Testing Tropical Pastures in

Southern NSW

Holbrook Landcare Networks MLA funded Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) are investigating how tropical pasture species can be incorporated into southern NSW grazing systems to utilise summer rainfall.

Why?

The Southern slopes of NSW has a winter dominant rainfall pattern but with a changing climate, it’s now experiencing more summer rainfall.

That provides opportunity for using tropical pastures like Digit grass, Kikuyu and Rhodes grass to make better use of that summer rain.

The aim is to complement the winter perennials and annual species that are traditionally used in grazing systems to:

Boost production of higher quality feed in late spring, summer and autumn
Provide green feed over summer
Reduce supplementary feeding
Improve livestock growth over summer
Increase the feed base ahead of winter
Help displace annual summer weeds
Complimentary rotation for Lucerne paddocks

For more information contact Steph Cowley on 0467 025 777 or [email protected]

Project Aim

The project aims to investigate the role of tropical pasture species may have in production systems of the southern slopes of MSW and what management adaptations need to be made to successfully incorporate these species into southern grazing systems.

Demonstration Sites

Our Yerong Creek site will demonstrate both the dry matter production and quality of a Digit grass and Kikuyu mix and the impact on liveweight gain on both merino and cross bred sheep.

Yerong Creek PDS Dry matter production and quality of a Digit grass and Kikuyu mix and the impact on liveweight gain on merino and crossbred sheep.

Henty 1 PDS Performance of a 2021 sown digit grass stand and the role it plays in an angus cattle operation for both breeder and weaner weight gains.

Henty 2 PDS Investigating the performance of a Premier Digit and Serradella pasture as a companion species to determine its role in supporting the feed base via dry matter production.

So far, we have seen the role of these tropical species be both good options for livestock maintenance and growth over the summer period and we look forward to monitoring their impact on different breeds and classes of sheep and cattle over the next 6 years. For anyone wanting more information, project updates, or wishing to become involved, contact Steph Cowley on 0467 025 777 or [email protected]

What We've seen so far

Tropical pasture species can be good options for livestock maintenance and growth over summer.
Tropical pastures don’t produce the same livestock growth rates as lucerne but they have performed well on ‘secondary’ country (lighter soils and hill country) where temperate species struggle.
Watter than average season in 2022 and 2023 saw established sub-tropical pastures perform well showing the production potential of these species.
Investment in tropical pastures over-sown with temperate legume pastures can deliver good results on investment but is dependent on livestock management.

Project Reports

Cost Benefit Analysis - Hills Park

Cost Benefit Analysis completed by Agrista, 2024

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Cost Benefit Analysis - Scotts Angus

Cost Benefit Analysis completed by Agrista, 2024

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A 2023 trial of applying Gibberellic Acid and Urea to a still active tropical pasture in winter shows no increase in tropical pasture production but it did increase production of temperate species.