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Assessing the palatability and nutritional value of Matricaria to grazing sheep

2020

Important note

The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.

Research organisation
Funding sources
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA
<abbr title='Grains Research and Development Corporation'>GRDC</abbr> <abbr title='Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Western Australia)'>DPIRD WA</abbr>

Trial details

Researcher(s) Grace Williams
Year(s) 2020
Contributor Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA
Trial location(s) Nangeenan, WA
Assessing the palatability and nutritional value of Matricaria to grazing sheep locations
Aims
  • To determine whether sheep graze on matricaria (palatability of the weed) in a mixed species pasture and if so at which growth stages is the weed palatable.
  • Estimate the feed value of matricaria at various growth stages compared to other available feed.
  • Evaluate the use of MCPA to increase matricaria palatability.
  • Evaluate the efficacy of late flowering mowing or weed wiping to control matricaria compared to district practice of spray topping.
Key messages
  • Spray topping remains the most effective control option for matricaria in pastures.
  • Sheep did not graze matricaria at any growth stage and the use of MCPA in a spray-graze scenario did not increase grazing of matricaria. Grazing would not be a reliable control method for matricaria, even when paired with chemical manipulation, in an average year.
  • Matricaria had good feed value but had less crude protein and metabolisable energy than the other green feed in the paddock.
  • Mowing or weed wiping to control matricaria at the flowering stage was significantly less effective in reducing biomass and number of flowers and had significantly more regrowth compared to district practice of spray topping.
Lead research organisation Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00256
Trial funding source DPIRD WA FFPJP13
Related program Regional Research Agronomy
Acknowledgments

The research was funded through the “Building crop protection and crop production agronomy research and development capacity in regional Western Australia” project (DAW00256/DAW1512-001RTX), a co-investment of GRDC and DPIRD.

I would like the thank the host growers of these trials Ian Sutherland and Andrew Crook for their assistance and generosity. I would also like to thank Vanessa Stewart (DPIRD) and Kylie Chambers (DPIRD) for their input into the design of the trial.
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Pasture: Mixed species
Treatment type(s)
  • Grazing : Application Method
  • Livestock
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Nangeenan 2020

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Nangeenan, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Nangeenan, WA Kandosol

Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Nangeenan WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

Assessing palatability and nutritional value of Matricaria to grazing sheep



Trial last modified: 28-11-2024 11:39am AEST