Effectiveness of grazing and herbicide treatments for lucerne removal before cropping in southern New South Wales

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Davies ◽  
J. M. Virgona ◽  
M. H. McCallum ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
M. B. Peoples
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Main Study ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing

The difficulty of reliably removing an established lucerne pasture before cropping has been identified as a major problem with phase-farming systems on mixed farms. A series of experiments were undertaken on established lucerne stands at the Ginninderra Experimental Station in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and at the Temora Research Station in southern New South Wales (NSW) to compare the ability of grazing, either alone or in combination with herbicides, to remove a lucerne pasture. A pilot study at the Ginninderra Experimental Station in 1998–99 utilised a high stocking rate (30 dry sheep equivalents [dse]/ha), while the main study at the Ginninderra Experimental Station and the Temora Research Station in 1999–2000 used a lower stocking rate (10–12 dse/ha) considered to be closer to farmer practice in the region. Continuous grazing at the high stocking rate removed 73% of the lucerne stand over 3 months. In contrast, the stocking rates applied in the main study proved too low to substantially impact on lucerne survival at both the ACT and NSW sites (13–23% removal) under the good seasonal conditions experienced in 1999–2000 even though the pastures were continuously grazed for 8–9 months. The use of herbicides both alone or in conjunction with grazing greatly improved lucerne removal in both studies. However, herbicide efficacy was variable (53–100% removal), and seemed to be related to the time of year it was applied, the period of lucerne regrowth or the amount of rainfall before herbicide application. An additional on-farm study was undertaken near Junee Reefs in southern NSW between 2001 and 2003 that compared the survival of a range of lucerne cultivars under simulated hay-cutting (mown) and commercial grazing regimes. Dry conditions during 2002–03 resulted in a decline in lucerne frequency at about 50% in mown control plots. Grazing increased the stand decline, particularly for many winter-active cultivars where lucerne frequency was reduced by up to 70–93%. It was concluded that: (i) continuous grazing for prolonged periods can be effective at removing lucerne, but the rate of lucerne loss will be influenced by both stocking rate and rainfall; (ii) the application of herbicides can improve lucerne removal either in association with, or in the absence of grazing; however, herbicide efficacy appeared to be dependent upon the physiological status of the lucerne plants and/or the environmental conditions before application; and (iii) cultivar responses indicated that lucerne types could potentially be developed for phase-farming systems with increased susceptibility to grazing mismanagement.

Evaluation of medics under continuous grazing with sheep in central-western New South Wales

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Brownlee ◽  
GD Denney
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Summer Rain

Between May 1974 and March 1978, dry Merino ewes continuously grazed l-ha plots, sown to Medicago truncatula cvv. Akbar, Borung, Cyfield, Cyprus, Hannaford and Jemalong, and M. tornata cv. Tornafield, at a stocking rate of 4 Ewes/ha. Hannaford and Cyfield grew most vigorously; Borung least. Pod accumulation declined during the experiment, but plant counts showed a satisfactory density of all medics at the end of the experiment. Sheep on cultivars Hannaford, Cyprus, Cyfield and Tornafield required no hand-feeding during the experiment; those grazing the other cultivars required hand-feeding in autumn-winter 1975. There were no significant differences between treatments in fleece-free liveweights or annual clean fleece yields. In 1977 the medic content of the diet was less than 50% in all treatments. Pod ingestion over summer increased steadily to nearly 70% of the diet as the more palatable pasture components became scarce. However, the proportion dropped rapidly when summer rain provided sheep with a green 'pick'. The spiny pods of Akbar were retained in the fleece; the spineless pods of other cultivars were never retained. Total vegetable matter contamination was less for Cyfield than for Akbar, suggesting that development of medics with less spiny pods is a justifiable objective.

