Year of study:
2007 to ongoing
Lead organisation & Collaborators:
Strathfieldsaye Estate
Contact:
Alan Broughton
soiltest@austlandscapetrust.org.au
Best Available science assessments:
Objectives | Hypothesis | Design | Soil Analysis | Production/ Financial |
Method Reporting | Data Analysis | Results reporting | Publication |
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
1=Low, 2=Moderate, 3=High, 4=Very high.
Project details
Objectives:
To demonstrate pasture management techniques that are effective and affordable. Changes are likely to occur over a long period.
Hypotheses:
Extended rest and rotation of stock will:
- Significantly reduce unpalatable weeds including capeweed, barley grass, rat tail grass, sorrel, fat hen and clammy goosefoot
- Ground cover will gradually increase to 100% all year
- increase pasture species biodiversity
- increase the percentage of perennial species
- increase the carrying capacity in the long term
Basis of trial:
Sustainable grazing techniques have been trialled and reported on for at least 50 years. Leaders in the field were André Voisin (Grass Productivity) and Allan Savoury (Holistic Resource Management). These rotational systems are similar to those of traditional shepherds and of wild plains animals in East Africa. The height and density of grasses correlates with the depth and mass of roots. When grasses are constantly short, roots are shallow and unable to withstand dry conditions. A plant continually grazed uses its energy to produce leaf; there is little energy left to grow deep roots, exude carbohydrates into the soil to support microbial populations and sequester carbon. Normally grasses deposit about 40% of their carbohydrates into the soil to feed the microbes, which in turn release nutrients from the soil. When this cannot occur, soil structure consequently deteriorates, reducing the ability of the soil to absorb and hold water. Hence drought tolerance decreases. Bare patches develop as perennial species decline and die out, to be replaced by weedy annuals: capeweed, corkscrew and barley grass in the cooler months of the year, and fat hen, clammy goosefoot and purslane in the summer. Capeweed can become dominant in such pastures. Bare soil in summer increases soil temperature which further stresses remaining perennials and soil biology, and causes erosion and water repellence. Palatable perennials are sometimes replaced by unpalatable perennials such as African love grass, sorrel, sweet vernal and rat tail grass. Grazing animals can destroy pasture or restore pasture, depending on how they are managed. Grasses which are allowed to grow to at least15 cm tall, then are eaten to 4 cm in a short time are able to recover quickly, photosynthesise more, sequester more carbon in the soil, and regrow their roots. Generally grass begins regrowing within a few days of being eaten, so grazing should cease by that time in order to allow full recovery. Sustainable grazing practices can more than double annual pasture production, and the benefits can keep on accruing for at least 20 years, according to the literature and farmers’ experiences.
Location details
Trial site details:
The effective grazing area of Strathfieldsaye is about 1,100 ha; the remainder of the property is bushland or low grazing quality grassland that is heavily grazed by kangaroos. Current stock numbers are about 180 cows and calves, 55 two year olds, 170 one year olds and 7 bulls. In June 2011 300 cattle were accepted on short-term agistment to reduce the excess feed.
The 7 soil/pasture types tested were:
- Deep sand growing bent grass and Sporobolus (rat tail grass)
- Deep sand growing kikuyu
- Sandy loam dominated by capeweed
- Sandy loam dominated by Microlaena and wallaby grass
- Highly sodic clay growing kangaroo grass
- Salty soil growing buckshorn plantain
- Sodic loam dominated by cocksfoot
Management practices tested:
Extended Rotational grazing strategies.
Pre-trial management:
Until 2003 the farm ran Merino sheep and a few cattle from time to time. Regular applications of superphosphate and potash were made. The grazing system used is not known but is thought to be similar to district norms that involved minimal rotation. Following the transition to the Australian Landscape Trust from Melbourne University in 2003, the farm was destocked for two years because of the presence of Ovine Johnes Disease – caused by a strain of the bacterium Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. After this time cattle and a flock of sheep were introduced on agistment; but it was drought time and the stocking rate was high. Though obvious damage was occurring due to overgrazing, it was very difficult for management to reduce numbers, because the agisting farmers had nowhere else for their animals to go. Agistment gradually ended by mid 2007 and Strathfieldsaye Estate bought its own herd of cattle during 2007. The carrying capacity of the land was again over-estimated, and this caused further deterioration of pastures in a period of continued drought. Stock were rotated, but remained for several weeks in each paddock until there was nothing left to eat and returned to paddocks as soon as some growth had occurred.
