Adam Little, Pasture Genetics, is one of six key speakers at an on-farm MLA sponsored Crookwell Pasture Update to be held at “Cadfor”, Binda on Tuesday, March 5.
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The workshop will cover soil and pasture management, sheep and cattle nutrition and breeding high-performance livestock. “We are trying to make grass managers not livestock managers," Mr Little said.
"The actual income produced off that acreage or landmass is critical to the business.
"Producers need to maximise production out of pastures because of the rising costs of hay and silage compared to growing feed."
Over a period of years the aluminium toxicity in the soil in the Southern Tablelands rises to the upper layers, and becomes quite toxic. This acidity limits the species of plants that can grow.
The soils are very acidic in nature down to "4.1 in ph in calcium chloride".
"Cocksfoot and a few other native kinds of grass can survive in the soil environment".
"Lime is critical in that region one that is totally underestimated because it has been under utilised for a period of years. By liming and making it more neutral it creates a more favourable environment for plants to grow in.”
Producers must also prepare for early winter production.
“With the low soil temperatures grasses will shut down, and pasture production shuts down below 8 - 9 degrees. In the middle of winter, soil temperatures are 3 degrees.
"You have to look at alternative measures and high-production winter grasses.
“If you can have forage build up prior to going in heavy part of winter you will be in a much better place.
Tips for efficient pasture management
- Rotate and graze based on plant production and the life cycle of the plant. Do not over-graze because it can damage consistency and pastures.
- Know the dry matter bulk, the kilograms of dry matter per hectare, that is in paddocks
- Add the appropriate amount of stock that you want out of that area for the a specific time. "You have to match your livestock numbers to dry matter or kilograms per hectare to dry matter production in your paddocks."
- People need to graze plants effectively and efficiently as overgrazing damages the crown. "It causes plant loss in paddocks due to stress and damage on the backside of that you get an increase in weed."
- Grazing at the correct height to let that plant do its life cycle, so the animals are getting the maximum efficiency out of the grass.