Pasture Monitoring in the Rangelands
| Project start date: | 20 December 2021 |
| Project end date: | 17 February 2027 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Southern Australia, Dry, Mediterranean |
| Site location: | Central & Western NSW: Hay, Oxley, & Booligal |
Summary
The aim of this Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project is to demonstrate that using routine monitoring and managing key species in rangeland pastures can increase productivity of livestock businesses.
Objectives
By January 2027 in the Oxley/Booligal area of Western NSW:
-
Demonstration trials across 5 core sites will have increased understating of how feed quality changes at various stages in the plant lifecycle and how this influences livestock production.
-
Conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits using pasture monitoring to inform tactical and strategic decision making to show a positive return on investment (estimated) for livestock businesses.
-
100% of core producers and 80% of observer producers will have improved their knowledge, skills, confidence and understanding of key pasture species and their management on their property.
-
75% of core producers and 40% of observer producers will have adopted (or intend to adopt) the use of routine pasture monitoring to guide their management objectives and grazing strategies.
-
The results of the PDS will be widely disseminated with targeted extension and adoption activities including 5 webinars, 5 field days, 10 key pasture species profiles and a producer guide to improving tactical decision making in rangeland pastures.
-
Ground cover percentage will be maintained above 50% at demonstration sites and the number of key perennial species will increase from the baseline measured at the commencement of the project, at each site.
Progress
Launched in 2022, the Pasture Monitoring in the Rangelands project is designed to improve livestock production in the southern rangelands of NSW. Spanning almost 190,000 ha across six producer sites, the project combines field-based measurements with remote sensing technology to track pasture condition and groundcover changes over time. Key pasture species are sampled biannually.
This project provides valuable data on seasonal variations in feed quality parameters including the crude protein, metabolisable energy and digestibility of rangeland pasture plants.
The findings support producers in making better informed decisions about supplementary feed, stocking rates and tactical grazing practices. Through combining feed analysis, satellite data and on-ground observations, the project aims to strengthen feedbase resilience and enhance livestock performance in an environment impacted by significant climate variability. This project will continue until early 2027.
