Alternate forage crops for Southern WA

Summary

This producer demonstration site aimed to demonstrate the feed value of alternate high biomass summer forage crops in increasing stocking rates and liveweight gain of prime lambs or beef cattle relative to current systems in the HRZ of Western Australia.

Objectives

By November 2023, in the southern coastal region of Western Australia:

1. Minimum 3 producers will demonstrate improved grazing carrying capacity of 10% (as measured by stock numbers supported and weight gain achieved and plant nutritive value results) from the use of three summer forage crops or mixes at multiple PDS each year. Ideally 2 years of data will be recorded for each producer.

i. Pallaton Raphano
ii. Hyola 970 canola
iii. Millet, Cowpea or Sorghum

2. Complete a cost benefit analysis of the three summer forage crops or mixes to determine the relative economic performance of the summer forages compared to the equivalent currently used available pasture and imported feed.

3. Through a range of activities (annual field days, digital communications) 100% of core producers and 60% of observer producers will have increased their knowledge in and confidence to use summer forage crops.

Progress

Stirling’s to Coast Farmers producers have identified that their livestock enterprises are limited by the available feed base in autumn and the early winter. A lack of feed means producers supplementary feed livestock through grain, hay or straw which is not cost efficient.

This project was undertaken to demonstrate the feed value of alternate high biomass forage crops to increase stocking rates and liveweight gain of prime lambs or beef cattle relative to current systems in the HRZ of Western Australia. Over the three-year project eight core producers hosted an alternate forage cropping site, five demonstrating the grazing capacity of sheep and three demonstrating the grazing capacity of trade cattle. Two concurrent grazing events measured the liveweight gains from the alternate forage compared to a stubble or established pasture. Other data collected included agronomic details, stock numbers and class, plant nutritive value testing, biomass cuts and soil samples recorded at each site.  

From this data, key results included all alternate forages had a higher nutritional value and were able to support a higher stocking rate than their control counterpart. All forages trialled except for millet recorded consistently higher biomass compared to their control. More liveweight per hectare was always produced by the alternate forage. 

The benefits to the industry include increased productivity, profitability, and confidence on farm in the producer’s own ability to successfully manage a profitable alternate forage crop. The PDS demonstrated an up-skill in producers ability to achieve higher quality and quantity of feed source. This improved weight gain in sheep and cattle more effectively, aligning product with market specifications.

Project is complete - Final report will be published in the near future

Key findings

• All alternate forage species recorded a higher nutritional value than their control comparison which was either a stubble or established pasture.
• All except one alternate forage species recorded consistently higher biomass compared to their control. Of the forages trialled only millet consistently yielded less.
• A higher nutritional value partly contributed to all alternate forages being able to support a higher stocking rate than the traditional feed source they were compared to.
• More liveweight per hectare was consistently produced by the alternate forage. However, none more so than Pallaton Raphno, where lamb live weight gain was a staggering 5.35kg/ha/day compared to 1.31kg/ha/day achieved on the ryegrass in year one.

Benefits to industry

The project results prove growing alternative forage crops can benefit our industry in several ways. Comparing measurements between producing forage crops and a ‘standard’ pasture or feed practice in this project, growing forage crops provided greater nutritional value, livestock weight gain per/ha, and the ability for forage to support a higher stocking rate in all demonstrations.

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

Alternate forages focused on filling the summer autumn feed gap always require some form of summer rain. To accurately predict and forecast the availability of such events will improve producers confidence to implement alternate forages into their system.

Future research is also warranted into the induction of livestock, particularly cattle onto Pallaton raphno needs to be investigated if it is to be used as a monoculture.