Where to from here?
Greg O’Brien & Frank Mickan
Options for next year?
Try to get early feed next autumn?
Try to produce more winter feed?
Try to get early feed next autumn?
Forage cereals
Early sown ryegrass
Brassicas
Try to get early feed next autumn?
Forage Cereals
Cereals quick off the mark
Can go in earlier & handle false break
better than ryegrasses
BUT may only get 1 - 2 grazings
Sowing rate?
What % of farm to be sown?
Try to get early feed next autumn?
Early sown ryegrass
Don’t handle false break as well
Produce less feed with late break
Produce more feed with good break
Try to get early feed next autumn?
Brassicas
Is there a place for the new re-graze
types?
Good substitute for grain in the diet
Maffra experience: Goliath sown mid-Mar
and yielded 4t/ha by 26 April and 6 t/ha
mid-May (NB ~50 mm irrigation in autumn)
Goliath being strip grazed
Try to produce more winter feed?
Cereals x2 sowings?
Cereal + ryegrass?
Plus the usual
- Nitrogen
- Correct grazing management
DM Yield (t DM/ha)
Grazing regimes for forages 2006
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
What’s the message here?
Final yield as silage
GS 82 - 85:Soft Dough
Grazed TWICE (Mid June & Mid August, then closed for silage
GS 21-22 & GS31 - 33:Stem elongation
Grazed ONCE (Mid June ‘06), then closed for silage
GS 21-22:Tillering
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Taipan
Oats
Crackerjack
Progrow
Wedgetail
DM Yield (t DM/ha)
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2006
What’s the message here?
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Taipan
Oats
Crackerjack
Triticale
Progrow
Wedgetail
DM Yield (t DM/ha)
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2006
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Taipan
Oats
Crackerjack
Triticale
Progrow
Ryegrass
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2006
DM Yield (t DM/ha)
Early break (April rain)
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Taipan
Oats
Crackerjack
Triticale
Progrow
Ryegrass
Wedgetail
Wheat
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2005
Late break (Mid June)
16
14
DM yield (t DM/ha)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
G1
G2
Crackerjack
SIL
G1
Dictator
G2
SIL
G1
Taipan
G2
SIL
G1
G2
Progrow
SIL
Crackerjack Triticale sowing rates (60 - 160 kg/ha
Nil Nitrogen at tillering (GS 22), then N at GS 32 & 39
18
Lack of response to sowing rate may have been due to moisture constraints ?
16
DM yield (t DM/ha)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
N
0N
60
N
0N
80
N
0N
100
Sowing rate (kg/ha)
N
0N
120
N
0N
140
N
0N
160
2006 Forage cereals - Soft dough stage
Rainfall (Jan - End Nov.), Yields & Qualities
Where
Crop
(Grow RF mm)
DM
Yield
ME
CP
NDF
(%)
(kg DM/ha)
DM)
(MJ/kg (%)
(%)
2004/05
Yarram (592)
G. Barley
28
10,700
9.6
9.7
54.8
Clyde (407)
A. Wheat
44
9,560
9.4
8.5
50
Cowwarr (579)
M. Trit.
34
13,000
8.4
8
57
2005/06
B’dale (400)
All
~47
9500
Clyde (437)
Clyde* (437)
Clyde* (437)
G. Barley
A. Wheat
A. Wheat
~39
38
36
8,230**
10,600**
13,100
11.5
9.5
10.3
7
5.9
8.1
40
49
46
* Clear liquid-early milk
** Sown ~ 2 weeks later than the Higher yielding Amarok
Yields and Qualities of Forage Cereal Crops
Gippsland 2005
Growth Stage
DM Yield*
(kg DM/ha)
Flag leaf/Boot
5,320
11.1
17.4
4,655 - 5,980
10.5 - 11.6
14.5 - 19.3
8,390
8.9
10.5
3,130 - 7,120
7.7 - 10.8
5.9 - 12.9
11,480
9.0
8.4
9,860 - 13,080
8.0 - 9.8
6.1 - 10.0
8,590
9.3
8.3
9.1 - 9.5
5.7 - 11.8
Flower/Early head
Soft dough
Hard Dough
3,710* - 11,360
ME
(MJ/kg DM)
Crude Protein
(%)
*If 2 low yielding crops out
Av. 11, 030
* To nearest 10 kg/ha
Forage Monitoring points from data
Huge variation in yields and qualities
(Gippsland)
High ME(11.1) at Flag leaf/Boot - lower at
Early Flower (8.9) back to reasonable ME
(9.3) at hard dough
Protein is downhill all the way!(17.4 - 8.2%)
Most farms from marginal dairying areas
Cost of cereals (c/kg DM)
t/ha
$300/ha $600
$900
$1200
$1,500
4
7.5
5
3.75
3
2.5
22.5
15
11.25
9
7.5
30
20
15
12
10
37.5
25
18.75
15
12.5
6
8
10
12
15
10
7.5
6
5
Where’s he gone?
