Catchment:
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East Gippsland
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Collaborating Producer:
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Vanessa Ingram
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Location:
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Marlo |
Producer Group:
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Orbost BeefCheque group |
Site Co-ordinator:
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Prue Bergmeier
P: (03) 5152 0648
E: Prue.Bergmeier@dpi.vic.gov.au
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Production and Environmental Challenges
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There is a gentle slope on the paddock and soils are peaty with some saline areas. Historically the paddock was set-stocked which led to low pasture utilization in places over the site.
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Innovation being tested:
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The 90 ha paddock will be divided into 20 paddocks. With rotational grazing and the sowing of new pasture species, the aim is increase feed supply in the months of January, February and March. New perennial pasture species include; tall fescue, ryegrasses and cocksfoot.
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Base pasture:
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There are mainly perennial native and unimproved annual non-native species. The perennial pasture species include ryegrass, fog grass, clover and kikuyu, with some paspalum and phalaris.
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Animal systems:
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100 Wagyu cows required for the artificial breeding program on the farm
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Latest Results:
An annual pasture was sown in 2008 (tetila ryegrass) as a way of increasing the soil fertility whilst ensuring good pasture was available for stock. This crop was a great success under the dry conditions and proved successful for both feed on offer and for silage conservation (producing 600t DM of silage). Currently the paddocks are being sown with perennial species of ryegrass, cocksfoot, white clover, sub clover, strawberry clover, chicory and plantain.
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