Maximising pasture production in a variable climate

Summary

Increasing climate variability can cause later autumn breaks, reduced spring rain and increased summer rainfall. This seasonal variability creates feed gaps in pastures and feed.

This project tested more than 100 pasture varieties across 16 demonstrations sites that were managed by local businesses and producers in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia. This demonstration aimed to help identify the varieties that can fill seasonal feed gaps to maintain annual stocking rate and increase livestock production.

Results showed that the best way to help fill seasonal feed gaps and capitalise on different rainfall events and seasonal conditions is to choose a range of pasture varieties. Using fodder cereals such as Moby Barley and Dictator II Barley increased the stocking rate by 4DSE/ha (dry sheep equivalent/hectare) and helped to maintain late pregnancy and lambing ewes.

Objectives

The primary goals of this project were to:

• demonstrate the productive and economic benefits of a range of pasture types to improve annual feed production, total grazing days and feed quality in a variable climate
• increase awareness of pasture species options and productivity implications for at least 250 producers within the Barossa Valley region.

Key findings

• Pasture can be maximised through spring by using blends of early, mid and late varieties to capitalise on all rainfall events. This enables stocking rates to be increased by up to 18 DSE/ha.
• Early forage varieties that are more resilient to cold conditions, such as Moby Barley, Dictator II Barley and Bison Triticale, filled the winter feed gap and helped maintain lamb growth rates of 300g/head/day.
• Lucerne provided the greatest increase to annual stocking rate at 5 DSE/ha, which provided summer feed even in years with below-average rainfall. This allowed producers to reduce summer supplementary feeding.
• Adding a ryegrass with a forage cereal improved the pasture quantity by 600kg of dry matter per hectare.
• More than 72% of producers who participated in this project intend to change soil and/or pasture varieties as a result.

Benefits to industry

This project highlighted the importance of using different pasture varieties with differing maturities, growth habits, seasonality and rainfall requirements. By targeting feedbase gaps with different pasture varieties, producers can respond to variable climates, reduce the risk of not having enough pasture and maintain ground cover for longer, to support more profitable and sustainable livestock enterprises.

Matching rainfall with pasture variety will ensure perennial pasture varieties and blends remain productive in tough seasons to help maintain the long-term sustainability of the Australian red meat industry.

MLA action

Throughout the project, MLA shared information from the demonstration sites to more than 800 producers through 70 communication and extension activities, such as forums and webinars.

The increased awareness and adoption by producers has provided incentive for the local rural businesses involved to continue the major demonstration sites to provide information for producers, seed merchants and local agronomists.