Subscribe to The Weekly e-newsletter
News, views and advice delivered to your inbox every Friday. Covering producer case studies, industry news, market updates, on-farm tools and more, this e-newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest in the red meat industry.
Seed contamination of carcases
Grass seeds can cost producers and their sheep:
- seedy carcases are downgraded and can incur financial penalties of up to $2/kg
- seedy sheep have lower growth rates and fail to thrive
- seedy carcases can threaten market access.
Awareness of grass seeds and knowing how to manage them is essential to profitability.
Problem species
A number of plant species cause grass seeds problems including:
- Barley grass
- Brome grass
- Chilean needle grass
- Erodium
- Silver grass
- Spear grass
- Wire grass
Different species are present in different areas. Find out which species may be present in your area.
See pages 10-17 of the Winning against seeds manual for descriptions of problem species.
Management options
Successful producers develop an integrated approach to tackle grass seeds that is suited to their property and business goals.
There is no single strategy that can be applied to all situations so it is important to look at all the management strategies available
| Strategies for managing grass seeds | ||
|
Options for when risk is imminent This is the high risk period when seed has set - around spring |
Short-term options Two or more months before seed set - around autumn/winter/early spring |
Medium to long-term options Three or more months before seed set - summer/autumn |
|
Management strategies at this time include:
|
Management strategies at this time include:
|
Management strategies at this time include:
|
*Check out MLA's weed control hub for information relating to these management strategies.
More information
- Watch this video* to find out more about the impact of grass seeds at processing, what producers can do on-farm and the National Grass Seed Action Plan.
*This video was produced by Meat & Livestock Australia and supported by the South Australian Sheep Advisory Group. Please note: the dollar figures mentioned in this video relating to processor discounts and the cost to industry are no longer accurate in terms of current market value.
- Read Winning against seeds for more information on grass seeds and how to manage them.
