Conditioning feed to respond to rainfall
MLA & AWI July 31, 2024
Rainfall is the key driver of production in all grazing management systems.
Maintaining landscape function ensures plants are ready to respond to the next rain event. Conditioning pastures to respond to rainfall involves maintaining adequate ground cover and maintaining perennials in the system. Ground cover supports rainfall infiltration and efficient nutrient cycling. Managing the utilisation of perennial grasses to the recommended rates helps maintain landscape function, allowing responsiveness, keeping a mix of perennials in pastures. Perennial grasses are important for maximising sheep production and rain-use efficiency. Perennials respond to summer storms by producing green leaves and they can survive between infrequent showers.
Similar to landscape function, the Land condition gateway of the Gateways Model from Grazing Land Management, considers the capacity of the land to respond to rain and produce useful forage and is a measure of how well the grazing ecosystem is functioning.
Land condition gateway
Source: MLA, adapted from Grazing Land Management
There are three components to consider when determining the level of functionality of the land system.
- Soil condition is an assessment of the soil’s ability to:
- absorb and store rainfall.
- store and cycle nutrients.
- provide suitable conditions for seed germination.
- resist erosion.
- Pasture condition is an assessment of the feedbase to:
- capture and store solar energy and produce palatable green leaf.
- use rainfall efficiently.
- contribute to soil stability.
- cycle nutrients.
- Woodland condition is an assessment of the woodland to:
- grow pasture.
- cycle nutrients.
- regulate groundwater.
Overgrazing can negatively impact the rain readiness of a pastoral property. Excessive populations of domestic, feral and native grazing animals combined with dry conditions when feed levels are reduced are primary contributors to the degradation of areas in the rangelands.