Feed tests of the rotation cell 2 and the continuous cell 5 are below.

Feed quality is low in cell 2 (60% digestible) and high in cell 5 ( <80% digestible) .  Steer growth rates will be affected.  However, it is important to remember that stock always seem to perform better than feed tests indicate.

Prograze tables below show that a 350kg steer will grow at 0.2kg/hd/day on feed with a digestibility of 60% and 1.1kg/hd/day on  feed with a digestibility of 80%.  Steers will be weighed again in 1 month. The results will be discussed at the farm walk on June 27^th.

Source Prograze

Any comments or questions add them below.

There are now 20 steers on the rotation (cell 2) at a stocking rate of 100dse/ha. Total stocking rate for the whole rotation is 25dse/ha.

There are 4 steers on the continuous grazed (cell 5) at a stocking rate of 20 dse/ha.

Feed budgets show that there is enough feed in

·        cell 2 (rotation) to last the 20 steers about 37 days. 

·        cell 5 (continuous) to last the 4 steers for over 100 days.

This assumes a pasture growth rate of 20 to 25 kg/ha/day Which is a little higher than recent measurements from the Pastures from Space site see below. Also, the pasture is to be grazed to 1200kgDM/ha.

So what could change this? Two things - pasture growth and pasture wastage.

Low rainfall and low soil nitrogen levels will slow down pasture growth.  Soil nitrogen will be low this winter as much of it has been used with the early flush of growth through March and April. Furthermore, it has been cold and that slows down the breakdown of unavailable nitrogen into plant available nitrogen. I expect pasture growth will be slower than average this winter and early spring.

High rainfall will increase pasture wastage. Increased wastage will reduce the time stock can stay in cell 2 but will only have a small affect in the continuously grazed cell.

Below are to measured pasture growth rates in NE Victoria from 09/05/12 to 15/05/12 (Pastures from Space).

The steers were weighted today. The have been grazing for one month. Steers on the continuously grazed paddock had an average growth rate of 1.3 kg/ha/day. While steers on the rotation cell 1 had an average growth rate of 0.9 kg/ha/day.

Below are the production figures for the month. Steers on the continuous area grew faster and put on more weight per head and per ha than the steers in the rotation.

From 7/04/12 to 17/05/12	Continuous	Rotation
Stocking rate dse/ha	17.5	19
No of ha	1.6	6.4
Average daily weight gain kg/hd/day	1.3	0.9
Average growth for the period kg/hd	36.7	27.7
Total kg/ha	91	65

The figures have been adjusted due to the death of a steer in the continuous area and the poor performance of a sick steer in the rotation.

These results were expected and were explained at the farm walk held on the 18^th of April. The quality of the diet in the continuous area is much higher than the quality of the diet in the rotation. See photos below In addition, pasture height is not limiting intake. The steers on the continuous cell can eat more kilograms of a higher quality diet than the steers on the rotation. This will continue while the continuous cell has adequate pasture growth and pasture height.

The photos below show the type of feed and the feed available on the continuous grazed cell.

The photos below show the type of feed and the feed available in the rotational cell 1.

I expect the rotation steers to grow slower than the continuous steers over the next month as feed quality in cell 2 is going to be of lower quality. However this will change when the rotation steers begin to graze cell 3 and cell 4 (see photo below) and come back into cell 1.

Feed samples have been sent to feed test for analysis

 

 

 

 

Both ryegrass and phalaris plants are being pulled out in the continuous grazed cell. No plant pulling is noticable in the rotational grazed area.

Continuous grazing weakens plant root systems making it easier for plants to be pulled out when grazed. In this case the loss of ryegrass plant is not as much of a concern as the loss of phalaris plants. The ryegrass is victorian perennial ryegrass and regenerate well from seed. Phalaris on the other hand will not regenerate from seed so when a plant is removed it is difficult for another phalaris plant to fill the gap.

Pasture composition will be assessed later in the year to determine whether any permanent damage has been done

How much feed do you need to get through winter?  

It depends on your stocking rate, your production targets, how much feed there is now and  your winter pasture growth rate. However if you want to ensure you are able to grow as much as possible through winter it is important not to overgraze your paddocks through autumn.   

North east Victoria  is having an exceptional season. Pastures got away early and growth is still good. However, April and May can be dry and  predictions are for an average or drier than usual autumn. This may or may not be the case. But, if it stays dry and frosty, pasture growth will slow down.  

Keeping  a  pasture cover of about 1200 kg DM/ha (about 4 cm) on your paddocks will allow plants to grow quickly when the rain comes. If pastures are grazed too low they will be unable to grow as well as they will have low carbohydrate reserves to grow leaves and low leaf area to convert sunlight into energy.

If you want more information on creating a feed wedge and managing your autumn and winter feed there is a great presentation and audio done by Fiona Baker (DPI Victoria).

For more information tim@farminganswers.com

 

The Fast Break is a DPI publication the compiles different weather prediction models. Click here for the predictions for Victoria for the next 6 months.

Predictions are for drier or average rainfall  during April, May and June for Victoria.

Click here to subscribe to the Fast Break.