Pasture management

The long term productivity and quality of pastures relies on good management skills. A well managed enterprise will maximise the economic viability of grazing systems through increased production of livestock. In cropping systems, shifting pastures towards legume dominance is also important. To successfully grow annual and perennial pastures, it is important to consider the influence of factors such as soil, climate, pests and grazing on each particular species.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides information and advice to assist farmers to make appropriate decisions about weed management, fertiliser application, grazing systems, pest and disease management, seed production and seed harvesting. Meeting each species’ requirements is essential in order to realise the potential benefits from improved pastures.

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Articles

  • The application of nitrogen can stimulate high growth in grassy pastures in winter.

    Boosting winter pasture growth

    26 November 2013

    Applying gibberellic acid or nitrogen fertiliser to pasture in winter can increase dry matter production of grasses and broadleaf weeds and help reduce feed shortages in winter.

  • Lamboo Station, Aerial 4 - cattle moving

    Northern Beef Development

    20 August 2014

    The Northern Beef Development program aims to support the Western Australian northern beef industry to become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable.

  • FOO too low and patchy for safe grazing

    Deferred grazing and sheep at the break of season in South West Western Australia

    26 November 2013

    Grazing annual pastures in the first 12 days after germination can lower the productivity of pastures during winter by removing poorly rooted plants, and by reducing plant leaf area to sub-optimal

  • Early vegetative pastures show branching and thickening and are of very high quality and digestibility

    Grazing annual pastures – using feed on offer (FOO) as a guide

    22 November 2013

    Grazing management in winter and spring in South West Western Australia (SW WA) can manipulate the quality, quantity and composition of pasture.

  • A convoy of utes driving down a gravel road, with pasture on both sides.

    Climate Resilience

    23 December 2021

    Climate change is a pressing global issue that creates both challenges and opportunities for Western Australia.

  • Trail feeding of ewes in late summer on dry pasture.

    Grazing stubbles and dry pasture

    18 November 2013

    Dry pastures in Western Australia provide good early feed after senescence but rapidly become unable to maintain stock.

  • A subclover and barleygrass pasture that has been spray-topped on the right hand side

    Effect of spray-topping on pasture legumes

    28 July 2014

    Spray-topping is a very effective method for managing annual grass seed set in pastures.

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    Bacterial wilt of lucerne: declared pest

    22 January 2021

    Bacterial wilt of lucerne (Clavibacter insidiosus) is a disease that reduces the lifespan and productivity of lucerne stands. It also makes lucerne crops hard to establish.

  • Header harvesting a field of yellow serradella

    Seed harvesting, processing and cleaning of serradella

    8 January 2013

    Cultivars of French serradella (Eliza, Cadiz, Erica and Margurita) and yellow serradella (Charano, Santorini and Yelbini) have been developed with the aim of reducing the cost of seed production.

  • trial plots near Mingenew

    Dryland pasture legume systems

    18 August 2021

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is a research partner in the national collaborative Dryland Pasture Legume Systems Project to develop pasture legumes that can

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