Tools
EverGraze and related projects have produced a range of Tools and calculators to assist making informed decisions for improved management of grazing enterprises. This page provides details, examples and video tutorials of a range of Tools that are relevant to broad-scale grazing systems for sheep and cattle.
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Quick launch for EverGraze Tools
The EverGraze suite of Tools can be downloaded here with full details provided below.
Feed budgets and stocking rates
EverGraze Feedbase Planning and Budgeting ToolThe EverGraze Feedbase Planning and Budgeting Tool is an Excel based tool that can be used to undertake many different tasks including;
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Increasing pasture growth in winterThe EverGraze Nitrogen and Gibberellic Acid Calculator allows producers to estimate the profitability of using these products as an alternative to supplementary feeding in autumn and winter in southern Australia. The Tool provides a range of response rates for each product and the user needs to select the most appropriate value for their farm. A range of common supplements are also listed so the cost of additional pasture (c/MJ ME) can be compared directly with the cost of feeding supplements. |
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Effectively using Green Feed in summerResearch at Wagga Wagga showed that flushing ewes by grazing them on green feed (such as lucerne) for one week prior and one weeks during joining could result in higher twinning rates and around 10% extra lambs marked. However, the opportunity to graze ewes on lucerne needs to be compared to other option such as finishing lambs or growing weaners during the summer/autumn months. Green feed in summer is usually very scare and so needs to be grazed by the most responsive stock. The EverGraze Green Feed Allocation Tool allows producers to compare different ways to use green feed in summer and so decide the most profitable way to use this valuable material. |
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Estimating pasture growth on your farmTo complete feed budgets for your farm, you need to be able to estimate pasture growth rates throughout the year. Estimates of pasture growth in different regions of Australia are provided on this page. However, measurements on your farm in your paddocks will always be more accurate than generalised regional data. There are several ways pasture growth can be estimated on farms. The procedure set out below is based on the change in height of the pasture over a 30-40 day period while the paddock is spelled from grazing. Alternatively, small cages or areas of the paddock need to be fenced off so that stock do not graze the areas being measured. |
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Regional pasture growth ratesFollowing are a series of pasture growth rate (kg/ha/day) tables and graphs for regions across Australia. This data set was compiled for the Meat and Livestock Australia Feed Demand Calculator using validated curves from research sites, data presented in GrassGro, and with input from experienced research and extension professionals. The growth rate values should be used only as a guide only. Ways to measure and calculate your own pasture growth is provided here. |
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EverGraze Stocking Rate CalculatorA critical step in analysing your livestock system is to determine the average stocking rate on your farm, the monthly variation in stocking rate and how the stocking rate and hence feed requirements match with the feed supply on your farm. Stocking rate is measured in terms of dry sheep equivalents (DSE). One DSE represents the energy requirement of a non-lactating 50 kg ewe at maintenance; 8.3 megajoules metabolisable energy per head per day (MJ ME/hd/day). The farm stocking rate (DSE/ha) = number of stock of each class x DSE per head, divided by the number of hectares on the farm. Energy requirements, and therefore DSE, vary considerably with stage of reproduction. Where there are many different mobs with different DSE ratings on the farm, the EverGraze Stocking Rate Calculator makes it easy to work out monthly stocking rate throughout the year by adding together the stock numbers of each class and their DSE rating in each month. |
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Estimating Feed on Offer
AWI Feed On Offer (FOO) LibraryThe Feed On Offer (FOO) Library allows users to estimate FOO and nutritive value of grazed pastures. The 500 records available were collected by experienced agronomists across VIC, NSW, QLD, WA and SA, from typical pastures in each region in summer, autumn, winter and spring with a range of FOO values at each harvest. |
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Conservation value
Assessing conservation value of native vegetation on farmThis is a guide for assessing the conservation value of box gum grassy woodlands on the Northwest Slopes of NSW |
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Condition and reproduction
Lifetimewool Reproduction Rate CalculatorThe relationship between condition at joining and reproductive rate and a simple method for working out the responsiveness of your flock. |
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Lifetimewool Condition ScoringThe condition scoring method and handy assessment guide pages have a printable condition scoring chart and a histogram chart for easy recording. |