Trial management:
During the first half of 2009 cattle were sent away on agistment in order to reduce the grazing pressure on pastures and in order to ensure their nutrition. By mid 2009 selling had reduced numbers to 187 breeding cows, down from about 450. After the numbers were reduced, it was possible to implement a policy of rotational grazing. In order to practice rotational grazing, the cattle were amalgamated into fewer mobs, paddock sizes were reduced by using one-wire electric fences, short intensive grazing periods were implemented of an average of three days, and long recovery periods for the pasture were instituted, usually no less that four months of rest and often much longer. The costs of paddock subdivision were low because single electric wires were found to be sufficient to contain stock. Moving stock at Strathfieldsaye Estate is also easy and requires no extra work, as they are checked daily anyway; and moving simply requires opening a gate.
Summary of key findings of trial:
Over the course of two years this strategy has produced significant improvements in the pasture:
- increased ground cover,
- increased biodiversity,
- reduction of capeweed,
- faster recovery after grazing.
Cattle health has also improved.
Most of these changes became apparent within the first year. Rainfall was similar in 2009 to 2008 and did not play a part in these improvements. The improvements have also permitted cattle to be “finished” at Strathfieldsaye Estate, which could not happen previously – this has doubled the value of young stock. The reduced stocking rate has also avoided the drought-related costs of agisting stock elsewhere and buying or making hay.
Lime and trace elements have been applied to some paddocks, with uncertain results. Since 2007 a tonne of lime per hectare has been applied on 220 ha and trace elements (copper, zinc, boron, manganese, molybdenum and/or cobalt in response to indications obtained from soil testing) on 150 of the same hectares. Dung beetles were released in 2009 and have successfully colonised the paddocks, with the result that dung pats disappear within a week. Rainfall in 2010 improved and reached the long term average. It is likely that the better rainfall, dung beetles and applications of lime and trace elements contributed to pasture improvement, but it is thought that this contribution was less significant than the changed grazing management because:
- Significant pasture improvement occurred before the higher rainfall
- Pasture improvement was similar in paddocks treated with lime and trace element and untreated paddocks.
Treatment results
Variation in productivity/profitability with time & management influence:
The following figures include only those relating to the stocking rate, and reflect the gross margin. Wages are included to demonstrate that lowering the stocking rate reduced labour requirements. Feeding equipment is included because it would not have been necessary if cattle were not supplementarily fed. Set costs such as rates, fertilisers, fencing, fuel, vehicle maintenance, organic certification and water supply are not included.
