LIVESTOCK producers need to undertake thorough pasture assessments now to identify potential renovation needs.
This would help improve grazing yield and quality, according to a Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) pasture specialist.
Controlling weed germination and insects can be achieved this season by a simple walk through the paddocks, DEPI dairy extension officer Michele Ryan said during a recent autumn planning field day in the South West.
Ms Ryan encouraged a long grazing rotation or for producers to use sacrifice paddocks to help pastures re-establish after summer.
"We also need to be reassessing cow rations at the moment and adjust them accordingly based on the cow's stage of lactation and production," Ms Ryan said.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting an average rainfall with slightly warmer temperatures with this looking to follow through to winter.
"With average rainfall expected it will enable pastures to be sown by late April which in turn should allow for good establishment of these new pastures," she said.
"Slightly warmer temperatures will also allow for good growth rates on new and established pastures which will help with pasture growth and availability into winter."
Ms Ryan said it was important producers did not overgraze established pastures as the break arrived to avoid reduction in the total amount of pasture grown during the season.
"If a later sowing time looks on the cards, it is a good idea not to sow perennial pastures later than May 20 as (perennial) pastures really struggle to get established and may not get a grazing off them until spring," she said.
Ms Ryan said walking through paddocks identified pasture problems early allowing a remedy to introduce more good quality pasture into the cow's diet at an earlier stage in the season.
"This generally leads to a lift in milk production as the quality of green leafy pasture is better than home grown hay and silage," she said.
"The key thing was to not overgraze existing pastures and to use sacrificed paddocks if possible to try and minimise the risk of overgrazing.
"If pastures are not overgrazed in late summer/early autumn they can have good quality and quantity of pasture available four weeks ahead of those that have been overgrazed – this helps milk production but also total pasture production over the season."
Also discussed during the field day at Harper and Oonagh Kilpatrick's dairy in Koroit was the importance to assess spaces within pastures.
"A good indicator as to whether or not a paddock needs to be direct drilled is if there is a hand-span width between plants," Ms Ryan said. "This is a good candidate to be topped up with suitable species to help with pasture production over the winter period.
"However, if the paddock has been badly pugged over the winter it is generally more suitable for a complete renovation than direct drilling due to issues with poor seed to soil contact and poor germination."
In summary Ms Ryan encouraged a whole farm on-ground assessment and encouraged producers to work on problem paddocks as soon as possible.
"Make sure you keep an eye out for pests and weeds and undertake control measures to help newly sown pastures establish," she said. "Try not to overgraze established pastures as they have the ability to allow you to have good quality pasture a month ahead of overgrazed pastures."