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MLA Calving Histogram CalculatorThe calving histogram calculator is a tool to measure the performance of your herd management for calving. |
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Shelter For Lambing ToolAt the Hamilton and Wagga Wagga Proof Sites, perennial grass hedges and shrub nurseries provided very effective shelter, reducing wind chill by up to 99%. At Hamilton, this reduced the average number of days with poor lambing weather during June to September by more than half, increasing the survival of lambs at the average birthweight by 30%. The economic benefits of shelter varies across environments depending on the risk of high chill (chill index > 1000 kj/m2/hr) during the lambing period, the cost of the shelter, and current conception and survival rates. The Shelter For Lambing Tool was developed to analyse the return from investment in shelter at various locations across the high rainfall zone. |
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Cost of production
MLA Cost of Production Calculator – BeefAn interactive, ‘do-it-yourself’ tool to help beef producers figure out their cost of production (CoP) and compare their performance annually. Get instructions on getting Macros to work for EverGraze and MLA Excel-based tools. |
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MLA Cost of Production Calculator – LambAn interactive, ‘do-it-yourself’ tool kit to help lamb and sheep producers figure out their cost of production (CoP) and compare their performance annually. |
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Animal health
MLA Health Cost Benefit CalculatorThe Health Cost Benefit Calculator has been developed to determine the benefit of applying an animal health treatment to a herd for bloat, clostridial diseases and grass tetany. |
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Lifetimewool Feed Budget TablesThese tools provide a simple method for determining ewe feed requirements and intake from pastures. They are developed for each time of year and can be accessed from the links below.
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MLA Feed Demand CalculatorThe MLA Feed Demand Calculator allows producers to gain an appreciation of the pattern of feed supply and demand over a twelve-month period, the location of “feed gaps” and the ways in which modifying the livestock enterprise might help to close these gaps. There are instructions on how to use the MLA Feed Demand Calculator. Get instructions on getting Macros to work for EverGraze and MLA Excel-based tools. |
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MLA Rainfall to Pasture Growth Outlook ToolThe Rainfall to Pasture Growth Outlook Tool presents the actual rainfall and indices of soil moisture and pasture growth for the past nine months and an outlook for the next three months for over 3,300 locations across southern Australia. |
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Investing in pastures
EverGraze Pasture Improvement CalculatorThe EverGraze Pasture Improvement Calculator (PIC) helps to work out the costs and benefits of improving pastures. The Tool can be used to compare any scenarios where significant expenditure is outlaid in a particular year and the benefit s then occur over a 10-20 year period. Commons comparisons with the PIC are;
To use the Tool, the costs of the improvement, increase in stocking rates and/or gross margins, length of time that the improvement will last are key inputs. If you have not used this calculator before, you may benefit from the explanation of how to use the Pasture Improvement Calculator. |
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Reference tables for feed budgeting
Click on a table to expand into a new window (to see an enlarged version).
Table 1. Predicted daily intake of pasture (kg/hd/day) for cows
Table 2. Predicted daily pasture intake (kg/hd/day) of weaner cattle
Table 3. Predicted daily pasture intake (kg/hd/day) of pasture by ewes
Table 4. Predicted daily pasture intake (kg/hd/day) of pasture by weaner sheep
Table 5. Predicted daily energy intake (MJ ME/hd) from pasture by ewes
Table 6. Predicted daily energy intake (MJ ME/hd) from pasture by weaner sheep
Table 7. Minimum pasture availability (kg/ha) required to maintain satisfactory production levels
Table 8. Approximate relationship between pasture height and kg green DM/ha
Table 9. Monthly pasture growth rate estimates
Table 10. Protein and energy requirements for sheep
See the Lifetimewool tables for further detail of these targets (figures within the ranges)
Table 11. Protein and energy requirements for cattle
Table 12. Estimated digestibility, energy, protein and fibre value of pastures
Table 13. Estimated energy, protein and fibre values of common livestock feeds
Table 14. DSE values for different classes of sheep
Table 15. DSE values of different classes of cattle
Table 16. Pasture responses to nitrogen
Table 17. Composition of common fertilisers
Useful formulas
Acknowledgements
These tables are the set of reference tables used in the EverGraze Feedbase Planning and Budgeting Tool. They have been mostly drawn from Prograze (a MLA and DPI NSW initiative), Lifetimewool (a Sheep CRC initiative), High Performance Weaners (a Rural Industries Skills Training initiative) and the Agriculture Victoria Drought Feeding Manual.