Increasing the profitability and sustainability of grazing enterprises in northern NSW by comparing different input and grazing management systems

Abstract

The Cicerone Project has been set up to study the long term profitability and sustainability of 3 different input and grazing management systems. Farm A receives high inputs of sown pastures and fertiliser, and uses flexible rotational grazing, with 8 paddocks and 4-5 mobs of livestock. Farm B receives medium inputs of fertiliser, but uses similar grazing management and paddock allocations to Farm A. Farm C receives the same medium level of inputs as Farm B, but employs intensive rotational grazing involving long rest periods between grazings. This farm has 33 paddocks and livestock mobs are combined to no more than 3 mobs to increase the grazing pressure.

Livestock are weighed regularly; ewes are scanned for twins; parasite burdens are monitored; wool characteristics are measured for all sheep, e.g. fleece weight, Optical Fibre Diameter Analyser (OFDA) for micron and diameter profile along the staple length and Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA) test for tensile strength. Pastures are assessed monthly and each time stock are moved, and carrying capacity (dse) and grazing days per paddock are recorded. Soil tests are conducted prior to fertiliser application. Economic data on each farm have been collected and include all inputs such as labour, seed and fertiliser, fencing, agistment, animal health products and supplementary fodder.

Data have been collected since July 2000 when the different management treatments commenced. Already there are marked differences between the farms in the animal weights, breeding performance, wool characteristics, botanical analysis, parasites and economic performance.