Pasture Trials & Feedbase Focus
The trial site at Rokewood has experienced very tough conditions this year, with some trials that were sown in May only just reaching 3 leaves! These tough conditions have truly tested the pasture trials, and we have had some interesting results.
The MLA Drought Rebuilder trial, focus’s on what grows the quickest feed after a drought, also comparing sowing before and after the ‘break’, has been the most exciting trial to follow this year. As most know, we did not experience a true ‘break’ so we chose to sow this new trial at the end of April and compared it to sowing in mid-June. Within the trial, we have many species mixes such as annual and Italian ryegrasses, clovers, forage barley and oats, forage brassicas such as turnips and rape, and ryecorn. Each time a mix reaches grazing maturity it gets a cut or ‘graze’ and we take a Feed Test to compare forage quality. It’s been interesting to see which mixes have coped in drier conditions and how species compete within a mix.
The pasture variety trials have continued, going into their third year. Some have only had a couple of cuts for the year so far, and the sub-clover trial hasn’t had one at all for 2024! There are clear differences in persistence between varieties and pasture species.
Feedbase Focus will be held at the Rokewood site on the 12th of November and everyone is welcome! It’s been a challenging year for all pastures in the Western Districts, so come along for what will be an informative morning looking at all our trials and discussing how we can look after our pastures to persist into 2025.
