Managing Long Term Phalaris Pastures
Project Managers: Rebecca Kading (MFS) and Camilla Beck (TFS)
Project Collaborators: Tablelands Farming Systems, Charles Sturt University
Project Funder: Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
The purpose of this project was to gain an understanding of how to lift pasture quality on long-term phalaris sites by increasing legume content or changing fertiliser regime to optimise and increase production in times of suboptimum climatic conditions.
Pasture improvement on the Monaro and as far north as the Tableland regions has in large part been driven by using phalaris, it is a great species providing higher quality and production to native pastures, drought tolerant and able to maintain great ground cover. Phalaris also has issues as does all species. It becomes a monoculture; this creates issues in lack of legume content and can have animal health issues and production issues. These pastures are located on some of the most productive land in the region and represent production potential.
Projected Outcomes of Project
- Increased knowledge and education around existing and future research
- Increased production on farm
- Providing higher quality feed in farming systems that are trying to finish stock during suboptimum climatic conditions.
- Decrease carbon intensity through better animal performance.
MFS and TFS conducted a survey of producers on the Monaro and Southern Tablelands to assess current knowledge and management practices.
The majority of producers (85%) adopt rotational grazing as their grazing management style. However, almost 90% of producers change their management of phalaris depending on the time of the year.
By the end of winter, producers like to have the standing dead material gone. Many graze phalaris heavily during the winter months and set stock it for lambing/calving purposes. This is partly to avoid the phalaris getting away or too rank.
“We make sure anything that has got away and has turned into bulk dry feed we intensively graze with cattle”. Southern Tablelands producer
“In good seasons it becomes too advanced for sheep so cattle are required to graze to take the top out of it and open up the country for the other pasture species.” Monaro producer
“When it is overgrown it in unpalatable so we try not to let it get too long/old. It also prohibits undergrowth of grasses if not managed well.” Southern Tablelands producer
Many producers give their phalaris pastures a rest during Autumn to allow it to build feed for the winter.
“Graze hard late summer to open it up to allow sub clover germination in the Autumn. Then let it recover during Autumn to build winter bulk for late winter grazing and rotational graze during Spring. Make sure we have a 6 week in late Spring to build it carbohydrate reserves for the summer. This will all move slightly depending on rainfall.” Southern Tablelands producer.
Phalaris staggers were also a somewhat common issue and concern for producers to manage, particularly when the pasture is short or moisture stressed. Producers avoid grazing the pasture if it is in this condition.
“Spring phalaris can be poisonous, so we allow it to grow taller than normal then before grazing” Monaro producer
“No grazing by weaner sheep in autumn when pasture is moisture stressed as Australian phalaris causes staggers in young sheep” Southern Tablelands producer
It was found that almost 90% of producers sometimes or always have trouble maintaining the vigour of species composition in phalaris pastures. However, positively, just 20% of producers found it difficult to establish their phalaris pasture. 83% sought advice from an agronomist when establishing their phalaris pasture.
66% reported slow growth and 33% reported weed competition were problems when establishing their pasture.
80% used short term intense grazing/rotational grazing as a strategy to maintain species diversity. Producers don’t want to allow the phalaris to set a thick canopy – slashing also used.
Paddock walks
MFS hosted a paddock walk on the 3rd July as part of their Winter field day. Over 100 people attended and viewed the trial site and surrounding pastures located at “Burando”, owned by John Jeffreys. They were made up of Phalaris Holdfast GT, clover and lucerne. These pastures are used as a composite ewe breeding enterprise. Discussions had included the use of legumes and Phalaris as a productive pasture mix, the impact of Phalaris staggers, and application of lime and how that has increased the productivity of the pastures.
TFS hosted a Field Day on the 28th June at Connen Hill, Lake Bathurst. Approximately 80 people attended the day, which included discussion and viewing of phalaris pasture paddocks. Discussion focused on harvesting seed and management styles.
TFS also hosted a paddock walk in Bigga on June 13th which looked at Serradella mixed with various perennials, including phalaris. Discussion focused on the use of serradella paired with phalaris as a productive pasture mix and how to ensure phalaris doesn’t overtake the legumes in the paddock.