COSTS | 2007-8 | 2008-9 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Vaccines | 246 | 1,748 | 142 | 802 |
Supplements | 2,469 | 457 | ||
Vet | 2,113 | 2,586 | 1,561 | 396 |
Feeding equip. | 10,877 | 4,270 | ||
Silage making | 15,644 | |||
Tags, NVD book | 1,453 | 1,248 | 502 | 238 |
Pregnancy testing | 343 | 1,022 | ||
Transport for sale | 1,188 | 6,042 | 924 | 1,353 |
Hay, pellets | 35,187 | 78 | ||
Agistment costs | 21,283 | |||
Transport to/from agistment | 9,218 | |||
Wages | 100,802 | 108,576 | 56,068 | 62,172 |
Total costs | 135,135 | 191,637 | 59,197 | 65,039 |
RETURNS | ||||
Sales of young stock (with handling costs taken out) | 76,450 | 137,253 | 46,142 | 67,378 |
# Profit on cow sales (difference between average buying price and average buying price) | -2,552 | -34,056 | -98 | -268 |
# Profit on cow & calf sales (difference between average buying price and average selling | 0 | -32,200 | 0 | |
# Profit on sale of bulls (difference between average buying price and average selling price) | 0 | -7975 | 0 | |
Agistment receipts | 8,989 | |||
Total returns | 73,898 | 63,022 | 46,044 | 65,670 |
Balance (returns-costs) | -61,237 | -128,615 | -13,153 | 631 |
Young animal sales (weaners & grownrown steers) | 186 | 395 | 128 | 64 |
Average price (net) | $411 | $347 | $360 | $1,053 |
# Average cow buying price was $714; average cow and calf buying price: $781. Average cow selling price 2007-8: $656 (44 sold); 2008-9: $516 (172 sold); 2009-10: $616 (1 sold). Average cow and calf selling price 2008-9: $597 (175 sold) (none sold 2007-8 and 2009-10). Average bull buying price: $2,442; average bull selling price $847 (5 sold 2008-9). The figures show that the costs of maintaining a high stocking rate were not recovered by sales. The figures also show that under a more realistic stocking rate animals can be kept longer to more than double their value. Until 2011 stock were sold as weaners 9-12 months old. The animals sold in 2010-11 were about two years old and previously would have been sold the previous year. No weaners were sold in 2010-11; this means a carryover of 50 yearlings and 190 calves to 2011-12, a considerable capital gain. Also not reflected in the figures are the increased pasture and soil carbon banks
Other measures of treatment response:
Pasture Quality: The following table shows the increase in ground cover, palatable species and diversity of species over 4 years.
Date | Ground | Palatable cover % | Weeds % | Species % | Rainfall |
2007-8 | 82 | 56 | 26 | 10 | 406 |
2008-9 | 65 | 38 | 27 | 13 | 440 |
2009-10 | 86 | 53 | 33 | 20 | 547 |
2010-11 | 96 | 64 | 32 | 26 | 698 |
The figures above are an average of usually two tests per financial year in each of 15 paddocks. They show a significant increase in ground cover, desirable species and biodiversity since the stocking rate was reduced and rotational grazing policies implemented in mid 2009. In the paddocks where there was a large proportion of capeweed its percentage of ground cover declined significantly; in other paddocks the capeweed percentage remained fairly constant at between 0 and 5%. Full details for individual paddocks are located in Appendix 1.
Feed ahead calculations: This table shows the amount of feed available and the estimated number of days the feed will last, assuming no growth in the meantime.
Date | Kg/ha dry matter | * Days of feed |
12 March 2009 | 131,420 | 87 |
9 May 2009 | 210,090 | 140 |
4 June 2009 | 94,360 | 38 |
1 July 2009 | 156,690 | 52 |
3 August 2009 | 113,610 | 38 |
1 September 2009 | 55,270 | 19 |
1 October 2009 | 145,600 | 48 |
2 November 2009 | 501,720 | 167 |
1 December 2009 | 320,540 | 106 |
4 January 2010 | 187,120 | 62 |
1 February 2010 | 148,890 | 62 |
1 March 2010 | 408,830 | 170 |
6 April 2010 | 390,000 | 162 |
4 May 2010 | 312,400 | 130 |
10 June 2010 | 314,680 | 103 |
9 August 2010 | 159,740 | 53 |
1 September 2010 | 158,650 | 48 |
1 October 2010 | 309,840 | 95 |
1 November 1010 | 612,440 | 185 |
9 December 2010 | 658,630 | 189 |
1 February 2011 | 470,720 | 135 |
1 March 2011 | 793,290 | 277 |
1 April 2011 | 905,920 | 316 |
3 May 2011 | 950,540 | 331 |
1 June 2011 | 865,470 | 255 |
4 July 2011 | 581,310 | 88 |
Days of feed are calculated by dividing the total available dry matter by the average daily consumption by the cattle on hand at that time. The number of days assumes no growth in the meantime and no change in livestock numbers. The stocking rate for the next few months can be adjusted depending on the length of time the available feed is expected to last.
The long-term goal at Strathfieldsaye Estate is to maintain feed ahead for about 120 days. There are two reasons for this goal: to prevent the need for sudden drastic stock reduction, and to guard against the need for grazing too hard or too soon.
