1 summarises the grazing perfrmance, establishment csts f the fdder crp paddcks. Sme cmments n the results: 1. There was a range f fdder crps grwn and a range f csts t establish them (frm $75 t $275 per hectare). We believe that there is ptential t reduce the preparatin prcess, and s csts, by reducing the number f wrkings and sprays. Early swings in particular can be direct seeded with n sprays up t 30 th April fr this district. Later swing can be dne with ne knckdwn spray and direct drilling. 2. There was a large seasnal impact n summer fdder crps. Gd results were btained in 2006, while in 2007 the crps failed and mst f the mney spent n the crps was lst. If drughts becme mre cmmn, late swn fdder crps will becme mre risky. 3. In 2007 there were ersin prblems created by failed, late-swn fdder crps nt establishing enugh grund cver. 4. Established lucerne was much less affected by seasn than annual, swn summer fdder crps. 5. The careful rtatinal grazing system used in the trials dramatically increased the carrying capacity f paddcks. Mst f this increase was the result f tw things - allwing the plants recvery time after grazing and higher feed utilisatin. On a whle farm basis this is mre difficult t achieve. 6. Cereal regrwth and early swn cereal can prvide 2-3 times mre early feed than an unimprved pasture n. 7. The percentage f ptential feed grwn varied dramatically between seasn and prperty. Sme bservatins n fdder crps: 1. Yu have t define when the feed gap is and plan t sw a fdder crp t fill that gap. 2. Dn t expect targeted fdder crps t replace gd pastures. 3. Yu have t prperly fertilise fdder crps t get the best grwth ut f them.

6 4. If yu early sw a cereal fdder crp, it is very imprtant nt t graze it until after the break f the seasn when there is adequate sil misture t sustain the crp. 5. Early swing gives excellent early feed. 6. Fdder crps can, with planning, be grwn t prvide extra feed at almst any time f the year. This, in turn, can allw a significant increase in the annual stcking rate f the prperty. 7. Italian ryegrasses respnd better t nitrgen than annual grasses and pasture legumes prvided there is need fr additinal feed and there is sil misture t allw it. 8. Members bserved extra early feed in the year fllwing the swing f a late cereal crp fr fdder. 9. Late swn fdder crps can be an excellent weed-cleaning prcess because weeds are killed later in the seasn than usual giving a higher kill rate. A paddck can then be swn t a permanent pasture like lucerne. 10. Because f the way fdder crps are grazed, weeds are eaten with the swn species. 11. Stck d nt like t graze the early grwth frm Mundah barley. 12. Early in the seasn stck preferentially eat weeds ver lucerne. 13. Cereal fdder crps are a gd, safe intrductin f yung stck t grain. The attached table 2. summarises sil test results fr sme f the paddcks studied. Sme cmments n these results: 1. Sil fertility was n balance quite gd fr all paddcks tested. 2. There was a range f sil acidity (frm ph in water 6.4 t 8.1). 3. Tw paddcks were likely t be affected in parts by salinity. 4. Grwth f fdder crps is likely t be significantly reduced where sil fertility is pr. There were three majr limitatins t the analysis f the data: 1. In all but ne case, there was n cntrl paddck setup t allw prper cmparisn with the fdder crp. 2. There was limited weighing f stck t calculate grwth rates. 3. There was limited estimatin f feed n ffer as stck went int and ut f paddcks. 4. Recrd keeping was nt ideal. Extra help with the design f the frms at the start f the trial wuld have been valuable t give better data. These limitatins make it difficult t d a reliable ecnmic analysis f the value f fdder crps. In ne case, hwever, fairly reliable data was available. This shwed:

7 Table 3. Prfitability f Fdder Crp fr Ram Lambs in 2006 Cntrl paddck Oats & peas Grwth rate f ram weaners 55 grams/day 240 grams/day Additinal grwth ver 80 days 14.8 kg liveweight/weaner Additinal grwth per hectare 293 kg liveweight/ha Carcase weight difference 6.5 kg Value f extra $2.60/kg $16.90/weaner Value f extra meat per hectare $334 Less handfeeding csts $2,128 $0 Less additinal fdder crp csts $0 $2166 Net advantage f fdder crp ver 24 $8004 hectares Net advantage f fdder crp $333/ha Other issues: 1. The cntrl weaners had 40 hectares f grazing rather than the fdder crps 24 hectares. This released pasture fr ther stck. 2. The weaners grew n the fdder crp, but little n the dry pasture. This can make weaner management easier. 3. In 2007 the fdder crp really did nt grw at all because f the lack f spring rain. Field Days A training day n the use f Grazfeed was held in July It was run by Tim Prance f SA Rural Slutins and attended by 9 lcal prducers. The grup held a pasture walk n 17 th f September 2006 with the Milang Agricultural Bureau and it was attended by 16 farmers. We lked at lked at Lucerne establishment techniques with ne prperty cmparing scratching the Lucerne in t sand sme rlled behind the seeder with culti-packer and sme f the paddck withut the culti-packer. The farmer cnsiders a 40 % better establishment withut the culti-packer as it tended t flatten all the grund lsing the ability t harvest misture. This farmer chse t use Silverad which is a 10 winter active Lucerne which was chsen fr its ability t fill a feed gap in April/May. Anther farmer visited had a very gd establishment using knife pints and press wheels. During discussin it was felt that uncated seed gave better establishment cmpared t cated seed. After this field day, the grup mved n t an inspectin f fdder srghums trial plantings presented by Pacific Seeds n the prperty f lcal farmer Charlie Michelmre. The plantings highlighted the need t select the cultivar best suited t an area and sil type. Due t dry cnditins summer fdder crps were generally nt swn and what was failed giving next t n prductivity, s the grup has nt held a meeting t cmpare summer crp utilisatin and grazing.

