ASHEEP
FEED365 2022 Wrap – Esperance Demonstration Sites
ASHEEP is coordinating three demonstration sites in the FEED365 Project; a collaboration between the Department of Primary Industries &...
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FEED365
Project Partners:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Meat & Livestock Australia
ASHEEP Demonstration Site
Updated 14/06/22
At the start of 2022, ASHEEP was chosen via an expression of interest to participate in the Feed365 Project, a collaboration between the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (DPIRD) and Meat & Livestock Australia. The purpose of this project is to research and redesign livestock forage systems to fill feed gaps, develop new feed base options and integrate them into grazing systems.
The project commenced in 2021 at the Katanning Research Facility, and this component of the trial was designed to evaluate traditional and novel forage species.
The Esperance-based component of the Feed365 trial will be over a three year period from 2022, and three demonstration sites have been selected in the region, two at Josh & Tegan Sullivan’s leased property the Esperance Downs Research Station in Gibson, and at one at The Oaks in Dalyup.
DPIRD and ASHEEP meet at the Esperance Downs Research Station to plan the Feed365 demonstration sites in February 2022.
DEMONSTRATION SITE OVERVIEW
SITE 1: Early feed in a pasture - cropping rotation
Location: Esperance Downs Research Station, Gibson
Host: Josh & Tegan Sullivan
Profile: Soil sample 0-40cm, sand to sandy loam, 5.9-6.4 pH(w)
Paddock History: Regenerating pasture of rye grass, sub clovers, capeweed.
2022 Objective: To increase early and late grazing potential while preserving sub clover.
Demonstration Plan: In 2022 this paddock was divided in half, with intention for a dry-seeded pasture mix sown at two different rates.
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Half A = 47 kg/ha seed plus 20 kg/ha Alosca rhizobia inoculum: Leafmore Brassica 2kg, RM4 Vetch 15kg, Triticale 30kg, Alosca FE 10kg, Alosca C 10kg
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Half B = 84 kg/ha seed plus 20 kg/ha Alosca rhizobia inoculum: Leafmore Brassica 4kg, RM4 Vetch 25kg, Triticale 55kg, Alosca FE 10kg, Alosca C 10kg
Brassica included for early feed, vetch for late feed and nitrogen production, and triticale for early winter feed and stubble cover.
Status: 2022 treatments terminated. There was no pre-sow knockdown in an attempt to retain the existing sub-clovers. This resulted in capeweed dominating. Report available in 2022 project update available below.
Image: Soil Type
03/02/22
Image: 3.5 weeks post sow
14/6/22
Image: 11.5 weeks post sow
09/08/22
SITE 2: Pasture mix for long term pastures
Location: Esperance Downs Research Station, Gibson
Host: Josh & Tegan Sullivan
Profile: Soil samples 0-40cm, loamy sand / sand, subject to waterlogging, 5.7-6.2 pH(water)
Paddock History: Long-term regenerating pasture including brome grass, silver grass, geranium, rye grass, sub clovers.
2022 Objective: To use tetraploid ryegrass to suppress unwanted grasses such as brome and silvergrass, and to increase pasture biomass Demonstration Plan: This paddock was sown with a pasture mix and then divided in half, with one half grazed (Half A) and the other kept for hay (Half B). A deep rip strip was included for comparison purposes.
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Seed mix 37 kg/ha plus 20 kg/ha Alosca rhizobia inoculum: Vortex Tetraploid Ryegrass 10kg, Balansa Clover 2kg, Express Forage Oat 15kg, RM4 Vetch 10kg, Alosca FE 10kg, Alosca C 10kg
Balansa clover was added for legume content and potential water logging issues. Forage oats was added for late production of feed and a longer grazing period. Vetch was included for late feed and nitrogen production.
Status: Report in 2022 project update below.
Image: Soil Type
03/02/22
Image: 3.5 weeks post sow
14/6/22
Image: Hay cutting
5/10/22
SITE 3: Tedera
Location: The Oaks, Dalyup
Host: Mitchell Greaves & Demi Vandenberghe
Profile: Soil samples 0-40cm, loamy sand to clay loam, 5.5-8.2 pH(w)
Paddock History: 5 ha creek-side paddock in pasture, unsuitable for a crop rotation with a sloping topography, higher rainfall and little by way of drainage issues.
2022 Objective: Establish tedera as a permanent pasture to graze over the summer-autumn feed gap. Demonstration Plan: Establish tedera in winter 2022 and graze in autumn 2023.
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Lanza Tedera 10 kg/ha, Nodulaid Tedera inoculumn
Status: First establishment attempt was sprayed out with RLEM damage & weeds. Second establishment looks to be successful. Report in 2022 project update below.
Image: Site Pre-Sowing
14/06/22
Image: Establishment 1 RLEM damage
10/08/22
Image: Establishment 2
24/11/22
Contact ASHEEP if you would like more information on the Esperance-based demonstration sites in this project. ASHEEP members will be provided with regular updates - visit our membership page if you would like to consider joining. The sites will also be showcased at field days. If you would like information about the broader Feed365 Project visit the DPIRD website.
PROJECT UPDATES:
PROJECT PARTNERS:
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