At the end of winter feed ahead can be allowed to contract to less than the ideal in the expectation that regrowth will soon occur; however at other times of the year this is unwise because of East Gippsland’s unreliable climate. Even the relaxation of feed ahead requirements at the close of winter entails some risk as spring rains occasionally fail.
Strathfieldsaye Estate biologists are exploring the principle that maintaining good ground cover and full pasture growth is more important for the economics of the farm than keeping to a predetermined stocking rate. This principle rests on the fact that a decline in pasture quality reduces potential for production in the future. The stocking rate should never be higher than the carrying capacity. However the reverse is not a problem. Large amounts of feed ahead, as has occurred in autumn and late spring 2010 and early 2011 due to good rainfall, are not regarded as a waste but a valuable addition to root depth and soil carbon which will allow greater pasture production in the future and a higher carrying capacity. The stocking rate will be increased to manage the extra growth
Plant and/or animal production measures:
Since early 2007 records have been kept of the condition of paddocks. Indicators include:
- percentage of ground cover,
- ground cover percentage of each of the major pasture species,
- a botanical list of each species found, and
- a rating according to pasture quality.
The paddock condition survey is conducted on each paddock twice a year, in autumn and spring. Dates on which livestock entered and moved out are kept for each paddock. A dry matter/ha feed calculation is done each month with two purposes: to determine the carrying capacity for the next few months, and to plan paddock sequencing. The amount of available feed determines which paddocks are grazed next. The amount of available feed varies considerably because of the different productive capacities of paddocks. Paddocks are not overgrazed – stock are removed before grass height is reduced to 4 cm, or when the animals indicate that they want to move. Stock are not forced to consume unpalatable species.
Cost and value of production:
Records are also kept of expenditure and income.
Reportage:
How results have been reported:
Internally within Australian Landscape Trust; Evergraze – Field day on pasture management at Strathfieldsaye Article – Bairnsdale Advertiser
How a copy of any relevant reports can be obtained:
Phone 5149 8361, email soiltest@alt.org.au (or soiltest@austlandscapetrust.org.au)
Level of review of results:
No review
Appendix 1: Trends in pasture condition
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Bottom Irrigation 3 | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Sep 2008 | 70 | 25 | 45 | 20 | 8 | Poor |
May 2009 | 90 | 15 | 75 | 10 | 19 | Poor |
Aug 2009 | 80 | 60 | 20 | 5 | 18 | Moderate |
Mar 2010 | 95 | 20 | 75 | <5t;5 | 24 | Poor |
Oct 2010 | 95 | 70 | 25 | 10 | 22 | Moderate |
April 2011 | 100 | 50 | 50 | <5t;5 | 17 | Moderate |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Dairy 4b | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Oct 2007 | 90 | 55 | 35 | <5t;5 | 14 | Moderate |
May 2008 | 70 | 65 | 5 | 0 | 7 | Moderate |
Oct 2008 | 60 | 45 | 15 | <5t;5 | 8 | Poor |
May 2009 | 70 | 45 | 25 | <5t;5 | 19 | Moderate |
Aug 2009 | 80 | 40 | 40 | <5t;5 | 17 | Moderate |
Mar 2010 | 80 | 35 | 45 | <5t;5 | 37 | Moderate |
