I had a quick look around our paddocks this morning, and after over 100mm in the last two weeks, everything is green and looking amazing.
But what does this mean for feed as we go into winter?
As always, I go back to the principles of PROGRAZE. Temperate legumes stop growing when the air temperature gets below 5 degrees and temperate grasses stop growing below 8 degrees. Our tropical grasses pull up growing below 15 degrees and shut down following a frost.
PROGRAZE gives us some useful rules of thumb for winter growth around Coonabarabran:
– Ryegrass/clover/native grass paddocks: around 5 kg DM/ha/day
– Lucerne paddocks: around 10 kg DM/ha/day
– Phalaris/clover (photo 1): around 15 kg DM/ha/day
– Forage cereals: around 20–30 kg DM/ha/day
– Tropical grass pastures without legumes: zero growth
So even though this digit grass (photo 2) has greened up, it is going to get a very rude shock next week!
So, what can we do to maximise growth?
For many paddocks here, water is no longer the limiting factor, temperature will be.
Think about which paddocks are going to grow the most following rain. This will depend on species as well as soil health.
Lock these paddocks up. Remember, without leaves, plants won’t grow.
Also make sure nutrition is right and that weeds are not competing with valuable pasture. In some cases, the use of gibberellic acid may be an option.
Most importantly, keep feeding livestock. Pasture is short and stock, especially cattle, will not be able to eat enough to meet their nutrition requirements.
And – before you go out and start restocking, do some feed budgets, the forecast for spring is still pointing towards below average rain.
Callen
