Rotational Grazing

Summary

​The project

After participating in a PROGRAZE course in 1999, a group of Gingin producers were interested in investigating the benefits of rotational grazing to increase stocking rates and improve enterprise profitability.

There group identified advantages and disadvantages associated with rotational grazing.

Advantages

• increased livestock and pasture production;

• increased stocking rates and consequent increased profitability;

• greater awareness of pasture and livestock;

• more control over pasture and livestock;

• even pasture utilisation; and

• more preferred species can be incorporated into the pasture mix.

Disadvantages

• labour intensive; and

• fencing and water points expensive to establish.

The Gingin Prograze Group was keen to gain experience in the establishment and grazing of summer active perennials to extend the growing season and enable more stock to be carried over summer.

Reducing costs was identified by the group as another way to lift profitability.

Because fertilisers are a major cost, the group was interested in determining whether implementing rotational grazing would reduce the amount of fertiliser necessary.

Objectives

1. build group member understanding of, and expertise in, rotational grazing to enable group members to implement rotational grazing on their own properties;

2. understand and utilise perennials in grazing management systems;

3. understand soil dynamics and make informed choices about fertiliser application; and

4. increase stocking rates up to 50 percent on member properties, once members have become confident with the new system.

What was done

A series of activities were planned in 2000, and implemented throughout the year. These activities included:

• workshop on rotational grazing and feed budgeting;

• field walk around the local area at Bibby Springs looking at

perennial systems;

• committee meeting to discuss and plan a study tour of the south west

region of Western Australia;

• a ‘Soils are Alive’ workshop held by the Land Management Society;

• finalise study tour itinerary and field walk on property of group member

who had implemented rotational grazing;

• rotational grazing and perennial study tour of south west;

• farm walk and evaluation of activities held throughout the project; and

• compile a booklet to assist participants to record information.