Oct 2010 | 90 | 60 | 30 | <5t;5 | 40 | Moderate |
April 2011 | 100 | 50 | 50 | <5t;5 | 43 | Moderate |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation East Plain 1 | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
July 2008 | 60 | 25 | 35 | <5t;5 | 9 | Moderate |
Oct 2008 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 0 | 10 | Poor |
May 2009 | 90 | 65 | 25 | <5t;5 | 21 | Moderate |
Oct 2009 | 90 | 65 | 25 | <5t;5 | 19 | Moderate |
Apr 2010 | 80 | 50 | 30 | 0 | 25 | Moderate |
Oct 2010 | 95 | 70 | 25 | <5t;5 | 22 | Good |
May 2011 | 100 | 90 | 10 | <5t;5 | 24 | Good |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation East Two Tanks West | ||||||
June 2008 | 80 | 70 | 20 | <5t;5 | 5 | Good |
Oct 2008 | 60 | 55 | 5 | 0 | 4 | Moderate |
May 2009 | 70 | 50 | 20 | 15 | 9 | Moderate |
Oct 2009 | 80 | 75 | 5 | <5t;5 | 11 | Moderate |
Apr 2010 | 80 | 65 | 15 | 5 | 26 | Moderate |
Oct 2010 | 80 | 70 | 20 | 5 | 29 | Moderate |
May 2011 | 100 | 90 | 10 | 5 | 23 | Good |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Hartwich’s 1 | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
May 2008 | 90 | 40 | 50 | <5t;5 | 11 | Poor |
Oct 2008 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 5 | 13 | Very poor |
Mar 2009 | 40 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 13 | Poor |
Aug 2009 | 80 | 55 | 25 | <5t;5 | 16 | Moderate |
Mar 2010 | 90 | 55 | 35 | 5 | 20 | Moderate |
Sep 2010 | 90 | 80 | 10 | 5 | 17 | Good |
April 2011 | 100 | 75 | 25 | <5t;5 | 36 | Good |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Hartwich’s 5 | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Oct 2007 | 80 | 60 | 20 | 10 | 13 | Good |
May 2008 | 85 | 40 | 45 | <5t;5 | 11 | Moderate |
Oct 2008 | 60 | 45 | 15 | <5t;5 | 21 | Poor |
Mar 2009 | 50 | 25 | 25 | <5t;5 | 17 | Poor |
Aug 2009 | 90 | 50 | 40 | 20 | 16 | Moderate |
Mar 2010 | 90 | 35 | 55 | 5 | 25 | Poor |
Sep 2010 | 90 | 60 | 30 | 20 | 21 | Moderate |
April 2011 | 100 | 65 | 35 | <5t;5 | 32 | Moderate |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Middle Plain 1 | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
July 2008 | 90 | 30 | 60 | 0 | 6 | Poor |
Oct 2008 | 70 | 20 | 50 | 0 | 6 | Very poor |
Jan 2009 | 60 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 19 | Poor |
May 2009 | 80 | 55 | 25 | <5t;5 | 16 | Moderate |
Oct 2009 | 90 | 60 | 30 | <5t;5 | 21 | Moderate |
Apr 2010 | 90 | 50 | 40 | <5t;5 | 22 | Moderate |
Oct 2010 | 95 | 70 | 25 | <5t;5 | 24 | Good |
April 2011 | 100 | 65 | 35 | <5t;5 | 27 | Moderate |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Middle Swell Point | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Nov 2007 | 90 | 50 | 40 | 10 | 12 | Moderate |
June 2008 | 100 | 10 | 90 | <5t;5 | 13 | Poor |
Oct 2008 | 100 | 70 | 30 | 0 | 12 | Good |
May 2009 | 80 | 25 | 55 | 10 | 22 | Moderate |
Sep 2009 | 95 | 60 | 35 | <5t;5 | 21 | Moderate |
Mar 2010 | 90 | 25 | 65 | 0 | 28 | Poor |
Oct 2010 | 100 | 65 | 35 | <5t;5 | 35 | Moderate |
May 2011 | 100 | 55 | 45 | <5t;5 | 39 | Moderate |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Perry River South | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Oct 2007 | 80 | 40 | 20 | 30 | 11 | Poor |
Mar 2008 | 60 | 20 | 40 | 30 | 12 | Poor |
Sept 2008 | 60 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 14 | Very poor |
Mar 2009 | 70 | 35 | 35 | <5t;5 | 18 | Poor |
