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Matching nutritional value of native grasses to livestock requirements

2009

Research organisations
Funding source
Upper North Farming Systems Rural Solutions SA
Caring for our Country

Trial details

Researcher(s) Jodie Reseigh
Daniel Schuppan
Michael Wurst
Year(s) 2009
Contributor Upper North Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Ungarra, SA
Matching nutritional value of native grasses to livestock requirements locations
Aims

To answer questions about the nutritional value and mineral content of native pastures and the persistence and productivity of native grass species compared to introduced species such as lucerne through a series of plot trials, native grass nutritional analyses and grower case studies.

Key messages
  • Native perennial grasses are a significant component of some pastures and work is being done on ways of improving productivity, persistence and utilising out of season rainfall.
  • Nutritional testing of native grasses showed moderate to high protein, high fibre and moderate energy.
  • The class of livestock for grazing a paddock should be selected according to their nutrient requirements and the feed on offer.
Lead research organisation Rural Solutions SA
Host research organisation Upper North Farming Systems
Trial funding source Caring for our Country SA NY MR05
Related program Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems
Acknowledgments
  • Project funding provided by Australian Government through Caring for Our Country: Best practice management grazing systems for native grass pastures in the low rainfall cereal zone, Project No. SA NY MR05, and Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.
  • Feed test figures (summer) reproduced with permission from Foster et al. (2009) An Introduction to the Nutritional Composition of Australian Native Grasses: Forage and Seed.
  • Upper North Farming Systems landholders for their innovation and interest.
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Other crop: Grasses
Treatment type(s)
  • Grazing
  • Management systems : Mixed farming
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Unreplicated

Ungarra 2009

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
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
Ungarra, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Ungarra, SA Tenosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Ungarra SA
2009
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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.

Ungarra SA

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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

2009 trial report



Trial last modified: 18-01-2026 16:23pm AEST