PDS: Raising the Bar for Harvestable Pasture Legumes
| Project start date: | 23 January 2026 |
| Project end date: | 30 December 2031 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Sheep |
| Relevant regions: | Southern Australia, Western Australia, Mediterranean |
| Site location: | Western Australia: Southeast, South Coast, & Great Southern regions |
Summary
Livestock producers in the Esperance region of WA are increasingly seeking resilient, profitable pasture options that complement mixed farming systems and reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen. While vetch – especially RM4 vetch – has become a benchmark performer in local grazing and cropping rotations, it comes with challenges including high seed cost, supply constraints, toxicity risks, and crop contamination issues due to hard‑seededness. At the same time, new research from the Harvestable Annual Legume Options (HALO) project is identifying high‑performing pasture legumes with strong potential for WA conditions, but these findings currently lack commercial‑scale demonstration to drive adoption among livestock producers.
This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project, led by ASHEEP & BEEF, aims to showcase the productivity, profitability and rotational benefits of emerging harvestable pasture legumes, using vetch as a control across a range of environments. Over five growing seasons, the project will establish 15 commercial‑scale demonstration sites across different soil types and rainfall zones, comparing vetch with top‑performing legumes identified through HALO research. Each site will measure biomass, nutritive value, grazing potential, seed harvest, nitrogen contribution, and implications for following crops, providing producers with real‑world data to guide feedbase decisions.
Objectives
By June 2031, engaging 11+ core producers and 100+ observer producers in the Esperance region of WA the project will:
1. Established 15 demonstrations at commercially relevant scale (minimum of 4 seeder widths, 100m long) that will have shown the most profitable and productive harvestable annual pasture legume options across a range of soil types, rainfall zones and seasonal conditions, using vetch as a control.
2. The findings of the Harvestable Annual Legume Options research will have been used to guide species selection and highlight dual benefits for cropping and livestock systems.
3. The relative economic performance of varieties will be calculated (as measured by biomass, nutritive analysis, calculated stocking rate, harvestable seed, nitrogen available to the crop rotation, and chemical control required during the cropping rotation to avoid contamination). (Producer observations regarding animal weight and grazing days will be discussed at field days, though due to project limitations these will not be formally assessed in PDS results).
4. The results of the PDS will have been disseminated with targeted extension activities, including via field days, case studies, articles and digital content, to facilitate adoption in line with a communications plan.
5. 80% of core producers will continue to implement learnings from demonstration sites to plant a variety new to their farming system or improve their management of vetch.
6. 50% of observer producers will have implemented or intend to implement learnings from demonstration sites to plant a variety new to their farming system or improve their management of vetch.
7. 100% of core producers and 60% of observer producers will have improved their knowledge and skills in relation to harvestable pasture legumes suited to their area, including strategies to avoid toxicity risk.
