Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
The standard feedbase on non-irrigated dairy farms in southern Australia is perennial ryegrass- dominant pasture supplemented by concentrate feeds, silage and hay to fill seasonal feed gaps. Using models, Chapman et al. (2005) concluded that dairy producers in this region can increase forage consumption and operating profit through the use of summer-active pastures and double-cropping (winter cereal grown for silage, followed by a summer grazing crop). However, these results were based on long-term average pasture and crop growth rates and therefore do not account for seasonal variability associated with climatic variation, which is important in southern Australia. This paper investigates the interaction between seasonal conditions and feedbase system to determine the potential risk associated with changing to alternative pastures or crops.
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Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Alternative Feedbase Systems for Southern Australia Dairy Farms. 2. Seasonal Variability
The standard feedbase on non-irrigated dairy farms in southern Australia is perennial ryegrass- dominant pasture supplemented by concentrate feeds, silage and hay to fill seasonal feed gaps. Using models, Chapman et al. (2005) concluded that dairy producers in this region can increase forage consumption and operating profit through the use of summer-active pastures and double-cropping (winter cereal grown for silage, followed by a summer grazing crop). However, these results were based on long-term average pasture and crop growth rates and therefore do not account for seasonal variability associated with climatic variation, which is important in southern Australia. This paper investigates the interaction between seasonal conditions and feedbase system to determine the potential risk associated with changing to alternative pastures or crops.
