ON FARM SOUTHERN CATTLE FEEDBASE f FEEDBASE f 16–20% crude protein, so stockand the leaf component containsmust be carefully inducted ontothis rich diet.RESEARCH INREVIEWPete and Inconsistencies in feed intake can PROJECT NAME have serious impacts on animal Use of fodder beet to increase health and performance. post-weaning growth rate, MSA compliance and winter Fodder beets can be harvested throughput of pasture-finished and fed in another paddock, or cattle in southern Australia stock can be gradually inducted onto the beets with access to RESEARCH high quality roughage for 14 days ORGANISATIONS before the main grazing period. University of Adelaide Fodder beet tends to be low in FUNDING phosphorus, so stock will require ORGANISATIONS supplementation along with MLA Donor Company, supplementation of any other University of Adelaide, regionally specific trace mineral Primary Industries and requirements. Resources South Australia, Teys Australia A three to four-year rotation of fodder beet is recommended to GOAL minimise the risk of crop disease. Increase post-weaning growth rate of cattle in A second MDC-funded project will pasture-based systems to extend the trial to grazing sheep, reduce time to slaughter and with co-funding from Natural increase carcase quality Resources South East, University of Adelaide and the Mid South BUDGET East Irrigators Association. $261,000 DURATION Fodder beet has earned a Dr Michael Wilkes 2016–2018 spot in the Andre family’s E: michael.wilkes@adelaide. grazing enterprise after its edu.au KEY FINDINGS TO DATE performance in the MLA • Fodder beet can provide Donor Company-funded trial on a high volume (>20 tonnes Fodder beet DM/ha) of high quality feed their South Australian property. (12MJ ME, 12–13% crude Pete (pictured) and Tweet Andre use calendar protein) during the autumn irrigated pastures to finish young cattle feed gap at a cost of for Teys Australia’s EU and Grasslands • Late September – paddock $100–$120/t DM. Premium Beef programs and prime lambs preparation: 1–2 weed • This allows average daily for the domestic trade, so Pete was keen knockdown and cultivation weight gains of 1kg/day to see how fodder beet stacked up. of a fine seedbed. to be sustained through a • October – sowing: Fodder period when animal growth After two years of growing the Brigadier beet is precision sown at usually slows considerably variety of fodder beet in the trial, the 100,000–120,000 seeds/ha dueto feed quality and Andres have now included the forage (aiming to achieve 80,000– quantity limitations. crop in their annual grazing program. 100,000 mature plants/ha) • Higher growth rates during They use it as a risk management tool . • October to late thistime allow slaughter to bridge the feed gap and hit price February/March – main weights to be achieved premiums for cattle. growing period: Water use earlier and the possibility While Pete is still fine-tuning the process, of 5–6ML/ha (overhead or of market price premiums the current calving schedule for their flood irrigation). to be attained. Angus–Hereford breeding herd is: • From late February – • Efficient feedingof fodder • autumn calving (650 cows): calves grazing: The length of beet is crucial to maximising weaned in November–December, sold grazing depends on yield performance of animals and the following December–February and stocking rate. success of the systems. • spring calving (250–300 cows): calves weaned in February–March, sold the following April–May. 30