Tamar Pasture Improvement Demonstration Project
| Project start date: | 31 May 2017 |
| Project end date: | 30 June 2020 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Tasmania |
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Summary
It has been estimated that only 30 percent of farmers in the Tamar Valley had adopted appropriate practices to improve pasture production, exacerbated by the limited extension, demonstration or adoption of new pasture renovation or renewal work in the region.
This project established demonstration plots at 3 sites for pasture species, demonstrating pasture renovation based on grasses, legumes and herbs known to be local high performers, and any new varieties considered promising.
The project was successful in demonstrating to producers the value of getting key elements of the system right, and results indicate an improvement in knowledge and better understanding on pastures and pasture management.
Objectives
The main objectives of this project were to:
present regionally relevant information on sustainable pasture management and animal nutrition/production to encourage farm practice change
demonstrate that new pasture species/cultivars and associated grazing management practices will increase the profitability of the red meat supply chain by at least 10 percent
present options of better adapted, persistent and productive pastures able to better cope with changing environmental conditions.
Progress
The project was successful in that it demonstrated to producers the production of red meat is part of a system made up of four major components:
soil
plants
animals
the system manager.
It also includes many minor components and to get the maximum returns from that system, all of the components need to be "in tune'.
