Better Bega Beef

Summary

This project is to demonstrate the productivity potential of Far South Coast pastures for beef production.

Objectives

Over a three-year period, commencing in September 2018, to carry out three “Paired Paddock Programs” (each with two sites) to:

1. Demonstrate the impact of growing more pasture (through the removal of nutritional limitations and other identified limitations) and efficiently utilising the feed produced by running more cattle or achieving higher growth rates in young stock (indicative targets of 20% increase in DSE/Ha).

2. Measure and compare the economic performance of two paired paddock treatments in each location with respect to changes in production per hectare, either as an increase in stocking rate (targeting 20% increase in DSE / ha), increased animal performance per head (weight gain) or reduced supplementary feed costs.

3. Increase the skills and practices of core and observer producers in stock and pasture assessment and feed budgeting (measured by workshop attendance and surveying improved knowledge and skills and increased adoption)

4. Communicate the findings of the paired paddock comparisons to the wider farming community (75 members of the Far South Coast Dairy Development Group; approximately 300 members of the Far South Coast Farmers Network (which is expanding into the Eurobodalla) and more broadly in the region through LLS and landcare networks as appropriate)

5. The core producers will continue to use the results of the comparisons as a result of the PDS (measured by follow-up survey of adoption of BMP)

6. 25% of the members of the DDG (75 producers) indicate they will adopt results from the PDS

Progress

Three on-farm paired paddock trials in the Bega Valley in NSW demonstrated highly profitable increases in productivity associated with improved pasture production and pasture quality. District soil data indicated that there are major soil deficiencies on farms in the Valley.  Previous work across southern Australia has shown that major increases in productivity and profitability result from correcting these deficiencies.  

Fertilizer requirements were determined from a combination of soil and plant tissue tests.  Capital applications of fertilizer were applied over two years to remove these limitations.  Fertilizer was applied to an existing pasture sward to one of the paired paddocks at each of two grazing sites.  By the end of the trials, one site had recorded an increase of 6DSE/ha as a result of the fertilizer applications and the other site had recorded a 13DSE/ha increase.  

Another site examined the impact of additional potassium on hay and silage production.  Extra potassium resulted in an average 19% increase in yield.  Further investigations identified boron deficiency, the correction of which resulted in a 300% increase in hay/silage yields.  

The results of the project confirm the results obtained from other areas in southern Australia.  It has established local benchmarks and provided strategies for capturing pasture productivity. This PDS was facilitated by Meridian Agriculture.