Case Studies

Growing Pasture for Beef Cattle

 

This is a case study demonstrating a five-year Pasture Renovation/Improvement programme utilising twice yearly applications of Excel-Crop in a 900 mm rainfall zone in East Gippsland Victoria .

 

The study is of a 280 hectare spring calving Simmental breeding enterprise at Cabbage Tree Creek in East Gippsland owned and operated by Gil Raynor, a former Victorian President of the Australian Simmental Breeders Association (ASBA).

 

Mr Raynor has used Excel-Crop fish fertiliser liquid spray since 1998 with no application of "Super". In that time he reports that there has been a marked increase in herd health reflected in a significant reduction in general animal husbandry costs.

 

Mr Raynor again topped Bairnsdale market with cast for age PTNIC Simmental cows at $890 in autumn 2005. Some of these cows were 10 years old and still showed bloom and great condition. The previous year Simmental vealers live weight averaged at 320kg topped at $735 straight off their dams at eight months. This years vealers, due to the late season break, will be finished on oat crop in December and he fully expects to turn off around 400kg live-weight.

 

All cattle regardless of age are presenting for sale in better all round condition and in the case of vealers and weaners are reaching market at higher weights much earlier than previously.

 

Question: What else do I do in pasture management aside from Excel Crop?

Answer: As part of pasture renovation program I have sown down 24 acres in spring 2007 with early maturing “Wallaroo” oats. The paddock was sprayed out with Glyphosphate in autumn, disced up then tyne cultivated before an application of Buchan lime at two-and-a- half tonnes was applied. A heavy roller was applied before and after planting. The paddock is subdivided into two x 12 acres to allow easier strip grazing of the stock in the future.

 

An application of Excel-Crop will be applied in the earl leave stage, the crop will be cut for bagged silage in December, sprayed again and depending on early summer rain for recovery it will be heavily cell-grazed before planting down to permanent pasture in Autumn 2008.

 

In previous years it has been possible to sow the oat crop in early Autumn using the same methods outlined above but with no Autumn break, then 485 mm of rain in June/July followed by floods it was impossible to get into a paddock until August.

 

Application spray rate used for the crop is 10 litres of Excel-Crop to 1000 litres water to give eight acres coverage. All pasture is sprayed in Autumn and Spring at the same rate as above

 

Excel Crop increases healthy pasture growth resulting in faster live weight gains and early weaning and better market opportunity.

 

Mr Raynor has made the following observations:

 

•  Weaners have shown a 15% weight increase since using Excel Crop. All cattle are bred on property and are on Group Breed Plans using Simmental and red Angus bulls.

 

•  No chemical fertilisers have been applied to pastures since 1996 apart from the application of lime as described earlier.

 

•  Dung beetle activity and earthworm numbers have increased markedly since using Excel Crop as drenching rates have dropped and chemical fertiliser use has ceased. The rlease in early July of the Winter-active dung beetle, “Bubas Bison”, has been successful resulting in year-round dung beetle activity

 

•  Vet costs have now reduced to a minimum of one visit per year for pregnancy testing. Cows are calving with less difficulty as they are stronger and calving with better muscle tone and increased milk supply enabling the calves to grow-out quicker.

 

•  Excel Crop makes all pasture growth more palatable including weeds such as Capeweed. The stronger pasture growth has helped reduce weed infestation and increase helpful soil bacteria. Increasing the pH of soils to 5.7 - 6.0 by the use of Buchan lime in conjunction with Excel Crop has almost eliminated the acid soil weed, Bracken Fern as pastures have taken over.

 

•  Reduced worm infestation particularly ostertagia has been noted reducing the need for drenching. The only routine drenching is of calves which is carried out when yard weaning using dung beetle friendly “Cydectin” pour on. Less worm problems are due to the faster pasture recovery promoted by Excel-Crop with continuous paddock rotation with the noticeable effect that cattle are no longer grazing right down to the soil and as a result are ingesting less worm larvae. Lice infestations are also no longer a problem.

 

I have no hesitation in recommending the use of Excel Crop. I have found it to be a far better and more economical pasture-improver than conventional chemical fertilisers in addition to it's environmental advantages.

 

Gil Raynor

Cabbage Tree Creek

East Gippsland

 

Gil is quite happy for people to call him to discuss these results. Please contact Excel-Crop if you would like Gil's telephone number.