Perennial Pasture Systems
| Project start date: | 01 December 2009 |
| Project end date: | 02 May 2013 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Victoria |
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Summary
The use of perennials in a grazing system aids resilience in managing climate and more efficient water use, enhancing overall productivity and profitability to the regions grazing enterprises.
The Perennial Pasture Systems (PPS) group Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) provide a comparison between new perennial grass varieties and the more commonly sown phalaris in the Upper Wimmera and Central Highlands region of Victoria. The region has problems with perennial pasture establishment and persistence, which restrict their adoption.
The PPS PDS trial implemented three paddock scale trials to evaluate three varieties relatively untried in the region in comparison to Phalaris, which is the favoured perennial pasture variety for improved pastures.
Objectives
The objective of this PDS was to establish paddock scale trails to manage and collect data for grazing brome, Hispanic cocksfoot and winter active fescue pastures in direct comparison to phalaris.
Progress
PPS concluded that the grazing brome was unsuited to the region and winter active fescue may have a minor role. Hispanic cocksfoot was found to have a role as a variety in the tougher soils that occur in the region and warrants further evaluation.
The success of the winter active fescue pasture has given a clear distinction between the winter active fescues and the summer active fescues and has caused PPS members to reconsider the use of fescue based pastures.
The benefits to farmers in the region are to offer them proven productive perennial grass pasture options that will persist using the right establishment and management techniques.
