Fodder Systems and Feed Gaps
| Project start date: | 31 March 2020 |
| Project end date: | 15 March 2023 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | NSW, Victoria |
| Site location: | South eastern NSW: Cooma, Bungarby & Ando |
Summary
Gibberellic Acid (GA) and nitrogen (N) products are currently used over the winter period on approx. 3000 hectares (ha) of the Monaro, NSW with an estimate of 30 grazing businesses using these products in some capacity. An increase in dry matter production (DMP) and utilization of winter feed could optimise the condition of breeding stock therefore facilitating the likelihood of a successful lambing or calving in spring. A question was raised whether foliar pasture applications such as N and GA, could significantly increase DMP on pastures on the Monaro over the winter period to optimise stock production and performance relative to untreated winter pastures.
This producer demonstration site (PDS) has demonstrated that for typical phalaris/cocksfoot pastures, the application of GA can make a significant difference in pasture growth over the late winter, and this, in turn, could be translated into higher overall carrying capacity and farm profits. Given the rising costs of fertiliser, GA application is a relatively cheap strategy compared with the application of N with a more reliable increment of production at this critical time of year. The initial unreplicated demonstrations do, however, cast some doubt as to the impact of GA on ryegrass pastures, although without replication, this is difficult to say with certainty. Similarly, the year 1 demonstration would suggest that GA may have a useful impact on fodder oat crops.
Objectives
By March 2023, in the Monaro region of the Southern Tablelands MFS will;
1. Validate and assess the potential to increase DMP by applying granular Nitrogen (N) and Gibberellic Acid (GA) to the following fodder systems;
a. Perennial Pasture (phalaris)
b. Ryegrass
c. Cereal Crop
2. Quantify the following targets;
a. Production / biomass
b. A 30% increase in biomass versus the control
c. Livestock performance (modelled by Grazfeed)
d. a 10-15 % increase in liveweight for sheep and cattle versus the control
3. Conduct a series of cost benefit analysis to determine the relative economic value of applying these inputs to boost DMP over winter months to address the winter feed gap and improve the GM performance of growing and breeding stock enterprises.
4. Implement a variety of educational activities to increase the knowledge skills and confidence of 3 core and 200 observer producers in the best options to address the winter feed gap in terms of economic value and boosting pasture and animal performance.
5. 25% per cent of observer producers will have adopted strategies (N + Gibb Acid) to increase the utilisation of pasture growth over the winter period.
6. Conduct two annual field days to showcase the demonstration site results and encourage adoption of key practices by 110 attending producers.
Key findings
Low winter pasture growth rates are the major factor limiting the long-term carrying capacity of farm systems on the Monaro.
This PDS has clearly demonstrated that for typical Phalaris/cocksfoot pastures the application of GA can make a significant difference in pasture growth over the late winter and this in turn could be translated to higher overall carrying capacity and farm profits.
Benefits to industry
Given the rising costs of fertiliser, GA application is a relatively cheap strategy compared with the application of N with a more reliable increment of production at this critical time of year. The initial unreplicated demonstrations do however cast some doubt as to the impact of GA on ryegrass pastures although without replication this is difficult to say with certainty. Similarly, the Yr 1 demonstration would suggest that GA may have a useful impact on fodder oat crops.
MLA action
MLA continues to deliver the Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program, supporting livestock producers working in peer-to-peer groups to pursue new skills, knowledge and management practices applicable to their own commercial livestock production systems.
Future research
The ability to conduct a replicated trial after two years of equivocal demonstration results gives the Monaro region suitable data upon which to promote the economic use of GA on improved perennial pastures. It is not envisaged that there would be any further work required on GA in our region although it should be noted that if such work was undertaken or any other work where small pasture growth differences are expected it would be advantageous to consider replicated trials from the outset to avoid wasted time and resources.