Crops from left field?
Lucernes
- Acid soil tolerant variety on way
- SW Partner Farm experiences (grows over
summer for autumn bank of feed; this dry spring growing at 40 cw
<10 for prg)
Is there a place for mixes?
Brassicas, herbs & grasses
More shoulder feed
Spring or autumn sowing?
Summer forage crops established in SPRING
THEN
Direct drilled with Italian Ryegrass & herb/clover mix in
AUTUMN
100%
Clover
Dry matter (% DM)
Weeds
80%
Summer
crop
60%
Turnip
Rape
Radish
Turnip-rape
Millet
40%
20%
(Red & White)
Italian Ryegrass
Plantain
Chicory
Dead
0%
04
04
04
04
04
04
05
05
05
05
05
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
2
4
6
8
0
2
2
4
6
8
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1/
1/
1/
1/
1/
1/
1/
1/
1/
1/
1/
Summer forage crops established in SPRING with herb/clover
mix
THEN
Direct drilled with Italian Ryegrass in AUTUMN
100%
Weeds
Clover
Plantain
Italian Ryegrass
60%
Dead
40%
Chicory
20%
Summer crop
0%
1/
02
/2
00
4
1/
04
/2
00
4
1/
06
/2
00
4
1/
08
/2
00
4
1/
10
/2
00
4
1/
12
/2
00
4
1/
02
/2
00
5
1/
04
/2
00
5
1/
06
/2
00
5
1/
08
/2
00
5
1/
10
/2
00
5
Dry matter (% DM)
80%
What would you like modelled?
Cereal/rye (early v late break; % farm?)
brassica (feed flow issues, sensitivity to
yield?)
lucerne (whole farm economics)
herb plus mixes (feed flow, whole farm
economics?)
D
ic
ta
to
r
ra
ck
er
ja
ck
W
ed
ge
ta
il
Ta
ip
an
Pr
og
ro
w
M
cK
el
la
r
Ja
ck
ie
G1 G2
5
En
te
rp
ri s
e
C
DM yield (t DM/ha)
Effect of grazing prior to G2 (15th. Aug. 2006)
SIL
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
FEEDTEST 1/8/05 - 8/2/06)
Cereal Silages & Hays
Cereal Silage (74)
Range
Cereal Hay (2385)
Range
DM
(%)
42.8
ME
(MJ)
9.7
CP
(%)
10.0
20.6 -69.9
7.8 -12.5
5.8 -17.7
8.6
4.2 -13.2
NDF
(%)
55.5
20.1-72.8
7.0
58.8
1.2 -26.9
34.6 -82.4
Cereal studies – Grazing options
8 crops sown (5 April 2005)
2 oats – Enterprise, Taipan
2 wheats – Wedgetail, McKellar
2 triticales – Crackerjack, Jackie
1 barley - Dictator
1 ARG - Progrow
3 Grazing options – Graze once (G1), twice (G2) or silage
only (SIL)
Grazed – 27 June (G1), 12 August (G2)
Silage as per N trial
Soil fertility (0-10 cm)
pH – 6.0 (water)
At sowing – 80 kg TSP/ha
Olsen P - 20 mg/kg
After rolling 500 kg 3&1/ha
Available k – 280 mg/kg
After first grazing – 100 kg
Urea/ha
CPC S - 35 mg/kg
After second grazing – 125 kg
Urea/ha
First Grazing
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2005
16
14
DM yield (t DM/ha)
12
10
8
Final yield
6
4
2
Grazing 2
0
Grazing 1
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Crackerjack
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2005
16
Grazing 1
14
DM yield (t DM/ha)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Crackerjack
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2005
16
Grazing 2
14
DM yield (t DM/ha)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Crackerjack
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2005
16
Final yield NO grazing plots
14
DM yield (t DM/ha)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Crackerjack
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2005
16
Final yield for all plots
14
DM yield (t DM/ha)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL G1 G2 SIL
Crackerjack
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on winter cereals 2005
16
14
DM yield (t DM/ha)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
G1
G2
Crackerjack
SIL
G1
G2
Dictator
SIL
G1
G2
Taipan
SIL
G1
G2
Progrow
SIL
Effect of grazing on ME content
12
10
ME (MJ/kg DM)
8
6
4
2
0
Crackerjack
G1
G2
SIL
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on ME content
12
10
ME (MJ/kg DM)
8
6
4
2
0
Crackerjack
G1
G2
SIL
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
Effect of grazing on ME content
12
10
ME (MJ/kg DM)
8
6
4
2
0
Crackerjack
G1
G2
SIL
Dictator
Enterprise
Jackie
McKellar
Progrow
Taipan
Wedgetail
G1
G2
SIL
ta
to
r
ck
cK
el
la
r
e
W
ed
ge
t
ai
l
Ta
ip
an
Pr
og
ro
w
M
Ja
ck
i
En
te
rp
r is
e
Di
c
Cr
ac
ke
r ja
CP content (%CP)
Effect of grazing on CP content
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Why?