Perennial Grass Response to Seasonal Rests in Naturalised Pastures of Central New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 309 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Dowling ◽  
DR Kemp ◽  
DL Michalk ◽  
TA Klein ◽  
GD Millar
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Active Growth ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Annual Grasses

The influence of grazing management, herbicide and fertiliser on botanical change in two perennial grass based pastures was assessed over six years at two sites in central New South Wales. Ten treatments at both sites compared continuous grazing, three seasonal rests from grazing (autumn, winter, summer), and herbicide application for seedling grass control, each at two levels of fertiliser addition (nil, recommended). These treatments were designed to screen options for management rather than devise complete systems. In a degraded perennial pasture dominated by annual grasses, the proportion of perennial grasses and forbs increased with summer rests, especially at the recommended fertiliser level. Legumes increased with herbicide application, and annual grasses remained high in the continuously grazed control and other treatments. There were no significant effects on composition from autumn or winter rests. On the summer rest treatment at the recommended fertiliser level, perennial grasses (mostly cocksfoot) increased from 11% to 30% compared with the control where perennial grass declined below 5%. The increase was due to both recruitment and increase in size of existing plants, as a consequence of resting the perennial grasses when actively growing, flowering and setting seed, in favourable seasons. In contrast, on the better quality perennial pasture dominated by phalaris, there were limited management effects and perennial grasses increased on all treatments over time. The absence of a response at this site was attributed to a lenient stocking rate, dominant perennial grasses and limited rainfall during periods when active growth might be expected. Summer rests in this case also led to a small increase in forbs. The data suggest that perennial grasses can be encouraged with a conservative stocking policy that maintains the available feed-on-offer above 1 t DM/ha through seasons of active growth.

The value to Merino ewes and lambs of continued superphosphate topdressing on a subterranean clover pasture ley

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (79) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
OR Southwood ◽  
DG Saville ◽  
AR Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Clover Pasture

In an experiment at the Agricultural Research Station, Temora, New South Wales, Merino breeding ewes with their lambs grazed continuously from 1966 to 1970 at three stocking rates, 5, 7.5 and 10 ewes ha-1, on annual Trifolium subterraneum clover pasture topdressed every autumn with superphosphate fertilizer at nil, 94 or 188 kg ha-1. Stocking rate had an effect on ewe body weight in autumn each year and in winter and spring of the last year but it had no effect no wool production per ewe. Apart from the dry year, stocking rate had no effect on lamb performance. Superphosphate had little effect on ewe body weight and none on wool production but there were more lambs on the fertilized treatments than on the unfertilized pastures in 1967 when rainfall was low. Fertilizer encouraged barley grass dominance whereas the pasture not topdressed grew more clover and produced more burr. With no topdressing, available soil phosphate declined steadily over the five years to less than half the initial level. The results indicate that in a spring lambing, Merino ewe enterprise in the southern New South Wales wheat belt, where clover-ley farming is the general practice, annual pasture topdressing is no longer necessary after approximately 1000 kg ha-1 superphosphate has been applied to the soil and the fertilizer is continued through the cropping phase.

Lucerne persistence and the productivity of ewes and lambs grazed at two stocking rates within different management systems

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (77) ◽  
pp. 747 ◽  
Author(s):  
OR Southwood ◽  
GE Robards
Keyword(s):  
Plant Density ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
New South ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Rotational Systems ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

From 1967 to 1971 a grazing experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Temora, New South Wales with Merino ewes and first cross spring lambs on lucerne pastures. Set stocking was compared with a number of rotational systems at twice replicated stocking rates of five and ten ewes ha-1. The rotational systems consisted of either five or seven paddocks each grazed to give a constant pasture recovery time of 36 days year round, or 36 days mid-summer to mid-winter and 24 days when lambs were present. Stocking rate was the only variable affecting ewe wool production and body weight. During the driest year the constant rotation was the best treatment, whereas in the wetter year ewes managed in a variable rotation grew most wool. The number of lambs born and their birth weight did not vary among treatments. Growth rate was slower at the higher stocking rate but the management treatments had no effect on lamb growth. Lucerne plant density decreased by half during the first three years of the experiment. Thereafter plant density was maintained in the rotationally grazed systems. Under continuous grazing at the high stocking rate no lucerne survived after four months but at the low stocking rate most remaining plants died after a spring drought in 1971.

Management of lucerne for sheep grazing on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (71) ◽  
pp. 726 ◽  
Author(s):  
GT McKinney
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Annual Grasses

Eight whole-farm systems of managing lucerne pasture were compared at one high (near optimum) stocking rate of breeding ewes. These systems were continuous grazing (C), a 2-paddocks (2P), two 3-paddocks (3P), three 6-paddocks and one 12-paddocks rotations. Pasture density, yield and composition were almost solely dependent on spelling time. Maximum lucerne density was maintained when spelling times averaged more than 50 days over the year. Near maximum contributions of annual grasses were achieved when spelling times were less than 45 days. Therefore, to optimize persistence of important pasture components a 'minimum spelling time' policy is suggested. This time ranges approximately from 53 weeks in summer to 8 weeks in winter. Animal production appeared to depend on botanical composition and the extent to which lucerne stem was allowed to develop. Where lucerne failed to persist, or spelling times were long, liveweight gain was low over summer. Thus production was lower on C and 12P respectively, than other systems, and 2P and 3P gave the best overall production.