Aug 2009 | 70 | 35 | 35 | 10 | 18 | Poor |
Mar 2010 | 70 | 25 | 45 | <5t;5 | 18 | Poor |
Sep 2010 | 80 | 40 | 40 | 10 | 19 | Poor |
Mar 2011 | 95 | 40 | 55 | 5 | 34 | Poor |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Stockyard North East | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Sep 2008 | 70 | 40 | 30 | 5 | 14 | Moderate |
Mar 2009 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 11 | Poor |
Aug 2009 | 75 | 50 | 25 | 5 | 15 | Moderate |
Mar 2010 | 90 | 35 | 55 | <5t;5 | 18 | Poor |
Sep 2010 | 95 | 45 | 50 | 5 | 17 | Moderate |
April 2011 | 100 | 30 | 70 | <5t;5 | 19 | Poor |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Stockyard South East | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Oct 2007 | 100 | 60 | 40 | 40 | 6 | Moderate |
June 2008 | 80 | 40 | 40 | 20 | 10 | Moderate |
Sep 2008 | 60 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Moderate |
Mar 2009 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 14 | Poor |
Sep 2009 | 80 | 70 | 10 | 5 | 21 | Good |
Mar 2010 | 95 | 25 | 70 | <5t;5 | 17 | Poor |
Sep 2010 | 95 | 65 | 30 | 20 | 16 | Good |
April 2011 | 100 | 90 | 10 | 5 | 17 | V. good |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Tagasaste 1 | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Oct 2007 | 90 | 80 | 10 | <5t;5 | 10 | Good |
May 2008 | 95 | 90 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Good |
Nov 2008 | 95 | 80 | 15 | 0 | 12 | Good |
Mar 2009 | 60 | 50 | 10 | <5t;5 | 12 | Moderate |
Aug 2009 | 100 | 85 | 15 | 5 | 9 | Good |
Mar 2010 | 90 | 85 | 5 | 0 | 15 | Good |
Dec 2010 | 100 | 90 | 10 | 0 | 21 | Good |
Mar 2011 | 100 | 90 | 10 | <5t;5 | 25 | Good |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation Two Tanks West | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
June 2008 | 80 | 80 | 0 | <5t;5 | 5 | Good |
Oct 2008 | 60 | 55 | 5 | 0 | 8 | Moderate |
May 2009 | 80 | 55 | 25 | 15 | 14 | Moderate |
Nov 2009 | 80 | 70 | 20 | <5t;5 | 20 | Good |
Apr 2010 | 90 | 75 | 15 | 5 | 24 | Good |
Nov 2010 | 90 | 80 | 10 | 5 | 29 | Good |
May 2011 | 100 | 95 | 5 | 5 | 23 | Good |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation West Drive | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
Oct 2007 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 5 | Poor |
Mar 2008 | 80 | 40 | 40 | 24 | 15 | Moderate |
Sept 2008 | 50 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 8 | Very poor |
Mar 2009 | 40 | 15 | 25 | <5t;5 | 14 | Very poor |
Aug 2009 | 80 | 65 | 15 | 10 | 12 | Moderate |
Mar 2010 | 80 | 20 | 60 | <5t;5 | 25 | Poor |
Sep 2010 | 95 | 60 | 35 | <5t;5 | 15 | Good |
Mar 2011 | 100 | 65 | 35 | 5 | 31 | Moderate |
Long Term Pasture Evaluation West Plain 1 | ||||||
Date | Cover % | Desirable % | Weeds % | Capeweed % | Species | Rating |
July 2008 | 70 | 25 | 45 | <5t;5 | 9 | Poor |
Oct 2008 | 45 | 15 | 30 | <5t;5 | 9 | Very poor |
Jan 2009 | 60 | 40 | 20 | 0 | 15 | Poor |
May 2009 | 70 | 55 | 15 | <5t;5 | 19 | Moderate |
Oct 2009 | 95 | 75 | 20 | <5t;5 | 26 | Good |
Apr 2010 | 95 | 50 | 45 | 0 | 30 | Moderate |
Oct 2010 | 95 | 55 | 40 | <5t;5 | 29 | Moderate |
May 2011 | 100 | 50 | 50 | <5t;5 | 33 | Moderate |
What recommendations were made about soil/land management and soil health?
Subsequent experience at Strathfieldsaye Estate is indicating that a short intensive grazing period followed by long recovery is beneficial to pasture production and quality.