To investigate the potential of novel crops
To investigate regional variations due to soil
type, rainfall, etc.
To provide insights for farmers and advisors
To add depth to Management Info Packages
To expose knowledge gaps
What is being recorded?
Physical growing conditions
Soil type, rainfall, type of seedbed, etc.
Sowing details
Seed bed preparation, seeding rate & depth,
equipment used, fertilisers
Management during growth & harvest
F
Fert’s, weeds, pest & disease control, grazing, etc.
Management & Systems issues
Labour, effects on farming system, ease & reliability
of growing, attitude to risk, etc.
Other Farms
Data collected 2005
Region
North East
No.
Farms
4
No.
samples
4
South West
4
6
Gippsland
7
42
Forage Monitoring: Farmer comments
Triticale & Barley susceptible to army worms
Wheat slower than Trit. but stronger heads
If going for grain
- high winds can cause grain drop
- lighter yields
Better as WCS
- higher all round yield and quality
- quicker out of ground
Now know that Ryegrass is a problem due to
moisture competition, especially in marginal areas
Wayne Bowden
Forage Monitoring: Farmer comments
Straw is an issue if grain harvested
Amarok wheat resistant to rust
- Gairdner Barley required fungicide, Amarok did not
Probably going to RAISED BEDDING system
Getting 5t/Ha grain yields but believes 7 - 8t/Ha
is achievable
Marshall Baillieu
Forage Monitoring: Farmer comments
Using raised beds after very heavy rains 1 year
- cost ~$150/ha to install
- grazing knocks beds around
Thinks grazing reduces yields by ~20 - 25%
Will look at undersowing vs. oversowing after
cereal already sown. Eg. Arrowleaf clover
Red winter wheats tiller to compensate low
seed rate
Trevor Caithness
Forage Monitoring: Farmer comments
Playing around with chook manure (+lime,
gypsum, fertilisers, etc.)
Gets a K response despite satisfactory soil test
UK visit
- 8 - 10t/ha grain yields (Vs 3 - 5t/ha)
- UK grain:straw is ~1:1, vs ~1:2 in Aust.
- Fungicide usage kept green leaves to the base vs 3 green
leaves at the top only
- Fungicide usage is preventative, Aust. is reactive
Trevor Caithness
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Coming to a store near you!
Wait. There’s MORE!
Cocksfoot/Phalaris
Cultivars & Species
Establishment
Growing
Grazing Management
Summer Crops
Forage Cereals/Establishment/..
Weeds, pests & disease
Maize
Brassicas
Sorghums
Millets, etc.
Cultivars & Species
Establishment
Growing
Etc
Not a normal year!
Low quantities of home grown feed
High prices for purchased feeds
Low availability of purchased feeds
Crackerjack Triticale sowing rates (60 - 160 kg/ha
Nil Nitrogen at tillering (GS 22) then N at GS 32 & 39
18
16
DM yield (t DM/ha)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
N
0N
60
N
0N
80
N
0N
100
Sowing rate (kg/ha)
N
0N
120
N
0N
140
N
0N
160
Crackerjack Triticale sowing rates (60 - 160 kg/ha
Nitrogen at tillering (GS 22), then N at GS 32 & 39
18
16
DM yield (t DM/ha)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
N
0N
60
N
0N
80
N
0N
100
Sowing rate (kg/ha)
N
0N
120
N
0N
140
N
0N
160
Conserve more fodder next spring?
Forage cereals cw Ryegrasses
Effect of grazing on silage yield
- Decision needs to be made in winter
Timing of silage harvest affects yield and
quality
Implications for follow up crops