Merino ewe and lamb performance in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales following joining in March-April or June-July

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
HL Davies ◽  
E Devaud
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Group Number ◽  
Nutritional Advantage ◽  
June July ◽  
Group 1

A March-April joining of Merino ewes was compared with a June-July joining in central New South Wales at a low stocking rate on subterranean clover based pastures over 3 years. In all years, ewes joined in June were heavier (P < 0.05) than ewes joined in March (55 v. 52 kg). Liveweights at the start of lambing and liveweight change from joining to lambing were also high and favoured the later lambing group. The proportion of ewes lambing (97% March v. 93% June) and proportion of ewes twinning (29% March v. 20% June) were not significantly different between the 2 groups, but consistently favoured the March-April joining. Perinatal mortality was low (9.4% March v. 7.1% June) and not significantly different between the 2 groups, but was consistently lower in the June joined group. Number of lambs weaned per 100 ewes joined was also not significantly different, but was higher each year in the March joined group (1 13% March v. 105% June). The growth rate of the lambs (both singles [24% greater, 248 v. 200 g/day] and twins [37% greater, 2 13 v. 155 g/day]) was consistently in favour of March joined ewes. Mean greasy fleece weights of the ewes were not significantly different between the 2 groups, but were in favour of the late joined group (4.83 v. 4.50 kg). Time of joining significantly affected liveweights and greasy and clean fleece weights of the progeny at the shearing in the year following their birth in favour of March joining. These data suggest that, despite a nutritional advantage to the ewes in late pregnancy and milder weather at lambing with a June-July joining, a March- April joining is the preferred option on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales.

Observations on the dispersal of larvae of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Can.)

1970 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. J. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Strong Winds

Dispersal of the larvae of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Can.) was studied in connection with problems of controlling and eradicating this pest and bovine babesiosis in New South Wales. Larval ticks were recovered by pressing flannelette-covered boards on to the pasture or litter surface, or sampling with cattle. Many of these larvae were capable of completing parasitic development.Strong winds were an important factor in determining the distance travelled, as the longest journeys in pasture were for the most part in the directions in which the larvae would have been carried by recorded strong winds. Much of the dispersal is accomplished when larvae are transferred from one grass blade to another moving in the wind, but a great number of airborne larvae were captured on tanglefoot-covered traps. Movement by wind was clearly demonstrated over short pasture, up to 100 ft and possibly as far as 260 ft from the point of hatching. In long grass one larva travelled 83 ft, but in scrub and forest the greatest distance travelled was 15 ft. Many larvae that travelled long distances were capable of completing development on cattle.Tick larvae could be transported by casual hosts and then dropped in a viable condition. A horse carried larvae for 900 ft, a rat and cockerels 100 ft, a magpie in flight 600 ft, and a pigeon in flight half a mile. A horse dipped six days earlier in ethion dropped live and viable larvae after transporting them 150 ft.Security has been improved against the movement of larvae from the Cattle Tick Research Station, Wollongbar, New South Wales, to neighbouring properties, and from Queensland into New South Wales, by widening existing buffer zones to 330 ft. Inspectoral staff are now required to spray themselves and their horses before re-entering New South Wales from the buffer zone.

Gastro-intestinal parasites in sheep in an arid environment

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Gray ◽  
JP Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Anthelmintic Treatment ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Nematode Parasites ◽  
Broken Hill ◽  
South Wales

Internal parasitism and its effects on survival, wool growth and liveweight gain of weaner sheep were studied over 3 years from 1977 to 1979 at Fowlers Gap Research Station, Broken Hill, New South Wales. During this period, annual rainfall was 33, 152 and 141 % respectively, of the annual mean of 195 mm. Worm burdens and production of sheep given anthelmintic treatment at approximately monthly intervals were compared with those in untreated sheep. Total worm counts in untreated sheep were low, ranging from 1 5 to 3750. Nematodirus spp. were the most common nematode parasites recovered. lnfections with Trichostrongylus spp, were recorded in 2 of the 3 years; T. rugatus was the only species represented when species identification was made in 1979. Infections of Haemonchus contortus were only detected in the last year. Tapeworms (Moniezia spp.) were occasionally recovered. Anthelmintic treatment reduced worm burdens to a very low level but had no significant effect on survival rate, liveweight gain, or wool production. We concluded that in the arid areas of western New South Wales, worm infection would not limit production or cause mortality in young sheep, except in unusually wet years.

