Producer Demonstration Site (PDS): High production annual forage in perennial systems

Summary

The aim of this project was to demonstrate the production, financial and grazing management benefits of high production annual forage systems in perennial grazing systems in low to medium rainfall regions (500 to 550 mm) of Central Western Victoria.

Objectives

By March 2020, the site will demonstrate the value of optimal high production annual forage in perennial grazing systems on 12 member farms and demonstrate the impact that the improved pasture production has on lamb production systems. As a result of this project:

• 60 members will have or will be planning to implement a high production annual forage system on their properties and will have the skills and knowledge to do so
• 200 people will have increased knowledge and awareness of the benefits/drawbacks of a high production annual forage pasture in this region and will have increased their skills on how to establish a high production annual forage system.

Key findings

• The project was able to show the large increases in dry matter production that was possible at vital times, especially in mid winter, with the use of high production annuals.
• Increases of over 70% in dry matter production when compared to winter dormant phalaris were recorded in annual ryegrass pastures. The use of annuals in the system allowed for more strategic use of perennial varieties to build feed wedges and assist in the persistence of perennial grass species.
• The use of higher seed rates of ryegrass was investigated and suggest that the best results from using higher seed and input rates are achieved in high fertility soils. Soil constraints need to be addressed before there is likely to be a reliable response to the higher inputs.
• The demonstration also reinforced the potential of using grazing cereals in lamb and wool production systems to fill winter feed gaps.
• Where seasonal conditions allowed grazing cereals to be harvested for grain or hay after grazing, gross margins in excess of $1,000/ha were possible.

Future research

Annual forages are generally unable to fill a feed deficit during early winter with the exception of early autumn breaks because the forage needs time to establish. However, a biannual or short rotation ryegrass or spring sown cereal/brassica, if managed for persistence, could fill an early winter gap. This was not explored in this project but is a concept worth further investigation.