Rainfall for September and October was over 200ml. Growth slowed considerably in November and December due to a lack of rain. No significant rainfall was recorded in November. Mid-December we recorded around 40ml.
Once the rain began again in January pasture growth rates improved significantly and we were able to achieve good growth rates in lambs. Figures suggest growth rates of 250g/day or better. Eight hundred lambs were finished November-March averaging 17kg. Lamb finishing compromised the flowering opportunity in February and March, so we suspect this will affect next year’s performance.
About 1000 shorn ewes grazed out the lucerne before spraying for weeds at the end of June.
The spray applications used were PQ200 at three litres a hectare and Antragranz 850g/ha plus 250l/ha water.
As part of the pasture renewal programme a further 4-6ha are being sown in lucerne each year with some paddocks establishing well while others continue to produce weeds, despite having been cropped twice and sprayed with pre-emergence sprays.
We have learned that it is essential to crop paddocks for at least two years. To date we have only about 10ha established at various stages of productivity. It is not really enough to get a good rotation going and finish all the lambs on.
It is essential to treat lucerne well for the first three years, trying not to overgraze and allowing flowering to take place. (Not ideally possible for us this year).
Getting the grazing management right can be hampered by weather patterns and sometimes it’s just not possible to follow the ideal management guidelines.
There have been no metabolic problems with any of the animals grazed on lucerne.
