Anderton, L.

Douglas, J.

Hyder, M. W.

McTaggart, R. M.

Plaisted, T. W.

Roberts, D.

Shaw, S.

English

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Grassland Congress Proceedings 21st International Grassland Congress / 8th International Rangeland Congress Grazing Systems Demonstration to Optimise Pasture Utilisation and Stocking Rate in Mediterranean Environments of Southern Australia M. W. Hyder Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia L. Anderton Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia S. Shaw Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia R. M. McTaggart Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia D. Roberts Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc  Part of the Plant Sciences Commons, and the Soil Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/9-1/33 The 21st International Grassland Congress / 8th International Rangeland Congress took place in Hohhot, China from June 29 through July 5, 2008. Proceedings edited by Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference Published by Guangdong People's Publishing House This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Grassland Congress Proceedings by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. Presenter Information M. W. Hyder, L. Anderton, S. Shaw, R. M. McTaggart, D. Roberts, T. W. Plaisted, and J. Douglas This event is available at UKnowledge: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/9-1/33 　 Multifunctional Grasslands in a Changing World 　 Volume Ⅱ 　 瞯 ]49　 瞯Grasslands/Rangelands Production Systems——— Livestock Production SystemsGrazing systems demonstration to optimise pasture utilisation and stocking rate in Mediterraneanenvironments of southern AustraliaM .W .H yder ,L .A nderton ,S .Shaw ,R .M .McTaggart ,D .Roberts ,T .W .Plaisted and J .DouglasWestern A ustralian Dep artment o f A griculture and Food ,444 A lbany H ighway ,A lbany ,A ustralia 6330 .E‐mail : mhyder＠agric .w a .gov .auKey words : pasture utilisation ,annual perennial pasturesIntroduction In southern Australia ,the reliance of livestock production systems on annual pastures has resulted in increasedsalinisation ,soil acidification and waterlogging . While the incorporation of deeper‐rooted perennial pastures is recognised as akey factor in reducing this environmental degradation ,the adoption of perennial species is dependent on their profitability andproductivity . This paper reports on a demonstration designed to highlight the value of perennial pastures on the productivity ,profitability and sustainability of a grazing system .Materials and methods A grazing systems demonstration comparing lamb production from annual vs .annual ＋ perennial pastureswas established in ２００５ at the Mount Barker Research Station in Western Australia ( ３４°３８′S ,１１７°３２′E) . The demonstrationcomprised two adjacent paddocks fenced internally to represent mini farms or �farmlets" .One farmlet comprised annual speciesonly ( subterranean clover ,annual grasses ,and capeweed ) .The other farmlet contained these annuals plus perennial species( kikuyu ,lucerne and tall fescue) sown to １２ .４ ha (５１％ of the total area) in ２００５ . Each farmlet was treated as a closed system .Breeding ewes were rotationally grazed to maximise intake from pasture ,but supplements were fed when necessary to ensureewes reached key condition score ( CS) targets to optimise survival of the ewe and lamb ( Curnow ２００６ ) . Stocking rates ( SR)were calculated using estimates of metabolisable energy intake ( MEI) from measured short‐term changes in CS .Results Since establishment ,consistently dry summers have reduced the potential production from the perennial species ,whichmay explain the similarity in production results for ２００７ ( Table １) .The annual farmlet conserved pasture as silage from ４９％ ofthe area ,compared with only １８％ in the perennial farmlet ,resulting in slightly greater utilisation .The target ,and measured ,CSprofile for ewes from the Annual ＋ Perennial farmlet is illustrated in Figure １ .CS targets were generally met for ewes from bothfarmlets ,requiring similar ME inputs from supplements in ２００７ . Stocking rates for ２００７ are currently being calculated ,but for２００６ ,the Annual farmlet had a higher SR than its counterpart ,due in part to the failure of the perennials to supply summerfeed .At the time of w riting ,summer rains had occurred ,which may allow perennials to exhibit their true value .　 　 Figure 1 The average condition score p ro f ilef or p regnant ewes f rom the perennial /annual pasture f armlet during ２００７ . Thedotted line indicates the target conditionscore . Rates o f sup p lement f ed ( g / h/ d )are indicated at top o f graph .Table 1 Dry matter p roduction ,p asture utilisation ,total ME sup p lied toewes (M J ) ,and lamb p roduction per w inter‐grazed hectare f or annualand annual / perennial f armlets .Perennial ＋Annual farmlet AnnualfarmletTotal DM production ( t DM / ha) ８ 枛.７ ８ S.４Pasture U tilisation ( ％ ) ６０ 圹６９ 槝Total ME supplied ( MJ) １１１５  １１７７ 破Lamb[ carcase] production ( kg / ha) １４４ 蝌１４３ �Stocking rate ２００６ ( dry sheepequivalents per winter grazed ha) １８ �.５ ２２ j.１Conclusion This project will be a useful tool ,and complement existing extensionprogrammes ,in demonstrating to producers the value of perennial pastures onthe profitability of grazing production systems .ReferenceCurnow ,M .(２００６ ) . Lifetime Wool : National guidelines for breeding ewes . A ustralian Society o f A nimal Production .26thBiennial Con f erence ,Perth WA 2006

Grazing Systems Demonstration to Optimise Pasture Utilisation and Stocking Rate in Mediterranean Environments of Southern Australia

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Grazing Systems Demonstration to Optimise Pasture Utilisation and Stocking Rate in Mediterranean Environments of Southern Australia

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