ON FARM SOUTHERN CATTLE AND SHEEP FEEDBASE f Spring pasture into action While there’s no ‘one If forecast pasture growth doesn’t meet Dig a little deeper size fits all’ approach, demand, options could include: It can pay to dig a little deeper and see here are some tips and • containment or supplementary feeding what else is happening in paddocks. tools to help manage • grazing failed crops MLA‑supported paddock assessments a few of the seasonal challenges • opportunistic cropping (sowing summer across NSW and WA found more facing livestock businesses grazing crops or sowing into existing than 80% of legume‑based pastures this spring, while also ensuring pastures following rainfall events) had inadequate nodulation in their longer‑term pasture resilience. • earlier turn‑off of stock root systems. Take stock • agistment, including grazing stubbles Poor nodulation may limit nitrogen MLA’s Project Manager – Feedbase, post‑harvest. fixation, impacting dry matter Mick Taylor, said now is a good time production, soil nitrogen levels and A useful tool to assess the livestock productivity. to assess feedbase supply and animal cost‑effectiveness of supplementary demand honestly and put in place key feed is: Long‑term pasture performance can dates for interventions depending on also be addressed by diagnosing climate outcomes. • The NSW Department of Primary poor‑performing species. Industries’ practical guide for feeding “Developing a calendar for decision decisions: dpi.nsw.gov.au and search For example, some older cultivars of making helps keep control of the ‘feed cost calculator’. subterranean clover (the most common process; for example, if it hasn’t rained annual pasture legume in southern by this date, then the oldest breeders Be persistent Australia) can contain oestrogenic go or supplementary feeding kicks in,” While the season can’t be controlled, compounds that cause infertility in Mick said. other aspects of pasture performance, grazing animals. Some useful tools to take stock of the such as soil health, weeds and over‑grazing, can be. Cultivars such as Yarloop, Dwalganup, situation are: Geraldton and Dinninup can cause two • Bureauof Meteorology Climate Tools to help pastures persist include: forms of infertility in ewes – one can Outlooks: bom.gov.au/climate/ahead MLA’s Making More From Sheep often be resolved by removing ewes • • Lifetimewool: lifetimewool.com.au Grow More Pasture module: from the oestrogenic pastures, while (tools for condition scoring sheep makingmorefromsheep.com.au/grow‑ the other leads to permanent infertility and addressing pasture quality more‑pasture and increases in severity with continued and quantity) • Making More From Sheep webi exposure (clover disease). nar •MLA’s More Beef from Pastures: with industry expert Phil Graham visit: The chronic form of clover disease mbfp.mla.com.au (modules on setting youtube.com and search ‘prioritising is associated with dystocia (difficult directions, pasture growth and pasture expenditure’. births), uterine prolapse and post‑natal pasture utilisation) MLA’s Profitable Grazing Systems (PGS) mortality of ewes and lambs. •EverGraze Feedbase Planning Tool: training is available to help producers A project by the University of Western evergraze.com.au/feedbase‑planning‑ develop their management to address Australia (UWA), co‑funded by MLA and‑budgeting‑tool issues in soil, pasture weeds, plant Donor Company, is determining the •EverGraze Estimating Feed on Off er: nitrogen and grazing practice. PGS extent of high‑oestrogen ‘bad’ clovers evergraze.com.au/tools/#estimatingfof provides the opportunity to learn as across southern Australia. UWA is Plan ahead part of a small group with the assistancealso developing an updated factsheet of a coach who will guide participants inon oestrogenic clovers, which will be Mick said that if pasture is grazed belowfurther improving their businesses. featured in an upcoming edition of 1,000kg green dry matter/ha (roughly Feedback magazine. ■ three centimetres), it has a reduced • Profitable Grazing Systems: opportunity to achieve spring growth. mla.com.au/pgs Mick Taylor “If you’re starting out behind the eight E: mtaylor@mla.com.au ball then there is potential to end up in mla.com.au/droughtmanagement a corner,” he said. 2233