An evaluation of grazing oats for grain and wool production in north-eastern Victoria

Abstract

Oat yields and wool production of Merino wethers were measured at five stocking rates in five systems of land use in each of two years, 1971 and 1972, in north-east Victoria. Nominal stocking rates were 6.8, 8.6, 10.5, 12.4 and 14.2 sheep ha-1. The production at each stocking rate was compared in the following systems: 1, all pasture; 2, and 3. pasture grazed year long with oats grazed in winter and oat stubbles in summer on 15 per cent (system 2) or 30 per cent of the plot area (system 3) ; 4. and 5. pasture grazed throughout with oat stubbles grazed in summer but crops not grazed during the growing season and crops comprised either 15 per cent (system 4) or 30 per cent of the plot area (system 5). In 1971 the rainfall of 540 mm was sufficient to produce a harvestable oat crop and to maintain sheep on all plots without supplements. The mean oat yield of 2.04 ¦ 0.01 t ha-1 for system 3 far exceeded that of the more heavily grazed crops in system 2 (1.44-0.05) or of ungrazed crops in systems 4 and 5 (1.44i-0.07). Clean wool production per head from each system was compared in terms of an 'average' stocking rate S which accounted for variation in grazing intensity throughout the year inherent in systems 2, 3, 4, 5. In 1971 clean wool production kg-1 declined with increase in average stocking rate in all systems but the mean of the four dual land use systems did not differ from the all pasture system (1). 1972 was a drought year with only 330 mm of rain, oat crops failed to produce grain and were grazed from October. The wool production of sheep on systems 2 to 5 was greater than that of sheep at equivalent average stocking rates on the all pasture system. Growing oats for grazing and grain in association with wool production would appear to be more profitable than wool production alone. Light grazing of oats in winter may increase oat yield but more information is needed in relation to seasonal variation and oat variety.