P.PSH.2203 - PDS: Growing More Pasture During Winter

Summary

This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project demonstrated maximum pasture production achievable through winter through the use of pasture management practices such as fertiliser, soil ameliorants, grazing management, and growth promotants to increase the carrying capacity and subsequently the profitability of the grazing system. The project is engaging 27 Core producers with more than 326,000 sheep, 9,900 cattle and 74,000ha under management.

The project encountered several obstacles during the first year. Given these challenges and likely outlook with input costs, the project concluded after the first year. This was due to significant increase in fertiliser inputs at commencement of project which resulted in:
o A lower-than-expected cost-benefit for use of nitrogen inputs
o Decreased engagement with producers given the above
o Challenges around site set-up given seasonal conditions and naturalised species

Objectives

The project established three demonstration sites; however, the project only ran for one year given the difficulties associated with site establishment and variables, seasonal conditions, and the prohibitive cost of fertiliser inputs.
Though the key objectives of increasing carrying capacity by 25%, increased animal production by 25% & enterprise profit by 20% were not met, increased carrying capacity and pasture growth were demonstrated.

Key findings

The key project findings are summarised as:
1. A 16% increase in pasture growth rates was captured with increasing growth promotants application (gibberellic acid) from one to two applications
2. Utilising fertiliser and growth promotants were 22% more cost effective than the cheapest purchased feed
36 core producers, 21 observer producers and 2 non-producer observers were engaged through PDS activities. Through pre-project assessment of producer knowledge, attitude, skills, and aspirations, it was identified that:
3. Assessing pasture quality and using fertiliser, ameliorates are areas where producers have less confidence, compared to assessing pasture quantity
4. The average mid-winter stocking rate was 10.6 dse/ha versus an annual average stocking rate of 13.7 dse/ha. This difference of 3.1 dse/ha demonstrates winter is still a constraint to optimising stocking rates throughout the year.

Benefits to industry

This project has demonstrated proven pasture management strategies, is still the most cost-effective way to boost winter feed production, even with high fertiliser input prices. These management strategies and the PDS methodology can be replicated on-farm. This involves quantifying operation variables inclusive of:
• Pasture quantity and quality for feed budgeting
• Livestock class, pregnancy status and numbers to identify feed deficits or surpluses
• The cost of fertiliser inputs and alternatives such as conserved or purchased in feeds

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 termination of this PDS project is not due to the design or scope of the project and it is therefore recommended that future PDS projects addressing this practice changes area are considered.