Pastures Tips Post Drought By Rob Harborne Eaglewood Alpacas Murrumbateman NSW
By now most breeders would have experienced some good rain. With the rain comes feed and potentially weeds.
Other problem grass weeds include barley grass which can be par�cularly problema�c in the spring once it has set seed. The seeds can get into the eyes.
The following are a few suggestions to help improve the feed quality and quantity.
The other major problema�c grass weed is silver grass or vulpia. This grass is highly invasive and can have up to 4000 plants per square metre hence stopping more produc�ve pasture species from thriving. It is very low in digestability and has a maximum protein content of 4 %.
FERTILITY DECREASE
SOLUTION
If you have not fer�lised for a few years you may have the feed growing a li�le more slowly than you expected. This may also be a consequence of ea�ng your grass down too much. The plant needs leaf area to photosynthesise.
Spray when and where appropriate. Always get advice on what to spray. Remember if you spray there is a 14 day withholding period post spraying i.e. you cannot have the animals in that paddock for 14 days. Lesser rates, (usually half) of chemical can be used in a spray graze opera�on. Always read label for instruc�on or seek advice.
Fer�lity is the key driver to produc�vity and it is probably the key reason most camelid farms have a lack of good quality dry ma�er produc�on. The be�er the dry ma�er produc�on i.e. pasture growth the be�er the performance of your animals will be. Na�ve pastures do also benefit from fer�liser input but will never be highly produc�ve and they are dominant in the summer months. SOLUTION Apply between 125-200kg/ Ha of Single Super phosphate annually. Also, with this applica�on if you can get some clover seed and poten�ally Italian ryegrass seed and add to the fer�liser this will assist in dry ma�er produc�on going into Autumn/Winter and Spring. Call me for specific varie�es if you like.
WEED INTRUSION With the rain comes weeds. Weeds are also more dominant when the ground cover decreases below 70% groundcover. The summer weeds will burn off in the first frost. The broadleaf weeds such as Pa�erson’s curse and capeweed will germinate in the autumn which will require a broadleaf spray in the May-August months. It is important to a�end to the weeds otherwise they will out compete for your pasture in the spring�me.
(Spray graze programme is a commonly referred to agricultural prac�se where half rates of chemicals are applied to a weed and then animals graze the paddocks 14 days a�er applica�on. The weeds fixate sugar and make them more palletable and also in the case of Pa�ersons Curse present the leaves so they can be grazed more effec�vely.) When spraying always remember �ming is extremely important. Spray before the onset of flowering or the produc�on of seed heads. Once the seeds are produced it is too late to spray and have an effect.
IMPROVING PASTURES Oversow paddocks with a mixture of short term pasture species to bolster feed availability. Ryegrass is a great op�on. This can be applied by spreaders, harrowing and then leaving the paddock unstocked. Otherwise the emerging plants may be pulled out by the roots by the animals grazing. Clover inclusion will add dry ma�er, nitrogen fixing plants plus high quality high protein plant material. If you are worried about clover bur that is primarily derived from sub clover – there are many other types of clover that do not have clover bur.
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