Pasture Improvement Involves sowing selected species of grasses and legumes and managing its growth with fertiliser, irrigation, proper grazing, and weed control

Species Selection  List 5 factors a farmer needs to consider in selecting a pasture species

Factors in selection  1. Compatibility  2. Suits local climate  3. Provides feed all year round  4. Provides nutrition  5. Palatable and digestible  6. Be persistent

Establishing Pasture  Soil preparation  Feriliser and lime application  Weed control  Direct drilling, oversowing, aerial sowing

Maintaining High Quality Pasture  For maximum growth keep pasture length between 7 cm and 18 cm. In late autumn allow stock to graze to 2.5 cm to allow light to penetrate for tiller growth  Avoid treading damage which kills the crown and roots.  Maintain good phosphorous levels. (18-20 kg/ha)  Keep pH between 5.7 and 6.2  Rotationally graze when feed is in short supply.  Rotational grazing or break fencing is a more efficient use of pasture as all the pasture is eaten and there is more time for pasture to recover.

Feed Quality Height (cm) Flowering ProteinDigestibleIndigestible

Optimising Pasture Growth  Fertiliser application – boosts pasture growth. Fertiliser is usually applied in spring or autumn when pasture growth conditions occur  Irrigation – in summer when soil moisture deficits occur. Irrigation increases grass growth and maintains pasture cover

Optimising Pasture Growth continued  Pasture species – choice of pasture species determines whether pastures can resist drought, disease, pest damage, intense grazing, pugging, certain soil type  Grazing mamagement  Topping