Estimate pasture mass/feed on offer

At priority stages of the year (e.g., pre-joining, scanning, lambing and weaning and managing weaners), set pasture targets for different classes of stock.

Set targets for dead pasture at the end of the growing season. Using every kilogram of dry matter produced is not only unrealistic, it will quickly undermine the sustainability of your enterprise. Some pasture will always be trampled and fouled. A significant amount of pasture must remain uneaten to provide carry-over feed for stock and maintain groundcover. Carry-over feed and groundcover are usually most critical over late summer/autumn, at the break of the season in southern regions and over summer in the north.

Monitoring pasture mass every 1-2 weeks lets you identify and fill any impending feed gaps or feed excesses that can be used.