8 The grup held its first field day n beef cattle management in cnjunctin with the Milang Agricultural Bureau n 21 st March Held n Brian Landseer s prperty at start f the prject it was attended by 18 prducers wh viewed the summer fdder crps planted by Research Officer, Nigel Wilhelm f SARDI. A farmer breakfast was held n sheep and beef cattle nutritinal deficiencies n 18 th June it was attended by 12 graziers. A final field day was held n 8 th February 2008 attended by 10 farmers. We lked at Italian ryegrass and clver fdder pasture, a peas and ats fdder crp and French millet and srghum fdder crps. The field day highlighted that fdder crps are a valuable, althugh cstly, way f filling feed gaps. It als highlighted that srghum and millets are less reliable in lw rainfall years than Italian ryegrass and at/pea crps. Key Outcmes The key utcmes f the prject are: 1. Fdder crps can prvide significant extra feed in bth winter and summer feed trughs. This allws higher stcking rates t be run n the farm ver the whle year. 2. Fdder crps can prvide high quality feed in summer that allws yung stck t grw when they nrmally wuld nt. This makes retained stck easier t manage ver summer and sale stck can be finished ut f seasn and achieve premium prices. 3. Fdder crps vary widely in their ability t cmpete with weeds and in their palatability t stck, s the species and varieties shuld be selected carefully t suit the lcal envirnment. 4. Late swn cereal and summer fdder crps can reduce the risk f grass seed damage t lambs, s aviding price penalties fr damaged skins. 5. Fdder crps are expensive t grw between $75 and $275 per hectare. This can make late swn and summer fdder expensive failures if the seasn ends early as happened in 2007 and There can als be lw grund cver leading t an added ersin risk in these years. 6. Cereal fdder crps can be direct drilled dry withut sprays if dne befre 30 th April in this district. Later swing can be dne with ne knckdwn spray and direct drilling. 7. Yu have t define when the feed gap is and plan t sw a fdder crp t fill that gap. 8. Targeted fdder crps d nt replace gd pastures. 9. There is a range f species and cultivars f fdder crps available and strngly prmted t graziers. It can ften be difficult t select the best crp fr a particular situatin.

9 10. Lcal trials are required t establish which species and cultivars are best suited t a district. 11. If prperly selected, fdder crps can be very prfitable in filling specific feed gaps in winter and summer. 12. Fdder crps are an excellent weed-cleaning crp befre the reswing f a permanent pasture like lucerne. 13. Careful rtatinal grazing dramatically increases the carrying capacity f a paddck. 14. Grazfeed is a useful cmputer prgram t help graziers establish initial ratins fr supplementary feeding livestck.

10 Table 1. Grazing perfrmance f Fdder Crp paddcks Prperty Year Rainfall Swing date Annual DSE/ha fr paddck Theretical ptential DSE/ha * Percent f ptential achieved Main grazing perid Pea & at swn crp Lyntn Arney, Finniss 2007/ /09/ % Dec-Feb $90 Winter Star ryegrass Swn barley & clver Swn triticale, vetch, Guard ryegrass & Balansa clver Swn triticale, vetch, Guard ryegrass & Balansa clver Swn t lucerne Failed lucerne + annual vlunteer Swn barley Barley regrwth Annual pasture (cntrl) Annual pasture Brian Landseer, Milang Brian Landseer, Milang Rdney Arhns, Pt Sturt Rdney Arhns, Pt Sturt Clin Grundy, Clin Grundy, Clin Grundy, Clin Grundy, Clin Grundy, Clin Grundy, Cst/ha /05/ % July-Oct $ / /04/ % Aug-Feb $ / /05/ % Aug-March $ / /05/ % Aug-March $ /06/ % March-Oct $ NA % Aug $0 2006/ /05/ % Mar-Sept $ NA % Feb $ NA % Apr-Sept $ NA % NA1 $0 Established lucerne Mike Suth, Pt Sturt % All year $60 Established lucerne Mike Suth, Pt Sturt % All year $60 Established lucerne Mike Suth, Pt Sturt % All year $120 Established lucerne Mike Suth, Pt Sturt % All year $60 Established lucerne Mike Suth, Pt Sturt % All year $120 Veldt grass and kikuyu Mike Suth, Pt Sturt % All year $60 * theretical ptential based n 20 kg f dry matter/ha/mm f rainfall. NA - dentes nt applicable Paddcks als received an applicatin f a bilgical blend frm Lawrie & C csting $285/ha. NA1 - dentes nt available Indicates that undrinkably saline stck water reduced stcking rates fr these paddcks.

11 Table 2. Sil test results f paddcks taken in Summer 2006/7 Swn triticale, vetch, Guard ryegrass & Balansa clver Swn t lucerne Swn barley Prperty Rdney Arhns, Pt Sturt Clin Grundy, Clin Grundy, Year Phsphrus (Clwell mg/kg) Sulphur (mg/kg) Ptassium (Clwell mg/kg) ph (water) Salinity (cnductivity ds/m) 2006/ / Established lucerne Mike Suth, Pt Sturt Veldt grass and kikuyu Mike Suth, Pt Sturt