Effects of continuous and seasonal grazing strategies on the herbage mass, persistence, animal productivity and soil water content of a Sirosa phalaris - subterranean clover pasture, North-West Slopes, New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 539 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
S. R. Murphy ◽  
S. Harden
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing

An experimental site was established in 1997 on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales to further investigate the use of strategic grazing management to improve the persistence of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv.�Sirosa) and subsequent effects on animal production and soil water content. The pasture was sown in 1992 to Sirosa phalaris, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum var. subterraneum cv. Seaton Park) and lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. Aurora). Four grazing treatments were applied in a randomised 3-replicate design. Treatments consisted of continuous grazing at 12.3 sheep/ha (C12 or control); continuous grazing at 6 sheep/ha (C6), and 2� spring and autumn strategies of either resting from grazing for 6 weeks in each season (SAR0), or reducing stocking rate from 12.3 to 4.0 sheep/ha (SAR4). Despite annual applications of fertiliser and high clover content, Sirosa phalaris herbage mass in plots continuously grazed at 12.3 sheep/ha declined from a mean of 3300 kg DM/ha in spring 1997 to < 700 kg DM/ha by May 1998. At the end of the study (February 2001), Sirosa mean herbage mass in these plots was 670 kg DM/ha and lower (P < 0.05) than for the other treatments (mean value 5400 kg DM/ha). These marked changes in herbage mass, and the degradation of the Sirosa-based pasture to an annual pasture by continuous grazing at 12.3 sheep/ha, were not generally reflected in either short-term animal production or substantial differences in soil water content. Wool production (kg/head) was not significantly different among treatments each year. Compared with continuous grazing at 12.3 sheep/ha, sheep liveweights were higher (P < 0.05) in plots continuously grazed at 6.1 sheep/ha from November 1997 to February 1999. However, from February 1999 to 2001, sheep liveweights in the 2 treatments with the highest Sirosa phalaris content were lower (P < 0.05) than those continuously grazed at 12.3 sheep/ha. Only the soil water content for the C6 and SAR4 treatments at 0–30�cm was significantly different to the control treatment, but the differences were predicted to be < 2.5 mm/year. In the root zone (0–90 cm), mean soil water content ranged from 159 to 309 mm (mean 220 mm), while plant available water (soil water content – soil water content at –1500 kPa) was a mean of 79 mm, ranging from 11 to 168 mm.

Geoarchaeology of Aboriginal Landscapes in Semi-arid Australia

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Holdaway ◽  
Patricia Fanning
Keyword(s):  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
The Past ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Arid Zone Research

This book provides readers with a unique understanding of the ways in which Aboriginal people interacted with their environment in the past at one particular location in western New South Wales. It also provides a statement showing how geoarchaeology should be conducted in a wide range of locations throughout Australia. One of the key difficulties faced by all those interested in the interaction between humans and their environment in the past is the complex array of processes acting over different spatial and temporal scales. The authors take account of this complexity by integrating three key areas of study – geomorphology, geochronology and archaeology – applied at a landscape scale, with the intention of understanding the record of how Australian Aboriginal people interacted with the environment through time and across space. This analysis is based on the results of archaeological research conducted at the University of New South Wales Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station between 1999 and 2002 as part of the Western New South Wales Archaeology Program. The interdisciplinary geoarchaeological program was targeted at expanding the potential offered by archaeological deposits in western New South Wales, Australia. The book contains six chapters: the first two introduce the study area, then three data analysis chapters deal in turn with the geomorphology, geochronology and archaeology of Fowlers Gap Station. A final chapter considers the results in relation to the history of Aboriginal occupation of Fowlers Gap Station, as well as the insights they provide into Aboriginal ways of life more generally. Analyses are well illustrated through the tabulation of results and the use of figures created through Geographic Information System software. Winner of the 2015 Australian Archaeology Association John Mulvaney Book Award

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