ON FARM NATIONAL FEEDBASE f Widening the GraziMeasuring the outputng period 1 grazing window8 June: 117 Merino rams at 14 months old and averaging 70.7kg were put into the paddock at 6 dry sheep equivalents (DSE)/ha. There was approximately 1,500kg of dry matter A three‑year pasture phase is used to (DM)/ha available and sheep had combat herbicide‑resistant ryegrass access to a magnesium‑based loose and provide feed through winter and lick mineral supplement. spring, with around 100ha taken out of cropping and planted to annual After 30 days, the rams averaged pastures each year. 85.4kg – a daily weight gain of 455g/head/day. The annual pastures are then used for weaning stud lambs and finishing lambs 12 September: Ian and Fiona have only from the commercial flock. recently started measuring weight gain so are still building data for comparison; Under examination however, their sale rams averaged The paddock monitored for the 99.9kg, compared to 94.2kg in 2017. project was treated with grape marc Pasture quality was high, with a feed (a by‑product of the local Barossa sample showing 18.9% crude protein, Valley wine industry) to improve soil 11.8 megajoules of metabolisable health before it was sown on 8 May. energy and 40.8% fibre. Ian and Fiona planted a polyculture 10 July: Rams were removed when Ian and Fiona Koch have pasture which included Wimmera there was approximately 1,900kg extended grazing days through ryegrass, oats, barley, vetch, Lunch DM/ha remaining – indicating radish and clover (Balansa and Arrowleaf).average pasture growth rates of winter and early‑spring feed gaps by growing polyculture “We select varieties that are easily 20kg DM/ha/day. pastures containing a mix of sourced and inexpensive, and aim to The paddock was rested for a month different varieties. include around four grasses and four and treated with liquid fertiliser which broadleaf species in each mix, with included natural amino acids, fortified A 56ha polyculture pasture grown by different maturing times so sheep can carbon and trace elements. the couple was monitored as part of an feed on different plants throughout the MLA‑funded Barossa Improved Grazing grazing period,” Ian said. Grazing period 2 Group project during 2018. 15 August: 472 Merino weaners off Factors in the pasture choice include pastshears came into the paddock at a It was found that, by planting a mix of experience, seed availability and cost. stocking rate of 13 DSE/ha for 31 days. early, mid and late‑maturing species, an additional 116 days of grazing were The sheep graze pastures from as early 20 September: The season was tough, gained despite a dry season, and soil as June if seasonal conditions require with only 217mm cumulative rainfall to health improved. grazing pressure to be eased on the September, so Ian culled 70 head to Ian and Fiona’s (pictured) sheep graze hill country. reduce grazing pressure. stubble during summer and ewes are During the trial, a range of products 25 September: The paddock was moved onto hill country for lambing. were applied to the pasture from fenced into two sections and the Lambing is spread out to ease pressure project partner Hi‑Tech Ag Solutions, mob divided – 220 ewes went into on paddocks, beginning with stud ewes including liquid fertiliser between a 14ha portion (24 DSE/ha) and 182 in April, commercial Merinos in May and grazing phases and a granulated ram weaners grazed the larger, 42ha the crossbred component in June. fertiliser at sowing. section (7 DSE/ha). SNAPSHOT:Ian and Fiona Koch, Moculta, SAS Area: Enterprise: Livestock: Pasture: Soil: Rainfall: 1,800ha Sheep and 800 commercial Native pastures Variable, including 500mm (owned and cropping Merino ewes and on hill country and sandy loam, red leased) 500–600 stud annual pasture brown earth over Merino and Poll included in clay and fragile Merino ewes cropping rotation skeletal soils 16